The answer is yes. The U.S Food and Drug Administration approved it as a safe method for hair removal in 1997. However, laser hair removal is only safe when a licensed technician performs the procedure. During your consultation, make sure your technician has the proper certifications as required by your state.
Laser hair removal involves the use of laser pulses. These pulses emit light into the skin that destroys the root and follicle of the hair. When the root and follicle are destroyed, hair can no longer grow.
For this process to work, the hair must be targeted during an active growth phase. However, individual hairs usually grow at different rates. Therefore, it takes several treatment sessions to capture every hair in the growth phase and produce optimal results.
To prepare for laser hair removal, avoid plucking, waxing, and tanning for six weeks prior to your first treatment. In the days before treatment, avoid taking medications such as blood thinners, NSAIDs, and pain relievers. Take a shower and shave right before your treatment, but don’t apply any lotions, moisturizers, or sunscreens to the skin.
It is best to play it safe and avoid laser hair removal while you’re pregnant. There is no evidence to suggest that it is unsafe, but there have not been long-term studies to analyze the effect of the laser on an unborn child. To protect your unborn baby, wait until after you’ve given birth to begin laser hair removal treatment.
Anyone can get laser hair removal, regardless of skin color or hair type. However, people with light skin and dark hair tend to see faster and better results than people with light hair or a darker skin tone. Any man or woman can have the treatments, though pregnant women should wait until after they’ve given birth to begin their sessions.