By Aanand Geria, MD
Laserhairremovalis a noninvasive cosmetic treatment used to eliminate undesirable body and facialhair.
Laserhairremovalon the body might produce permanent or near-permanent outcomes for certain individuals. Others may see a significant decrease in the number and thickness ofhairthat regrows over time.
While permanent results are unlikely for the face, regrowth may take years.
The outcomes vary depending on a number of variables. These include the locations that are being treated as well as variable hormonal levels.
How long does it take forhairto regrow?
Understandinghairdevelopment patterns may help you estimate how long it will take for yourhairto regrow.
Hairgrowth stages
Hairpasses through four phases of development. They are as follows:
The growth phase is catagen, the transitional phase is telogen, the resting period is exogen, and the shedding phase is anagen.
At any one moment, you have hairs in all four stages.
Laserhairremovalvaporizes existing hairs under the epidermis and at the root.
As a result, it can only target hairs during their anagen (growing) phase. That is why it requires numerous treatments, spaced apart, to reach all of thehairthat develops in a certain area.
Body regeneration
Duringlasertreatments, you will continue to seehair. Some of this will be regrowth, but the majority will remain untreatedhair.
After your treatment is over, you may not notice regrowth for several years.
Laserhairremovalon the body may produce permanent or extremely long-lasting results. Anyhairthat grows back should be sparse and thin over time.
Face regeneration
Laserhairremovalon the face isn’t usually permanent, although it may be.
Some individuals claim that no hair grows back after ten years or longer. Others have faster regrowth and depend on yearly touch-up procedures to keep unsightly hair at bay.
Doeshaircome back quicker in particular regions of the body or on the face?
Hairwill most likely come back on the chin, neck, and other parts of the face afterlaserhairremoval.
This might be related to hormonal swings and androgens like dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone-reactivating hair follicles.
Hair regrowth on the chin, neck, upper lip, and sideburns may occur in some women after menopause when estrogen levels fall.
Bodyhairregrowth is also possible. It may be more common on the arms, legs, or chest in certain persons than on the bikini line, stomach, or underarms.
Whenhairgrows back on the body, it is usually sparse and fine.
In rare cases,laserhairremovalmay result in thicker, darkerhairgrowing or regrowing in an area next to the one being treated. This is referred to as paradoxical hypertrichosis. Anywhere on the face or body might develop paradoxical hypertrichosis.
Does the color of one’shairor skin make a difference?
Yourhairor skin color may influence how successfullasertreatments are for you at first, but they have no bearing on how fast yourhaircomes back once treatments are completed.
Laserhairremovalis currently not considered effective for blond, white, or grayhair.
Is there anything you can do to preventhairgrowth?
Hairregrowth may be controlled usinglasertherapy touch-ups as required.
Electrolysis is another option ifhairgrowth is minimal. Electrolysis treats individual hairs rather than whole regions.
Keeping your hormones regulated if you have a disease like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) will help lessen the probability ofhairregrowth. You may help regulate these hormones by taking drugs like Metformin or making dietary changes like limiting your carbohydrate consumption.
Will repeatedlasertreatment sessions ultimately hinderhairgrowth?
Lasertreatments are sometimes marketed in bundles of four or more sessions. It may take 12 treatments or more to entirely stophairgrowth.
Following that, touch-ups should be minor. Initially, some individuals may need semiannual treatments. Others may discover that they don’t need a touchup for five years or more.
