Although it affects some people more than others, it must be admitted that thinking about the laser hair removal session produces anguish, not so much because of the investment of money and time but because of the pain it produces. But is it true that laser hair removal hurts? In this article, you will discover the tips to make it more efficient, painless, and without adverse effects on your skin.

How much does laser hair removal hurt on every body part?

First of all, it must be said that there is no general answer to this question. The sensation of pain is as different as a fingerprint. Depending on the part of the body, the thickness of the skin, the density of the hair, and the personal pain sensation, permanent hair removal with a laser are more or less painful.

The good news is: The pain is limited and can therefore be tolerated well. Even sensitive people with low pain tolerance can endure the laser treatment without any problems. All the more so as an ultra-modern laser machine with a sophisticated cooling system, this ensures that customers hardly feel any pain during permanent hair removal. On the contrary, some report that they find the laser treatment almost pleasant.

Let's move on to see how laser hair removal feels on every body part.

Note: The pain level is from 0 to 10. Here, 0 means you have no pain; one to three means mild pain; four to seven is considered moderate pain; eight and above is severe pain.

Does laser hair removal hurt your face?

Pain level: 2-8

The pain depends on which part of your face is applying laser hair removal. It's necessary to say that the thickness of your skin varies even on your face. The upper lip is by far the most painful area because the skin there is thinner than anywhere else on the face. You may feel a rubber band snap on your face, very fast but very sharp. On the other hand, areas with thicker skin—such as the chin, cheeks, and forehead-tend to be mild and therefore are at the lower end of the pain range.

Does Brazilian or bikini laser hair removal hurts?

Pain level: 8

Most people are surprised how little painful Brazilian laser hair removal is. This is by no means pleasant, but it is definitely bearable. You will usually take bikini treatments there without getting hurt at all. However, spots near the top and middle, such as the vagina and anal, are more painful than others. Although the pain is subjective, most people think it is less painful than a bikini or Brazilian wax.

• Read also: Brazilian laser hair removal cost

Does laser hair removal hurt on armpits or underarms?

Pain level: 9

Compared with other parts of the body, the underarms may be more painful to undergo laser hair removal. This is because the skin under the armpits is much thinner. Although the pain is said to only last a few seconds, you may need to consider your pain tolerance before making an appointment.

Does laser hair removal hurt on the buttocks?

Pain level: 5-7

Laser hair removal hurts moderately on the buttocks because butts are pretty sturdy. According to those who had hair zapped from the buttocks, they said there is only mild pain and discomfort during the laser treatment. But laser hair removal hurt a little bit between the buttocks since this area is more sensitive.

Does laser hair removal hurt on the legs?

Pain level: 6-7

Laser hair removal tends to be relatively painless along the legs. The pain felt like a mere snaping in the skin. It happens smoothly, so you won't even notice the pain. Nevertheless, depending on the sensitivity, certain parts of the legs may be injured more during the operation, such as the inner thigh compared to the calf.

Does laser hair removal hurt on the back?

Pain level: 7

Due to the large number of hairs on the back, this area will take up to an hour to treat, making it painful as the underarms.

Does laser hair removal hurt on arms?

Pain level: 3

The skin on the arms is thicker than the forearms, so the sensation is mild. Many people describe the sensation as mere discomfort, similar to a sunburn.

Does laser hair removal hurt on the stomach?

Pain level: 4

Like the skin on your arms, the skin on your stomach tends to be thicker, so laser hair removal won't hurt too much here.

How long does laser hair removal take?

The average duration of each session depends on the size of the area being treated Normally, it will take from 10 minutes for a small area (such as upper lip), up to 70 minutes (larger areas like the full back, for example).

How many treatments are needed for laser hair removal?

The number of sessions depends on various factors: the area to be removed, the characteristics of each patient's hair, and the type of laser used. In general, all experts agree that the average is 8 sessions to remove body hair.

Does laser hurt more on darker skin?

Yes, laser hair removal on brown or dark skin will cause more pain and take a much longer time to get the desired results. It's true that laser hair removal on brown or dark skin has greater difficulty and requires specific technology since the light from most pulsed light devices is absorbed by the melanin of the hair and skin. Therefore, if you have darker skin, the skin will absorb more light, which can lead to laser hair removal burns, discolorations, or scars. 

The solution is to use longer wavelength lasers, which are less absorbed by melanin. However, all this has certain drawbacks that it is good to remember: the first thing is that more sessions are needed to produce the same result. But in addition, these lasers can also cause more pain, although the machines usually include cooling devices to reduce it.

Does laser hair removal hurt less each session?

Yes, laser hair removal hurts more in the first session, with very thick and colored hair, then it gets better. At the same time, you may be able to tolerate it better and therefore feel less pain.

Is there any painless laser hair removal?

Unfortunately, there is no laser hair removal to be effective without pain. Laser hair removal is a painful treatment. The pain depends on the dose used. The dose impacts the effectiveness of the treatment. The laser will heat the hair to more than 100 °C to get to damage everything at the root. Thus, it inevitably hurts. Some clinics claim they offer pain-free laser hair removal sessions or have machines with ice-cooling functions. This also means that their laser machines won't heat the hair follicle at high temperatures, so the hair can't be destroyed effectively. Think about how expensive laser hair removal is! It's not worth it if the laser doesn't work at all.

How to make laser hair removal hurt less?

If you are particularly sensitive and are worried that laser hair removal will be too painful for you, know that there are ways to significantly reduce the pain. 

• It is advisable to shave with a razor 24 hours before each session. The hair that protrudes from the skin perceives the laser light, heats up, and burns the surrounding skin. In addition, since a large amount of energy is required to reach the root, the result worsens.

• Deeply hydrates. A hydrated skin leads to less pain in the laser hair removal session. A high-quality cream based on aloe vera with regenerative active ingredients can help you before and after. Very important is that you use self-tanning creams.

• As we have already mentioned before, if you have a period, avoid waxing your pubis and groin. You must take into account the menstrual cycle when scheduling the appointment.

• It is convenient to follow strictly and not skip the sessions when it is your turn, it usually coincides at the beginning of each new outbreak. When hair is thinner, laser hair removal will hurt less.

• If the cabin has the air conditioning on it is better. The cold temperature has an anesthetic effect added to the cold of the laser gun tip.

• You have to try to stay calm because if it is predisposed to perceive pain, you will feel more.

What helps the pain after laser hair removal?

After the waxing session, it is essential to carry out a series of measures to be able to find the protection that the skin demands by choosing the right products. Thus, the treated area can heal quickly, always ensuring effective results.

Use ice and compresses after treatment

After laser hair removal, you may feel some minor discomfort. The area may also appear slightly swollen or reddened. You can use ice or cold compresses immediately after the treatment, once you get home.

Apply aloe vera

Additionally, aloe vera gels can be used to soothe any redness or swelling. This vegetable helps reduce skin discomfort, as it contains anti-inflammatory compounds. It is best to choose a gel that does not contain added alcoholic compounds. It is convenient to keep aloe vera gel at low temperatures in the refrigerator to preserve its properties. Also, it would be better to use fresh aloe vera gel because it is more effective.

Keep the treated area clean

It is important to clean the treated area with soft wipes, at least once a day. Try to keep the skin clean, especially if it is the face. It is essential to care. A cleanser designed for sensitive skin should be used when cleaning the area.

Apply gentle lotion

Likewise, you can try to choose a moisturizer adapted to sensitive skin. After laser hair removal, our skin will be more vulnerable to external aggressions. It will probably feel drier too, especially when it is healing. Applying a moisturizer designed for sensitive skin to the treated area will relieve the feeling of dryness without causing further irritation.  

Use over-the-counter pain relievers

you can also use pain relievers if the ice packs and aloe vera are not effective enough. It is preferable that a specialist doctor indicates it to us, directing the daily intake. If the pain persists and becomes excessive after 24 hours, you should contact our doctor. It is worth mentioning that aspirin is not recommended after laser hair removal as it thins the blood and can slow healing time. 

Avoid makeup after 24 hours

Finally, you should avoid makeup as much as possible. If you have performed the laser session on your face, you should not apply this type of product, as it can aggravate the irritation. It is better to use a minimal amount of this product, as little as possible the days after the treatment. When the redness and swelling have decreased, you should observe how our skin reacts to makeup by applying just a few drops.  

What are the negatives of laser hair removal?

No medical treatment is risk-free and laser hair removal is no exception to this rule. There are risks associated with laser hair removal treatment and side effects can occur. It is convenient to know these details to be up to date before undergoing this treatment, for this you will see each of the risks and how to reduce their probability, the permanent and temporary side effects, as well as the disadvantages that laser hair removal offers compared to other techniques.

• Burns. These are superficial burns, in most cases, which at first have a reddish color and then turn brown. These burns evolve until they form a scab that falls off after 10 or 15 days. 

• Scares: Poorly healed burns can leave a sequel in the form of a scar. And, although the laser has a system to protect the skin, such as cold air, it can cause these skin lesions.

• Changes in skin color. Changes in the skin color of the patient can occur due to the increase or decrease of the pigment in the skin. When darkening occurs it is called 'hyperpigmentation' and when lightening occurs it is called 'hypopigmentation'.

• Eye injuries and facial laser hair removal. In facial laser hair removal, especially in the one that develops in the eyebrows, it is important to have specialists who guarantee your safety during the treatment.

In many cases, you will choose cheap treatments that appear on the Internet. But we recommend that it be performed a certificated technician in a fully qualified clinic with all the aforementioned so that you are never afraid of being able to perform your laser hair removal without any side effects. You can read the opinions of laser hair removal from many people who were not cautious and had their treatment done in the wrong center, either due to proximity or ignorance.

Is there a painless alternative to laser hair removal?

If you are a giant baby when it comes to anything painful or want to remove hair on sensitive areas, like pubic hair or underarm, you would think laser hair removal is not a great option since it does hurt so much. No worries. There is a well-tolerated and safe method - home IPL hair removal device.

• Read also: How to remove pubic hair permanently at home?

Similar to a laser, IPL works to kill hair permanently, which allows hair reduction between 70% and 100% in just 6 months. The laser emits a very precise wavelength to be ideally absorbed by the melanin of the bulbs, while IPL devices use light in various spectra, at different wavelengths, to treat unwanted hair. That's why a laser is more powerful than IPL. But IPL devices are much cheaper and less painful than laser treatment, which can be used at home to zap away hair yourself.

MissPeachy IPL laser hair removal handset, just short of $199, is only the cost of laser treatment. Different from other hair removal devices on the market, MissPeachy is FDA-compliant and has high fluence that can safely and effectively get rid of unwanted facial and body hair. It is proven to show up to 70% hair reduction in just 5 weeks, resulting in smooth, hair-free skin. MissPeachy's broader window lets you treat your full body in 30 minutes and pubic hair in 10 minutes. A selection of intensity levels caters to different sensitivity and colors of your skin.

Recap

Laser hair removal is a safe way to remove hair if you choose an experienced and qualified professional. But no matter what method of hair removal, there are disadvantages and risks. Laser hair removal will inevitably cause varying degrees of skin pain depending on your treatment area. In this article, we discussed the pain levels of different body areas, how to reduce pain.

If you have particularly sensitive skin, you can discuss your pain tolerance with your provider and ask them about the methods to reduce your pain. Options include numbing creams and ice before treatment.

Hope it helps you.