These Derm-Approved Laser Hair Removal Devices Lead to Smooth Skin at Home

Smooth, hair-free skin that doesn’t need constant tending sounds like a dream. While plenty of ways to remove pesky body hair (plenty of people opt for sugaring wax or face razors for hard-to-reach places to get the job done), very few do the job effectively while also offering long-lasting results. But the best at home laser hair removal products help get rid of unwanted hair for extended periods of time—some even claim for good (though the jury is still out on that).

While performing laser hair removal at home can work, it’s important to note that you’ll get the best (and safest!) results by seeking a dermatologist to perform an in-office treatment.“Home laser hair reduction treatments appear to take longer to work than in-office laser hair removal treatments, meaning that more treatments over a longer period would be required for a home treatment,” explains Oma Agbai, M.D., board-certified dermatologist, health sciences associate clinical professor of dermatology and director of multicultural dermatology and hair loss disorders at the University of California, Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California.

If you plan to try this at home, experts recommend chatting with a board-certified dermatologist who can help guide you through the process of at-home laser hair removal, as well as assess any adverse effects—especially if you have a history of skin cancer.

Meet the experts: Oma Agbai, M.D., board-certified dermatologist; Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D., board-certified dermatologist in NYC; and Brendan Camp, M.D., F.A.A.D., board-certified dermatologist in NYC.

It’s also important to note that many at-home machines don’t use lasers at all, Marisa Garshick, M.D., F.A.A.D., board-certified dermatologist in NYC, says. “Different technologies may be found in at-home devices,” she explains. “IPL—also known as intense pulsed light—is a light-based therapy that emits multiple wavelengths of light. It is using heat to destroy the hair follicles and many of the at-home devices utilize this technology,” she explains.

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Ahead, find the best devices for at-home laser hair removal to get you one step closer to smooth, hair-free skin.