Current:Home > FinanceDoes at-home laser hair removal work? Yes, but not as well as you might think. -AssetPath
Does at-home laser hair removal work? Yes, but not as well as you might think.
View
Date:2025-04-16 16:21:38
With summer around the corner, the semi-creepy targeted advertisements seem to be reading your mind. They appear to know just what you need.
That swimsuit is cute. Oh, I love those sunglasses. Maybe Baxter needs a doggie slip-and-slide. Hmmm – that at-home laser hair removal device looks pretty nifty. What if I never needed to shave again? I could save so much money with this.
At-home laser hair removal does work, however, like a lot of things on social media, the reality may be different than how it appears. To help you protect your body and your wallet, we help you determine fact from fiction.
Does at-home laser hair removal work?
First, it’s important to note that most at-home hair removal devices are not lasers. They are usually intense pulsed light devices or IPL for short. It works exactly like it sounds – intense light is pulsed to the hair follicle, which disrupts hair growth. While the mechanism of action is similar to laser hair removal, it is less powerful and takes more sessions to get the desired result.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, these IPL and other devices do work to remove unwanted hair, but it often takes many sessions, and the results are rarely permanent. IPL devices are generally safe, and they have been approved by the FDA for hair removal.
If you are considering at-home laser hair removal, you may want to talk to your physician beforehand for clear instructions (like avoiding your face and eyes) and to determine if it’s right for your skin or hair color. In an interview with The American Academy of Dermatology Association, Dr. Carolyn I. Jacob, MD, FAAD, an associate clinical instructor of dermatology at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago explains that lasers that target blond, red, gray or white hair have not been developed yet, however, strides have been made so that those with darker skin types can successfully undergo the procedure.
An article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology says that laser hair removal is available for skin types I through IV on the Fitzpatrick scale – this excludes those with darker skin types.
Want more facial hair?Here's what a dermatologist says you should know
How long does it take for at-home laser hair removal to work?
It depends on the person, but people generally see results within 6-10 treatments. As previously mentioned, the devices available for use at home are not as powerful as the devices you would find in a dermatology office, and therefore more treatments are usually needed.
Does laser hair removal hurt?Not when done properly. Here's what you need to know.
How much does an at-home laser cost?
Costs may vary from around $100 to over $1000. If an at-home laser works for you, it may be worth the investment, as it would be significantly cheaper to use at home than to continuously get treatments at the doctor’s office. However, for best results, you would have to use the device fairly often, which may make it not all that different from shaving.
veryGood! (9984)
Related
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Does drinking your breast milk boost immunity? Kourtney Kardashian thinks so.
- Katharine McPhee, Sarah Paulson and More Stars Who've Spoken About Relationship Age Gaps
- Colorado inmate overpowers deputy, escapes hospital; considered 'extremely dangerous'
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- Dallas doctor convicted of tampering with IV bags linked to co-worker’s death and other emergencies
- Sex crimes charges dropped against California Marine after missing teen found in barracks
- Braves ace Spencer Strider has UCL repaired, out for season
- 'Most Whopper
- Masters purse reaches new high: Here's how much money the 2024 winner will get
Ranking
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- JoJo Siwa Addresses Claim She “Stole” Her New Song “Karma” From Miley Cyrus and Brit Smith
- Boston College vs. Denver Frozen Four championship game time, TV channel, streaming info
- A man stabbed to death 5 people in a Sydney shopping center and was fatally shot by police
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Anthropologie’s Best Sale Ever Is Happening Right Now - Save an Extra 50% off Sale Styles
- Robert Pattinson Supports Suki Waterhouse at Coachella Weeks After They Welcomed Their First Baby
- Faced with possibly paying for news, Google removes links to California news sites for some users
Recommendation
Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
Executor of O.J. Simpson’s estate plans to fight payout to the families of Brown and Goldman
Kris Jenner's Sister Karen Houghton's Cause of Death Revealed
Woman with history of DUIs sentenced to 15 years to life for California crash that killed mom-to-be
Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
Grammy-nominated artist Marcus King on his guitar being his salvation during his mental health journey: Music is all I really had
Sex crimes charges dropped against California Marine after missing teen found in barracks
Eleanor Coppola, Emmy-winning filmmaker and Francis Ford Coppola's wife, dies at 87