Response:

You can use certain at-home hair removal devices if you follow the instructions correctly. However, their effectiveness and safety depend on the technology, the device itself, your skin tone, hair color, hair thickness, and the method of application.

Common at-home hair removal devices use intense pulsed light (IPL) technology, which emits strong light pulses with multiple wavelengths. The melanin in the hair follicle absorbs this light energy, converting it into heat that affects the hair follicle. This process causes hair to grow back slower, sparser, and finer over time. Hair does not disappear completely after a single session; it typically requires multiple treatment sessions and regular maintenance.

At-home devices typically have limited energy levels to ensure user safety and ease of self-operation. You should not increase the frequency or use higher energy levels than the manufacturer's instructions, expecting faster hair removal. Doing so can increase the risk of burns, irritation, or changes in skin pigmentation.

Personal hair removal devices often have limited energy levels for safe at-home use. Illustration: Minh Anh

In contrast, hospitals and aesthetic clinics may use various technologies, such as diode laser, long-pulsed alexandrite laser, long-pulsed Nd YAG, or IPL, which offer both safety and optimized treatment efficacy. Each device features different characteristics regarding wavelength, energy, and mechanism of action.

Before treatment, a doctor assesses the skin condition, examines the target area, and identifies factors that might increase the risk of complications. The doctor selects the appropriate technology based on skin tone, hair color and thickness, the treatment area, and the skin's reaction.

During treatment, parameters can be adjusted based on the skin's reaction. Some professional devices also include cooling systems to protect the skin surface and reduce heat sensation. This is particularly crucial for individuals with darker skin tones or those prone to hyperpigmentation, as melanin is present not only in hair follicles but also in the skin. If the light energy or wavelength is unsuitable, the skin may absorb some energy, increasing the risk of burns or pigmentation changes. These cases require consultation before choosing a hair removal method.

After hair removal, you might experience some temporary reactions such as warmth, stinging, redness, red papules, or itching in the treated area. If you experience significant pain, blistering, scabbing, prolonged redness, or widespread intense itching, you should seek timely medical attention for a doctor to assess and treat, preventing skin complications.

To minimize irritation and pigmentation disorders, avoid hair removal on sunburnt, abraded, inflamed, or infected skin, or on areas with active chronic skin conditions. Before and after treatment, you should also limit direct sun exposure, shield the treated skin, and use appropriate sunscreen.

If you have excessive or rapidly growing hair, especially accompanied by other endocrine-related symptoms, you should not attempt to remove the hair yourself. Instead, consult a doctor to evaluate the underlying cause.

Doctor Dam Thi Thuy Hong

Head of Aesthetic Department

Tam Anh General Hospital Hanoi