Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt?

Discomfort Depends on the Amount of Hair

This question is asked every day at VIP Health and Laser Clinic. You might think the laser would hurt as it pulses light over the skin. The laser light is absorbed by dark color in the hair, but it is absorbed much less by the skin. The laser works by heating up the root of the hair and damages the follicle. This heat occurs only in the hair follicles while the skin is cooled by the laser cooling tip. All of this occurs within a split second. If there is thicker hair or more dense hair, more heat is absorbed. Therefore, in simple terms, discomfort is dependent on how much hair is being treated at a given time.

“We only use lasers that provide effective results and the most comfortable treatment possible. Laser hair removal here is a walk in the park compared to waxing or getting a tattoo! “

-physician assistant at VIP Health and Laser

Feel the Difference of Our Laser

There are several different types of hair removal lasers available including diode lasers, nd:YAG lasers, Alexandrite Lasers, and IPL (intense pulsed light). According to many of our clients who have had laser hair removal, our laser’s cooling method is quite gentle compared to every other laser out there. By using the proper cooling of the skin, a laser is able to provide the most comfortable laser hair treatment available. Many lasers, especially the nd:YAG laser really does hurt without proper cooling. Shaving before the procedure allows less discomfort and better light penetration to the follicle. Most clients treated with our Candela GentleMax Pro laser have described the treatments as completely or virtually painless. However, this depends on many factors.

Factors Related to Pain in Laser Hair Removal

1. Hair density: When there is more hair in a given area, more light is absorbed, and therefore more heat can be produced in the skin.
2. Hair thickness: If hair is thicker, more light can be absorbed and cause more discomfort. For instance, the hair thickness in the underarms is much more than in the legs.
3. Skin color: The darker the skin, the more light can be absorbed which results in more discomfort. Lighter skin has less treatment discomfort than darker skin. Lower laser power settings are used to improve comfort.
4. Pain sensitivity: Different ethnic groups have reported different amounts of pain for similar health conditions. For instance, one study showed that Italian women were more sensitive to pain than Swedish women.
5. Area being treated: Areas of the face and Brazilian areas have more sensory neurons or “nerve endings.” When these areas are treated with a laser, more discomfort results than other areas.
6. Laser settings: The laser may be adjusted by a skilled provider to produce less pain. Many times it is possible to produce similar results for laser hair removal even with these lower settings. Lower settings may also result in less effective treatment results. This is dependent on the laser operator experience and the other factors noted above.
7. Shaving closely: The closer and sooner that you shave before the procedure, the lower the amount of discomfort. Less hair means less heat absorbed which means less discomfort.
8. Patient opinion: Some describe the treatment as a “hot sting for a fraction of a second” as the laser moves across the skin. If a “10” rating is an elephant standing on your skin, and “1” is hardly any pain at all, most clients rate the pain as a “1.” Fewer clients rate the treatment as a “2,” and very few clients rate it as a “3 or 4.”
9. Cooling Mechanism: It is important for the laser to have an effective method to cool the skin as it heats up follicles. This will diminish the amount of pain in laser hair removal procedures.

Here is the Safest Way to Find Out

The best way to see whether or not laser hair removal will hurt is to have a laser spot test performed by a laser hair removal provider. This way, you will see how easy and comfortable it is. Some patients have even described it as “therapeutic like a massage.” A skilled provider will always test a spot with the laser before proceeding with treatment. The laser will be used over a small, 1-2 inch area to test the skin response. This will help the laser provider avoid adverse reactions to your skin in the future. This is exactly what we do at VIP Health and Laser. For those who are sensitive to the laser, numbing cream is always an option.

You are welcome to schedule your laser spot test right now:

References:

1. Al-Harthy M, Ohrbach R, Michelotti A, List T. The effect of culture on pain sensitivity.J Oral Rehabil. 2016 Feb;43(2):81-8.
2. Viana F. Nociceptors: thermal allodynia and thermal pain. Handb Clin Neurol. 2018;156:103-119.