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How Long Does It Take for at Home Laser Hair Removal to Work?

By Mariela
Updated: December 19, 2024
6 minutes
How Long Does It Take for at Home Laser Hair Removal to Work

One of the shed estimates of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, about one million procedures were performed globally using laser hair removal in 2018. Such attention to speedy, affordable, and effective hair removal techniques has made home laser devices a hot commodity. It adopts this particular Intense Pulsed-light (IPL) method system and compares itself against conventional salon professional treatments in developing newer hair growth at a slower rate. Results depend on a variety of factors that will apply in any cosmetic therapy. This section elaborates on the research, data, and proof regarding the specific working times for home laser hair removal devices.

Table of Contents:

Part 1: PCOS: How Long Does It Take for at-Home Laser Hair Removal to Work

ulike air3Hirsutism is the presence of excessive hair growth in a woman in those areas where she does not want it. It occurs mainly due to the elevation of androgens in the blood of females. Women diagnosed with PCOS find that hair regrowth takes a long time to control. This will be hormonal and will take a bit longer to show benefits. But, home-based laser hair removal therapy can greatly decrease hair density. Effects are usually seen after 8-12 sessions distributed along 2-4 months of continuous maintenance to check regrowth. Such activities must incorporate medical treatment directed at hormonal aspects concerning PCOS for better results’ improvement since it dysregulates new hair growth. PCOS patients may often take a longer time before being healed as compared to others: that is, much patience is required.

Part 2: Thyroid Imbalance: How Long Does It Take for at-Home Laser Hair Removal to Work

timeThyroid disorders, either of hyper or hypo type, disturb the hair growth cycle, leading to results uneven or slower at home with laser treatments. Generally, most require 6-10 sessions stretched over 2-3 months before they show visible results; however, because of hormonal fluctuations, it will delay or affect hair removal. Hair growth associated with thyroid might take longer and, in most such cases, has shown low variability. Treatment depends on stabilizing the hormone levels through medical intervention to improve results with laser techniques for at-home hair removal. Hence, such patients are expected to keep using their devices regularly and expect consistent results.

Part 3: Pregnancy: How Long Does It Take for At-home Laser Hair Removal to Work

hair RemovalA pregnant woman should not use home laser hair removal devices since their body undergoes hormonal changes affecting normal hair growth and insubstantial safety data regarding the procedure. Temporary hormonal production of hair can happen in men and women during pregnancy, decreasing laser efficiency. Therefore, treatment should be postponed to allow the patient to return postpartum, maintaining stable hormonal levels. In this way, the patient will achieve the desired result and ensure her safety. The post-pregnancy pattern of hair growth can be reasonably predicted to stabilize. To reduce the chance of post-treatment burnout, it should be kept to six to eight treatments every two to three months. Device instructions should be followed for use to avoid any irritation caused by sensitive postpartum skin post-treatment initiation.

Part 4: How Long Does It Take for At-Home Laser Hair Removal to Work for Sensitive Skin? 

Laser hair removal systems from home will be well-suited for people who have sensitive skin. Extra care must be considered to avoid irritation, burns, or any other discomfort associated with it. It requires about 6-8 sessions, generally within 2-3 months, after which one witnesses results pretty much like that on normal skin. Hair regrows again but much less. Sensitive skin people can use skin tone sensors, or those for cooling treatment like the Ulike Air 3, for this kind of treatment, making it more expedient for them and safe as well. The patch test will determine the possibility of any reactions before full use. It is valuable in the right usage and taking care after treatment execution to avoid side effects; meanwhile, those with sensitive skin may also get consultation for good results.

Part 5: Factors Influencing At-Home Laser Hair Removal Efficiency

FactorsSeveral critical variables affect the efficiency and even the speed with which systems for at-home laser hair removal work.

Hair and Skin Tone

Home laser hair removal systems are actually targeting the melanin pigment that is found in hair follicles. Thus these treatments are mostly effective for black hair on the light to medium complexion. The hair density in these cases was reduced by more than 80% after 12 weeks of therapy; thus the fair complexion combined with very dark, coarse hairs was found very useful for such IPL techniques published in the International Journal of Dermatology. However, those would not have benefited much from such effectiveness for darker skin or light or blonde hair, as the light energy used could be wrongly identified with their hair pigment.

Device Technology

The type of device will also influence the speed with which results can be seen. While there are many IPL devices at home for hair removal, only a few like Tria Beauty Laser 4X use real laser technology. A clinical research study of 3-6 months published at Lasers in Surgery and Medicine found that those who had Tria Laser 4X experienced a reduction of 60-80% in hair growth.

Treatment Continuity

Only through consistency does one realize the gadget’s potential benefits. Most home-use devices recommend a treatment interval of every 1-2 weeks over the first 8-12 weeks of use. Many studies have shown clear consequences of missed treatments or less frequent use of the device on hair loss: less effective hair loss and slower results.

Pain Tolerance

Some appliances have applications with adjusting intensity whose level may affect the user’s comfort and treatment effectiveness. Although these types of appliances cause more discomfort at high energy level but for such high energy levels. Though the Tria Laser 4X and violent domestic laser systems can cause considerably more discomfort than IPL devices like the Philips Lumea Prestige, a 2019 Consumer Reports study found that most intensity in treatment generally won out over others in terms of results.

Part 6: Tips for At-Home Laser Hair Removal Success 

tipsThe most basic understanding is to follow the treatment guide for all kinds of skin types and skin conditions. The skin area going to be laser treated and for optimal results, is shaved before treatment since the area cannot spot access into the hair follicle during the laser treatment process. Fitting the right machine settings according to skin type, recommended interval treatments every 1-2 weeks, and proper aftercare (such as avoiding sun and moisturization) will really increase success with at-home laser hair removal. Those with latent hormonal disorders would benefit from consulting the healthcare professional about how to improve outcomes due to primary reasons.

Conclusion

There is a considerable possibility of not getting the desired results immediately since the effects of home-use laser hair removal devices require time and consistency to yield good returns. Studies and clinical data say that about 12 weeks would do if the device is used continuously before any noticeable difference is seen in hair growth. Effectiveness varies according to the hair and skin type of the person, equipment technology, and adherence to the prescribed program of treatment. Within this category of devices include Ulike Air 10, Ulike Air 3, Braun Silk-Expert Pro 5, Tria Laser 4X, and Philips Lumea Prestige. Many users report up to 80 percent hair reduction after their treatment cycles. However, you must follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to realize the maximum advantage and minimize the risk of side effects.

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