Laser Hair Removal: Dermatologist Answers Common Questions! | Dr. Sam Ellis
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- čas přidán 30. 06. 2024
- Laser hair removal is one of the most popular in-office cosmetic treatments. That's why I asked my followers on Instagram to send in their laser hair removal questions so I could answer them in this video. You'll learn about the risks, how long it takes to see results, what hair color it's best for, and so much more.
CONNECT WITH ME:
Instagram: / drsamanthaellis
Website: www.mybeautymd.com/
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:31 How Lasers Work
01:56 Who it Works Best On
02:29 On Darker Skin Tones
03:35 Laser Recommendations
04:16 Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
05:02 Blonde or Red Hair
05:43 Dermatologist or Med-Spa
07:54 Pain Level
08:34 Compared to Electrolysis
09:00 On the Face
09:38 Risks
10:23 Safe While Pregnant?
10:38 Active Ingredients & Medications
11:26 Keloid Scarring
11:51 Results & Maintenance
14:02 Hormones & Hair Growth
14:23 Treatment Frequency
14:56 At-Home Hair Removal
15:51 Other Side Effects
16:17 Hair Removal & Acne
17:12 Subscribe!
DISCLAIMER: The information in this video is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician. Some of the links in this description may be affiliate links (marked with *). Affiliate links help support my CZcams channel so I can continue to create fun, informational skincare videos for you. Also, some products may have been received as PR. Thanks for watching!
I’ve always been curious about laser hair removal (I’m a prickly little spider that doesn’t like shaving often) but I’ve always worried about any type of complications or issues. No one that’s talked about it has given the facts and information like you have. After hearing that it’s not truly “permanent” and the potential risk factors, I’m content to shave. Thank you so much for the informative videos, they are so so helpful. It’s much easier to make decisions when I have this much information and facts and not just peoples personal experiences. Nothing against treatments or products but it’s so nice to not get sucked in by what’s popular. Your videos are the best!! Happy holidays ❤️❤️❤️
I’m watching this to help with my course, thank you for this. Will rewatch until ALL information is programmed into my head.
Would agree with Derm vs medspa. I worked at a medspa and figured out A LOT on my own, training was poor but after 4 years gosh did I know what I was doing, we did this SO often. However the turnover at our other spa was incredibly high and every few months there was someone new, so many adverse reactions came out from that clinic. I would offer to train new staff but owners cared more about profit than wasting time on training, hence why I had to learn so much myself. I had luckily one tiny tiny adverse reaction in that entire time, I was trained well from school in burn protocol and skin healing so I had that down. I had a few patients that were dermatologists interested in using our machine. They only had a one day training on the machine prior to using on their patients. One came in full of legs burns she did on herself from that one day training. So in my opinion like with everything else it’s more about experience than training. Many of us didn’t train on these exact lasers used today in med school, pa school or nursing school, all training was done outside so we are on level playing fields there. The difference is your background in medicine and overall ability to learn or pay attention I guess. More patients should be aware NO one knows what they are doing initially, it took a good teacher, or finding the right resources and then trial and error.
Great video with lots of Educational Information! Thank you for sharing Dr. Sam Ellis !
This was really interesting! It makes me curious about shaving versus laser hair removal. It would be very helpful to watch a video from you about shaving - how to do it safely on different body parts, how to shave effectively, what sorts of products to use when shaving, etc., or alternatively, what you recommend if you don’t like shaving (at home hair removal treatments, etc.). Really appreciate your insight into these issues!
Thank you for your informative insight on the topic 🤍
A few additional questions I have:
1- Can IPL be effective at home after I finished a few sessions at a clinic ?
2- How long should I leave the numbing cream on the area before I start the laser ? or IPL ?
3- What can I use before or after after my laser appointment to help reduce the chance of having hyper pigmentation ?
Is Fucicort antibiotic cream (The orange & red color) enough after my appointment?
additional question 🙋♀what should i look/ask for when trying to find someone to perform my laser hair removal? board certified dermatologist? RN? specific qualifications??
thanks dr sam ellis 💕
Great Video! Lots of important information, great pace, well articulated!
My goodness that was excellent!
Very informative. I’m blonde with very light skin so it has never been an option for me but one one has ever said why. Thanks for the info.
😅just be thankful you have blonde hair and not dark body hair 😩
This video is so helpful, thank you!
I’ve had two sideburn treatments at Milan laser and so far the results are amazing!
I’ve been getting laser hair removal on Brazilian, legs, and armpits for a while now (over a year) and I’m almost done. It is one of the BEST things I have ever paid for. No I don’t think I will be 100% hairless but that is ok with me. The amount of hair reduction I have is crazy and a lot of my hair has become peach fuzz like. Also the clinic I go to may be a medspa..? But all the technicians are certified nurses, and this clinic only does laser hair removal and nothing else. The clinic also offers free unlimited touch ups for the rest of my life so if hairs do start to come back over time I can get touch ups for free, which is what sold me honestly. Yes it is A LOT of money (I pay a monthly bill and have sometime left until it’s all paid off), but for me it is worth it, especially with the free touch ups. My skin basically hates shaving and I would get razor bumps and a lot an irritation, and the hair would grow back immediately. But now that the hair is soo fine, I don’t have issues like that anymore: def would recommend trying it, and doing research on the place you’re going too.
How many weeks do you wait between sessions?
@@ManUntdForever Not sure how other places are but for me you start off every 5 weeks and then as time goes on and your hair reduction increases and becomes finer they spread you to 10 weeks. I’m currently at 10 weeks.
Also it is very painful 🙃 forgot to mention that.
@@RxvenAlexis thanks so much for replying. My second session was 5 weeks apart, but I’ve been reading online people saying their sessions were 6-8 weeks apart, so I got worried mine were too close together.
@@ManUntdForever nope, you’re right on track! They didn’t start spreading me out until 1 year in.
do you feel like you avoid the sun a lot? im stressed about avoiding the sun with such a long process
I have wanted to do a laser hair removal for a long time now but have never been sure where is best to go. Thanks for the useful information!
Find a place with a lot of reviews and all good reviews. I usually pick places that have several hundred reviewed and 4.8 stars and above. And I read the negative to reviews because sometimes people are being picky about things like they were late for an appointment so they couldn't be seen and leave a bad review but it's not actually about the procedure.
Dear Dr. Ellis,
Thank you very much for answering the most common questions about laser hair removal. Moreover, please highlight perhaps in a new video about the importance of covering moles in white marker during a laser hair removal session. Can you please state the consequences of doing laser hair removal over moles? What should people who fell victim of this malpractice do to ensure that no damage at all is done?
Thanks for the useful information! Great video!
Can you do a part 2 with your thoughts on at home ipl hair removal?
Thank you for this video, very timely! Can you do a video on the best treatments for icepick/rolling scars?
I was literally only thinking about get it and ta-da!
Really good! Supper informative and detailed! Love your videos ♥
Thank you a lot on great answers, very useful! Greetings!
Very informative. Thank you.
I am a laser technician in Australia (have been for 3+ yrs). Let me tell you its super hard to be qualified in Laser. You have to do 100 supervised hours on people before you can even apply for your full use license. And before that you have to do a 3 month Laser safety course. Not many places want to train/supervise you so its very hard to get a job doing it rip.
I go to Evolution Laser Clinic here in Sydney and the technicians there in my experience have been very good when receiving treatment in my pubic area.
You're an important industry so thank you 😊
wow thats lucky . i just called a clinic for hair removal two hours ago. thanks for the video
Yes, I have had laser hair removal and with my hair color I’ve had the best results with my armpits and bikini line. My question for you is what areas have you had done since your hair looks a combination of blonde and light brown.
Hi! Thank you for your video. I did a laser treatment for a year and I think it helped with my c section scar keloid. Do you think there is a link between them?
So informative, thank you! Can I ask what lipstick you are wearing? Looks so pretty!
Can laser hair removal be covered by insurance and if so under what circumstances?
Thank you for the informational video! I’ve been started to consider laser. Not to be off topic but would you mind sharing where your necklaces are from? I wear a lot of basic shirts and those are perfect!
I had laser hair removal (3 sessions) on both legs, underarms and bikini line 20 years ago. I have light skin and dark hair. It was the one of the best things I ever did for myself. The hair is not completely gone, but at least my legs never feel prickly anymore. Feels very close to being clean shaven 24/7.
I get horrible folliculitis on my underboob & this convinced me to go for it. I’ve been planning to get mostly full body laser hair removal for years & am excited :)
Laser hair removal may not be permanent, but it’s worth it. It’s been around a decade that I started on legs, bikini, armpits, face for 2-3 times per year. Only if necessary, I shave my legs in between.
My leg hair had reduced dramatically (like 90% are gone) and my armpits are totally clean. I remember a couple of months after I gave birth, a friend asked me when I found time to shave my legs with a newborn and zero help. And the truth was that I had done laser at the early stagers of pregnancy, like 8-9 months ago.
On the face, I noticed that when my hormones are not balanced new hair appear, while the old ones have reduced.
Di it's mean laser is not good & I heard hair more than come after laser is it truth... & how is hairs texture after laser hair reduction
How did bikini change post pregnancy?
What's going on?! I have an appointment tomorrow for underarm hair removal and your video pops up! Thanks for the info. 🤯
mines tomorrow too. and this popped up. did you end up going?
Because your phone is always listening to you
Came back to this in 2023. After 7 treatments and 100's of $, for just my underarms, I wasn't very happy with the result. I don't think the person doing it turned up the power enough. All the creases that are hard to shave are still growing dark hairs. I'm buying an IPL device after watching reviews because I can finish my underarms at home and treat other areas like bikini, legs, face, for way less money.
I have dark arm hair, but in the summer it bleaches with even a slight amount of sun exposure (I do wear sunscreen 👍). Am I right in assuming laser will still be effective because the follicle beneath the skin will contain the darker pigment?
Maybe in the next part these questions can be answered.
I wonder if there is a complete list of diseases that if you have, you can't have laser hair removal? For ex. eye operations and diseases of the eye? Should you consult an eye doctor then? Secondly, if I noticed that my brows grow again, years after not plucking them, is it a sign that probably the removal won't be very effective? (and vice versa, people who can't grow brows back will have very good results?) Also, how to check (what questions to ask) to know if a person is qualified or not? How to exclude non experts? The last question is, when the person doing the procedure is not a doctor, can we trust them? Regardless if, supervised by a doctor. For me, the supervision is not enough. What do you think? If a cosmetologist would do it for example.
I like your videos a lot. Hope there are more to come.
Greetings
What lip colors are you wearing hear? So pretty !
Thank you for video! Would you recommend IPL treatments for Rosacea patients with olive/dark skin?
Thank you for video it was very useful .
Thanks for this.
THE GREEN SHIRT YOUR WEARING.. Can you post a link? I really like it :)
Thanks for the information! I noticed you mentioned that they wouldn’t have used the laser if the skin was tanned…so the skin needs to be it’s natural color when treated?
Thanks again for the informative content. I have a couple of questions: Is it safe to do laser hair removal between the eyebrows or anywhere close to the eyes? What type of laser do you use in your practice or which one is the most recommended for olive skin?
You can do laser on eyebrows you will be wearing a laser glasses and close your eyes
For Mediterranean and black skin nd:yag laser is better
Is it really necessary to stop using Retin-A Micro 3 days or some people say even a whole week before laser hair removal? My skin is acclimated already, been using this stuff for like 6 months, I don't get peeling, irritation or inflammation anymore... But I don't know if it is making my skin more sensitive *shrugs* not asking for personalized medical advice, obviously I need to consult with my doctor regarding that, and I will do whatever my doctor advises but I just want a generalized answer from you whether that is still really necessary or just an old fashioned baseless advice?
Hi, I was wondering if you could maybe do a video on NIOD skincare. I am interested in a few of their products, but find it hard to justify their prices, but most of all, I think that maybe there’s some pseudoscience going on. Maybe you could correct me on this?
I recently found your channel and I enjoyed your content so far. You have a really nice voice to listen to.
the video really appealed to me, do you have other social media channels?
I hope you can review some IPL -- Nood kinda blew up recently and I was trying to find more pros and cons about it
Are antidepressants a contraindication, and which other medication are a contraindication?
I would love if you could do a video comparing different at home IPL devices- it's so hard to understand and compare the differences. Thank you!
I would say stay away from those. Especially if you have medium skin tones or darker skin tones. Many doctors will tell you they’re scams. They just burn off the hair length they don’t actually kill the hair root itself like actual hair removal lasers
thank you so much
I've heard of dying light color hair to get effective laser hair removal.
Can you talk about chemical peels?
I had 6 laser sessions at a cosmetic surgery hospital when I was 18 on my lip and chin area. This didn’t work so I saw my doctor and after blood tests, my hormones were fine and after an ultrasound I didn’t have PCOS. I was given the contraceptive pill, this didn’t help and then eventually a topical cream for hirsutism and this didn’t work so my doctor prescribed me laser hair removal at another private hospital. I had a further 8 sessions that also did not work. Aged 27 I decided to try AGAIN. After another 8 sessions it still has not worked. It has worked however on my entire body bar my face. Aged 30 I continue to shave my face atleast 5 times a week. I’ve been burnt and blistered and learnt lots a long the way. The truth of the matter is, if you’re embarrassed of your hair, don’t be. If like me, it won’t go, who cares? That’s my genetic makeup and no amount of lasers can change that believe me
Wax it off rather than shave.
I feel like I'm in the same position as you I'm 19 I've been doing ipl for 1 year and nothing has happened it feels like it growing more with ipl
@@priya200328 and it will grow. It will continue to. It could reduce the amount so don’t give up but be prepared that this may not be the cure - for me now 31 I’m still the same.
And as per the other comment. Don’t wax your face for gods sake
@@rmhxr6148 I was thinking of doing that have you shaved your face with razor ever?
@@priya200328 yes every day!!
Is there more information on electrolysis vs laser hair removal? I'm having a hard time finding a reputable science supported source.
Hi. Will laser hair removal also remove the little dark bumps as well when you do the Brazilian?
I find that after I shave, I can have more issues with skin chaffing, like the hair that was there acted as a barrier to protect my skin rubbing against other skin. After laser hair removal, is it likely that chaffing could become a ‘permanent’ issue?
Very education video but as a medical aesthician and biomedical scientist who graduated from unuversity I have to say that some medical spas do use candela and soprano the best lasers in the world also medical aestheticians SPECIALIZE in lasers 😘
Dr. Ellis, I bought the popular ULIKE for home use. I read the directions and test patched a spot on the side of my neck. I was wearing the IPL glasses as tightly to my eyes as possible but there are still gaps in coverage due to the fact they're IPL glasses and not goggles. Are the IPL glasses safe enough? My eyes feel slightly odd after like an old fashioned camera flash. I'm regretting not closing my eyes tightly. The directions that come with it don't tell you to close your eyes as well, is that necessary? Going forward I would do it though.
Thank you for the video! I have a question! 🙋♀️
I did laser removal once, and it was part of the treatment to shave between sessions, so that the hair would grow thicker, and the treatment would be more effective. I found this weird since I hear most people say hair does not grow thicker when shaved. Is this really part of the treatment?
🙋♀️Second question: ideally we want most of the hair to be in growth fase so that the laser can target the folicle (I think?). In order to achieve that, wouldn't it be helpful to do some waxing before, to get most of them to grow at the same time?
You could wax before as long as it has started to grow back before your treatment. And you’re right, shaving shouldn’t make it grow back thicker so that advice does not seem congruent with what we know about current hair physiology.
@@DrSamEllis if v ll not take maintenance sessions hairs will be grow same as plz tell me is laser hair reduction worth in India or not
Question I take a regular allergy pill. Just loratadine smallest mg. And it’s for seasonal allergies to pollen. But I only take it for certain months. It’s safe for me to start my at home kennzi right? And it doesn’t risk cancer?
Will it work in areas you wouldn’t normally shave? Since there isn’t the pigmentation of underarms or somewhere normally shaved? I want to get my back done but I don’t want to start shaving it for it to not be dark enough and just end up with thicker back hair.
Thanks for this video. I was considering trying a home “laser” but your info helped me decide to not do that. I will wait until I can afford a qualified provider.
The home laser are IPL. Very less effective compared to LASER( Light Amplification Stimulate Emission of Radiation). Those machines are far complicated, than IPL devices.
Thank you very much for this amazing lhr information, as I am getting it done already so I can tell it was all very crucial and clear to understand.
My question is after 6 treatments of lhr through Diode on face if I still see a lot of growth, shall I switch to Ndyag or if I do switch will it be harmful?
Another question can Alexandrite laser be used for skin type 4.5 ever as Ndyag is not working on that body area anymore because hair are black but fine.
Your answers will be very much appreciated
I was rather hoping to find info on whether it damages the skin on the long run…
can laser hair removal cause wrinkles?
That’s great! When should we shave before the procedure?
24 hours before the session
I didn’t have time to watch the whole video but do you mention anything about moles and freckles? I have plenty and I use laser hair removal at home. How do I safely go around them? Do I need to cover them up?
are there other type of hair removal that is permanent that's not laser or electrolysis, or just something that is WAY lower risk in side effects & things going permanently wrong? thx and Happy new yr.
I have chronic folliculitis on my arms and I just finished 6 months of accutane which made it sooo much worse. I am getting treated by my dermatologist and have gotten tests done and 2 biopsy’s to figure out what the issue is. I have been doing research and REALLY want to get laser hair removal but my arm hair is blonde. What can I do? 😢
Hi there, i get my ipl lazer device frm amazon soon. I have 3 questions for you,
1- on the face, at what setting should i be useing it?
2- can i do it every night or every other day?
3- at night after use can i continue with my nightime skincare routine, or should i wait an hour or so?
Please let me know, thankyou.🙂
Can u please tell me which laser hair removal brand u bought on Amazon? I am a middle aged woman and I am going through perimenopause and I feel some fuzz on my face I would like to try to remove that at home
thoughts on the Kenzzi at home IPL device?
Hey quick question... My operater said this to me that lazer would effect just fine in some parts of my body and woud not works in some other parts(like areas with thinner hair but also dark hair as same as the rest of my body) she believes that it woud cuase growing thicker hair.... My question is "is there Really a difference? "
What are the age parameters for laser hair removal?
what about the areas where you have moles? is it dangerous to laser these areas?
The least painful laser hair removal machine is the Soprano Ice Titanium, it is dramatically more comfortable compared to all other lasers, it is low fluence high repetition rate, with contact cooling, it's the same laser technology but with a different kind of method... It shoots 3 different wavelengths simultaneously, Alex, diode and ND-YAG, can be used on all skin types
Thats cool. Issue is tho if all the wavelength technology is shot simultaneously, then how would that work with darker skin tone such as dark Fitzpatrick 4s-6. Just because I know you would not be able to use Alex or diode on Fits 5-6 especially as you'll just burn them or cause pigmentation. so wouldn't you only want to use ND YAG on them, not with Alexandrite or diode as the wavelengths don't go deep enough to not burn the melanin in their skin? No hate or me correcting you there as I am new to my career in laser, I'm just interested as how it would work on Fitz 4-6 if they are all shot at the same time as I'm not familiar with the machine ! :)
@@hannahlester4546 im 4, it was fine. After a while it stopped working as well as i was hoping once the hair got finer, i moved on to cynosure, works much better but more painful
@@user-jw5gd9mj7phi i am in a similar situtation as you. I took 12 sessions of soprano titanium. I am 22 yo and not super hairy, but obv my legs armpit were in desperate need of laser treatments. But esp in my upper leg and arm area, where my hairs were much thinner, i dis not see any progress there. Also armpit lower leg and genitals although these are in very good progress, there are still about 40% remaining and so i though to myself if i needed to try alexandrite cynosure for the next times; what do you say? What are your experiences so far?
@@elifnuryldrm6870 I have seen much better results with cynosure alexandrite laser, but that is if they use the right settings, they must not be too low that you'll see very little to no benefit, but also not too high that they will burn you and cause scarring and hyperpigmentation
Is Alma Suprano the same machine that you are talking about?
When we are using the machine do you just press the button once and keep going or keep pressing the button, thank u
I have a question! 🙋🏻♀️ will laser hair removal help with my KP??
Hi doc, I have a question. I finish my 6 sessions both underam and brazilian hair laser removal. I been taking marine collagen drink, Is this something okay to take while still on my treatment. My therapist said I need to stop to slow down the growth of hair specially on my bikini area. I stop drinking collagen drink for two weeks now. My face has a lot of pimples now. Before, when I was taking a collagen , I have no pimples. I hope you could help me about
I have thick blond hair on my chin and rosacea with pustules in that same area. What would be the best way to remove the hair without making my rosacea worst?
I would say treat your rosacea first. They offer BBL face laser for rosacea
when you get laser does it get rid of black stains for example under the armpits?
Electrolysis requires a lot of visits. It was like $90 an hour and the lady said it takes about two years for everything to stay smooth without regrowth. I eventually didn’t finish that timeframe, but maybe if I find a new place with a better price I would do it again. I was already going twice a week.
can you keep using an IPL-laser-device at home whilst getting dioden-laser-hair-removal???
Is it safe to have 1 laser session per week? The clinic i go to and the different estheticians that do the laser on me all say i have to go back every week for it to be more effective but everything i see on google says 4-6 weeks :(
Can you do a video on laser for broken blood vessels on face? Ie: cheeks
How do we know what is a true laser treatment versus an IPL? It seems that so many places are saying they do laser treatments only to find out they are IPLs.
Can you do eyelashes. I have some growing into my eye very uncomfortable.
Is it okay to do laser hair removal on the face while having facial treatments like chemical peeling, dermapen etc.? Thank you 😊
You can but you have to time them correctly. So from when you get laser on the face, I think its 2 weeks minimum to get a peel or microneeding, and then I when you get either done, again you have to wait a minimum of 2 weeks until you can get laser on the face. So it is possible, you just have to time it correctly ! Ive been doing micro needing and laser on my face, and as long as you wait the minimum time, then its good to go! :)
What do you think about the Kenzie home unit?
Very informative 🙌 i am looking to start doing hair removal in my salon and i am confused wiyh all the machines out there... Of course the companies advertise all of them as being the best including IPL so I wasn't sure what to get.... One thing i am concerned about is using the laser on people with lots of moles or birthmarks? Can this burn the mole? I know theres a white Kajal marker to put on but does that work for 3D moles also?
I just finished a course of laser, made some good search.. The Soprano in motion Diode 810nm is best so far.
Hi 👋 Dr Ellis, a lot of people who seek out laser hair removal treatments will also have stretchmarks in areas that have hair, can laser hair removal machine also improve the appearance of stretchmarks, would you be hitting two birds with one stone?
I have stretch marks on my thighs, and I have done 8-9 sessions of laser hair removal on my legs. It hasn't changed the appearance of the stretch marks.
What is disadvantages of removing the hair frome wire use how is it especially in face .
What about soft facial hair? I do have them dark but they’re not really super dark if u get me? Can I have a laser removal and hope it’ll disappear?
Can you have laser hair removal over tattoos?
If I still am interested in trying IPL, are there any possibilities of skincancer in this treatment?❤
I heard about ice laser and it targets blonde hairs but I don’t know if it’s true i saw it on a md website
When does hyperpigmentation appear?
Does laser hair removal have any reproductive side affects? Thank you!! Such a great video!
No, but you can't get laser hair removal if you're pregnant or breastfeeding
@@mylene_b why not if it has no affects on these things?
@@supernice_auto because it's not ethical to do double blind studies on pregnant women, so it's never done. She said it was safe, she just wouldn't recommend it.
so eventually the hair will grow back? then what is the purpose of doing it? does is grow as it used to be or like barely noticeable?
Hair is not gone forever but it last longer than waxing and shaving
Which making do you use???
Hi Dr Sam, just one comment on at home devices - the Tria is said to be an at-home diode laser and has a study behind it too. Would love your input. I've been using it and seeing results but it's very very slow.
Wow I hadn’t heard of this! Definitely going to look into it.
at home devices as IPL are weaker than what you would get somewhere else, so it would just take a lot more sessions and longer time to get results! I've heard some good things about at home devices!
so what do you recommend for an older woman who has sprouted a lot of grey hairs on the chin? sounds like laser is not an option! i would like to find a more permanent solution than plucking them out. thanks!
Electrolysis!
It seems that I never can rid of my hair on my chin I go wax my chin every week or two weeks I would like to get my chin hair removed permanently what could i do