New Laser Hair Removal: Comparing With Electrolysis Side Effects

New Laser Hair Removal:  Comparing Side Effects with Electrolysis Side Effects

Have you been considering a permanent solution to unwanted hair?  Are you having a difficult time choosing between one of the many new laser hair removal treatments and electrolysis?  Laser hair removal and electrolysis are the only permanent solutions to unwanted body hair, and although the two treatments are often confused with each other, they are indeed very distinctive, with very different side effects.  To illustrate this, in this article we will first list the side effects associated with the new laser hair removal treatments, followed by a discussion about the effects of electrolysis, and let you decide for yourself which treatment poses the most risk.

New Laser Hair Removal:  The Side Effects

New laser hair removal first began back in 1997, but the treatment has come a long way since those initial first few years.  The procedure is performed using a high-powered laser, designed to attack the pigment in the hair, also called melanin.  This creates heat which is spread to the surrounding hair follicles, which essentially destroys them, preventing future hair from growing.  The lasers are also called “pulse lasers” because they work with a pulsing action.  When the laser is passed over the skin some patients may complain of slight discomfort, a feeling that has been described as a rubber band snapping against the skin, but for most people this pain is easily managed. Others may prefer that a numbing anesthetic cream be applied before the procedure begins.

After the new laser hair removal procedure, most patients are able to immediately return to their normal daily activities.  They may notice redness or red bumps in the affected area for a few days, along with some minor skin irritation, but this is normal and will usually subside in just a few short days.  Medication of any kind is rarely needed to manage this slight discomfort.

Electrolysis:  The Side Effects

According to both doctors and former patients, the side effects of electrolysis are typically much more severe than they are with new laser hair removal, largely due to the way the procedure is performed.  While the new laser hair removal treatments are completely non-invasive, electrolysis involves a needle that is plunged into every hair follicle—a process that is not only lengthier and more demanding, but much more painful as well.

After electrolysis, patients can expect a number of uncomfortable and often very painful symptoms.  These include redness, dryness, bruises and severe swelling, along with an increase in the number of ingrown hairs.  Patients are advised to stay out of the sun and must constantly keep their skin moisturized with aloe or petroleum jelly products.  Usually the redness, swelling and bruising from electrolysis will respond to simple treatments, however in more serious cases, serious infections can set in that will require immediate medical care.

Electrolysis and the new laser hair removal treatments typically cost about the same, however the number and severity of side effects and symptoms, both during the procedure and after, is much higher with electrolysis than it is with new laser hair removal.