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The beauty industry is booming more than ever – understandably so, as everyone wants to feel good in their own skin and the latest technologies make a lot of things possible when it comes to beautifying and rejuvenating our external appearance. The younger generation in particular is enthusiastically embracing the trends in the beauty industry, including permanent laser hair removal.
This naturally raises the legitimate question for both young people and their parents as to how old laser hair removal is safe and sensible. You will find all the important information you need to know about this question in the following article.
Unwanted body hair in adolescents
You know how it is – during puberty everything is still so new and unfamiliar and the shame threshold is very high, everything is constantly embarrassing. This also includes these new, strange hairs on the body – insecurity about unwanted body hair is widespread in adolescence. As soon as the first hair sprouts on the legs, armpits and also on the face on the upper lip and chin, girls in particular often feel uncomfortable and want to get rid of it straight away.
As if all the mood swings, hormonal changes and the adventure of puberty weren’t enough, you now also have to deal with new body hair. The number of hair roots is actually the same for both sexes, the only decisive factor is how many and dark hairs ultimately grow from them.
Especially early or excessive hair growth at this age can really affect the psyche and impair self-confidence. All it takes is a quick look on the internet to find various methods for removing unwanted hair, including laser hair removal.
Can I have my hair removed with a laser at the age of 14?
This is a question that some adolescents are sure to ask themselves during puberty and, as soon as the topic comes up, their parents even more so. On the one hand, as a parent you naturally want to help your child to feel comfortable in their own skin, but on the other hand there is often a great deal of concern about such a procedure. Sexual and physical development in children is at its most intense between the ages of 12 and 14.
There are leaps in weight and growth, limbs sometimes grow unevenly and physical proportions are only slowly settling. Boys’ voices become rougher and girls slowly start their first menstrual cycle – so there’s a lot going on with the hormones.
During this time, it is very important that you as parents are there to provide support. It can be very helpful to explain the unfamiliar changes to the body – that they are part of growing up and are completely normal, while for some they happen earlier and for others later.
As far as laser hair removal at this age is concerned, there is no clear scientific evidence to date that laser hair removal at this age is harmful per se. Nevertheless, doctors and researchers are issuing a clear warning, as the hormonal balance is still in complete flux and the physical systems are still quite fragile.
In addition, the desired hair-free effect is unlikely to last long, as hair grows back at this age. It is therefore recommended to wait until after puberty until the most important growth and hormonal processes have been completed. This is the case between the ages of 16 and 18.
Incidentally, if an adolescent between the ages of 13 and 15 already has excessive hair growth, this could indicate a disorder of the endocrine system or the possible presence of hirsutism. The endocrine system consists of various glands and organs that are responsible for hormone balance.
In such cases, it is advisable to consult an endocrinologist before deciding on laser hair removal. Otherwise, the exact opposite effect could be produced – increased hair growth after the treatment.
🤔 So can I have laser hair removal at the age of 16?
Experts recommend starting laser hair removal from the age of 16 to 17 at the earliest. At this age, girls often already have a regular menstrual cycle and their physical development is well advanced – body growth is complete at around 16-17 years of age. In boys, the changes are also clearly visible and slowly stabilize, but they are a little later with everything – the body is only fully grown at around 19 years of age.
Laser hair removal is possible at this age under certain conditions if excessive hair severely impairs the adolescent’s self-confidence and psychological development. Here too, a specialist, preferably a dermatologist, should check whether there are any health concerns. If not, laser hair removal is possible at our institute, but only with the written consent of the parents or legal guardians, as they are responsible in this case.
Please always seek advice from specialists and take their advice seriously. The desired aesthetic results should never be achieved at the expense of health. Once all the pros and cons have been weighed up by parents and child and the decision to have laser hair removal under the age of 18 has been made, the most important thing is to choose a reputable, modern institute that employs certified specialists and works with the latest equipment.
At Laser ONE, you can rest assured that we only work with the best trained beauticians and use cutting-edge technology to ensure a flawless result.
