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Summer Skin Tips: Get Smoother Skin with Laser Hair Removal

Summer Skin Tips: Get Smoother Skin with Laser Hair Removal

Nothing is better than crawling into bed with smooth legs or stepping out onto the beach with full confidence that no hairs are peeking out. There are numerous ways to achieve gorgeous, smooth skin such as waxing or shaving but, most options require tons of maintenance. From a young age, people, especially women, have to maintain hair all over the body. Let’s be honest, it’s exhausting. Enough is enough! Say hello to smooth skin in just a few short weeks with laser hair removal. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about laser hair removal and how it’ll change your life.

What You Need to Know

Laser hair removal is a safe and effective way to stop follicles from producing hair. This cuts down on the need for shaving and waxing, leaving your skin smooth and stubble-free. For each person, the laser hair removal process is unique. The amount of sessions and length of each session is dependent on the density of follicles the area possesses and which area you would like to treat. There are some important aspects of laser hair removal that you need to be aware of before considering if the treatment is right for you.

  • Hair Color: Lasers for hair removal cannot detect white, blonde, grey or red hair. If you have body hair this shade, there’s a chance you are not eligible for the treatment as the laser won’t be able to focus on hair follicles and possibly damage your skin.
  • Skin Color: It is a common misconception that you are ineligible for laser hair removal if you have a darker skin tone. This is actually false! Your skin color matters much less than the color of your leg hair for this treatment. However, lasers can interact differently with all skin tones, so be sure to talk to your dermatologist about the laser options offered and if they’re right for you.
  • Irritation: Laser hair removal feels a bit like a rubber band snapping against the skin. The process is much less irritating than any other form of hair removal, but it does occasionally leave a bit of redness and irritation. This should disappear within a few hours of the treatment.

Treatment Benefits

Still need some convincing that laser hair removal is right for you? Here are some of the top benefits of the treatment and why it is worth the cost.

  • Goodbye razors, shaving cream, and waxes! From the time you start shaving until you decide you’ve had enough, shaving products will always be in your shopping cart. A good razor costs around $15, which definitely adds up over a lifetime.
  • No more ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs can be uncomfortable and unruly. There are few good solutions to ridding your skin of them. With laser hair removal, the follicle actually becomes ineffective, so there is no opportunity for the pore to become clogged or the hair to become ingrown.
  • Minimal upkeep. Once you’ve completed your treatment, you will be given instructions on caring for your skin. You will no longer have to double-check your legs or quickly shave before throwing on a skirt or shorts. With laser hair removal, you will have the confidence to wear what you want, when you want.

Laser hair removal is a great way to make your beauty maintenance simpler and give you the confidence to show off your smooth skin at all times. Understanding the ins and outs of the treatment can help you make a more informed decision as to whether laser hair removal is right for you.

The dermatologists at Knoxville Dermatology Group and their MediSpa are professional and experienced and offer Vectus Laser Hair Reduction. To book your treatment, call Knoxville Dermatology Group today at (865) 342-5823 or visit their website.

Don’t Let Ingrown Hairs Get In Your Way

“No shave November” is long gone and with warmer weather and spring break approaching, it’s time to start shaving more often. Unfortunately, for many people with more consistent shaving comes razor burn and ingrown hairs.

What is an ingrown hair?

Ingrown hairs occur when a hair is trapped inside the follicle or when it grows back into the skin. Then an inflammatory response typically occurs signaling that you have an ingrown hair. This means that you will experience redness, itchiness, pain and/or a raised, pimple like blemish.

Ingrown hairs often heal on their own. For the pesky ones that don’t want to go away, there are several ways to treat them. Try using tweezers to lift the ingrown end, but don’t puck or dig it out as this could make it worse. Also, try using products that contain azulene or allantoin to reduce the swelling.

How to treat

The best way to treat ingrown hairs is to take precautionary steps to prevent them. Ensure that you are using proper shaving techniques including: not shaving too closely, shaving the direction of your hair growth and using a sharp razor. Exfoliate your skin in areas where you shave when you shower to dislodge ingrown hairs. Also, use products containing active ingredients, such as salicylic acid, after you shave.

If you have questions or concerns regarding ingrown hairs call to schedule an appointment with KDG  at (865)690-9467 or visit www.knoxderm.com.

Ingrown Hairs – a Winter Story

smooth legs

Winter can cause typical grooming routines to involve atypical methods. Shaving is no stranger to seasonal changes. Our wintery tendency for dry skin and infrequent shaving can cause ingrown hairs.

Ingrown hairs are more common in people who have thick, curly hair since the hair is more likely to bend and re-enter the skin after the hair has been shaved. This can irritate the skin and leave boil-like sores on areas of your body, such as on the back of your legs, bikini area, underarms and face.

There are several ways to prevent ingrown hairs:

  • Exfoliate to tease out stubborn ingrown hairs.
  • Apply shaving cream before shaving.
  • Use a nice, sharp razor.
  • Shave in the same direction that your hair is growing.
  • Rinse the blade with water after each stroke.

With these preventative steps, the hair is more likely to behave and grow normally. The ingrown hair will usually go away over time, but just in case it doesn’t, seeking dermatological help is the next step. Without proper care, the hair can become infected, which could lead to scarring and darkened colored skin. Call us with any questions and let us help you achieve and maintain beautiful skin, from head (and hair) to toe.

If you have any questions about ingrown hairs or about changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Calm the Razor Burn

Photo Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos

Photo Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos

Most of us welcome a little break from shaving during the winter. “No shave November” has even taken on a life of its own. But there’s something about that smooth skin feeling that is irresistible. So after a shave break when we pull the razors back out during these chillier months, we are more susceptible to razor burn. The official name for this bumpy situation is folliculitis.

Razor burn, or folliculitis, is an infection caused by either bacteria or a fungi. The infection leads to the small, pimple-like bumps that itch or burn after shaving. Commonly triggered in the scalp, face, groin and thighs, folliculitis affects damaged hair follicles. Irritation usually occurs as a result of friction from clothing or shaving. It may seem an obvious and simple solution, but keeping skin moisturized can help you avoid these pesky bumps.

If you do experience a bout of razor burn, try pressing a warm, moist rag on the area. This will allow pores to open up and the damaged follicles to relax a bit. ALWAYS use clean razors when shaving to prevent any further infection. If you continue to experience itchiness or pain, please contact one of our certified dermatologists. Depending on the severity, a topical or oral antibiotic or anti-fungal medication should do the trick. You don’t have to “feel the burn” post-shave, and we’ll help you get quick relief.

If you have any questions about razor burn or about changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Prevent Ingrown Hairs

As irritating as they are, ingrown hairs pop into our lives, forcing us to deal with them. It’d be easier if they just never happened, right? That’s where your Knoxville Dermatology Team can help. Check out our easy-to-do tips for preventing ingrown hairs:

  • Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! The major cause of ingrown hairs is dead skin blocking the hair follicle from growing out properly. A great at-home remedy can do the trick. Add a scoop of kosher salt to some shower gel and you’ve got an easy pre-shave exfoliator.
  • Keep skin soft. Soft skin is more pliable which means your hair is less likely to snag on dead skin after you shave. Apply shaving cream or pre-shave oil 10 minutes before removing hair to prep the skin.
  • Better safe than sorry! Avoid infection by using a lotion or oil with anti-bacterial ingredients like tea tree oil or lavender oil. Alcohol-based products are a no-no as they can dry out, irritate and inflame your skin.
  • Adjust your technique. Believe it or not, there is a right and wrong way to shave. One trigger for razor bumps is shaving too closely, so don’t pull or tug at skin while shaving. Also, don’t put too much pressure on the blades. Use as few strokes as possible and in the same direction to avoid the hair follicle digging inward or sideways.

These quick tips will go a long way to help you achieve smoother skin this summer and say goodbye to those pesky ingrown hairs.

If you have any questions about ingrown hairs or about changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.