This is usually one of the first questions someone will ask – Does it hurt? The answer is: Well, it depends….. In general it is like a rubber band snap, so a quick zap. There are a number of factors which can contribute to the pain or lessen it
- Type of laser used – Without getting deep into the science there are three broad types: Laser, Diode, and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). Lets look at each of these.
- Laser – This is the true laser and produces a single wavelength of light (color) Depending on the wavelength the laser can be used to treat different skin types or conditions (hair removal, vascular lesions, age spots, etc.) Since it is one pure wavelength it can be very precisely targeted for a certain color and have less heating of other color tissues.
- Diode – like laser it can deliver a precise wavelength and discomfort would be about the same.
- IPL – IPL uses a flashbulb which gives of a intense pulse of white light, but it is a broad spectrum light which covers the the visible spectrum of light. They then use filters to control the light which passes. But like sifting sand, you can block the longer wavelengths, but everything smaller than the filter gets through. This results in much more light energy into the skin which translates to heat which is the pain.
- Cooling – For all types of devices there will be some sort of cooling done to cool the skin before the laser pulses then possibly cool it afterwords. Some use a short spray of cryogen to cool the skin before the laser. Others have a chilled laser head that cools the skin when it contacts the skin, others use an external device to apply additional cooling. Some will have to use an icepack. From our experience the true laser with a cryogen spray is the most comfortable (the manufacture Candela uses this technology.)
- Skin color – All devices use the light energy to heat the dark hair in the follicle. A person with very dark hair and fain/pale skin will have the maximum heat delivered to the hair with minimal heating of the surrounding skin. As the skin tone gets darker the melanin in the skin increases which also absorbs the light energy and can result in more skin heating and discomfort.
- Location – legs, underarms, and other areas with a lot of tissue will be less uncomfortable, but areas over bone such as ankle, scalp, pubic bone, etc can be more uncomfortable.
- Hair density – If you have an area with dense thick hair (beard, scalp bikini) then of course more heat will be absorbed vs areas where the hair is more sparse (Thighs, arms, back, etc.)
- Menstrual cycle – For women it can be more uncomfortable during your period.
OK, so many factors determine the answer to “Does it Hurt”. Taking the worst cases above it could be very uncomfortable, but not enough that you wouldn’t go though with it. Best case it would be just mildly uncomfortable. If you have ever waxed before, laser will be a breeze.
Many clinics will also offer a topical pain killer which can be used in tender areas. Some will provide this as part of the service (as we do) but others will charge you for a tube.
With he topical pain killers the discomfort can be greatly reduced, so fear of the pain should keep you from seeking laser hair removal. The discomfort for the few minutes of hair removal will be worth never waxing again or a suffering a nasty razor cut.
If you are in the Metro Denver area, please visit us: Bella Pelle Laser.