Current:Home > FinanceDoes at-home laser hair removal work? Yes, but not as well as you might think. -FundSphere
Does at-home laser hair removal work? Yes, but not as well as you might think.
View
Date:2025-04-23 15:04:36
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! (18183)
Related
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- SpaceX sued by environmental groups, again, claiming rockets harm critical Texas bird habitats
- Myanmar Supreme Court rejects ousted leader Suu Kyi’s special appeal in bribery conviction
- Everything to Know About Brad Pitt's Romantic History Before Girlfriend Ines de Ramon
- Jury finds man guilty of sending 17-year-old son to rob and kill rapper PnB Rock
- New details emerge about Alex Batty, U.K. teen found in France after vanishing 6 years ago: I want to come home
- Myanmar Supreme Court rejects ousted leader Suu Kyi’s special appeal in bribery conviction
- Attorneys for Kentucky woman seeking abortion withdraw lawsuit
- Drones warned New York City residents about storm flooding. The Spanish translation was no bueno
- Despite GOP pushback, Confederate monument at Arlington National Cemetery to be removed
Ranking
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Stock market today: Asian shares mostly lower as Bank of Japan meets, China property shares fall
- January 2023 in photos: USA TODAY's most memorable images
- Yes, swimming is great exercise. But can it help you lose weight?
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- Texas sweeps past Nebraska to win second straight NCAA women's volleyball championship
- James Cook leads dominant rushing attack as Bills trample Cowboys 31-10
- Hundreds of residents on Indonesian island protest the growing arrival of Rohingya refugees by sea
Recommendation
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Storm drenches Florida before heading up East Coast
AP Sports Story of the Year: Realignment, stunning demise of Pac-12 usher in super conference era
'The Voice' Season 24 finale: Finalists, start time, how and where to watch
Tony Hawk drops in on Paris skateboarding and pushes for more styles of sport in LA 2028
Whitney Cummings Gives Birth to Her First Baby
Not in the mood for a gingerbread latte? Here's a list of the best Christmas beers
James Cook leads dominant rushing attack as Bills trample Cowboys 31-10