Philtrum Laser Hair Removal: Male vs. Female?
What is the difference between male and female philtrum laser hair removal?
As a person without growth!
Hello, I am Director Wi Young-jin. The philtrum area on a person's face is small in size, but it's a place where the gaze often lingers.
Therefore, for men, it becomes a concern as they quickly appear dark after shaving,
and for women, even with makeup, it subtly shows. This often becomes a worry.
Today, I would like to organize the key content related to this
in a deeper way.
1. Principle & Effect — 1 Minute Summary
Laser hair removal uses
light energy that reacts with melanin to transfer heat to the hair follicles and surrounding stem cells
to suppress hair growth. In particular, growing hair responds best, and
repeated treatments are necessary for hair to gradually become finer,
and it is expected to achieve results close to permanent.
The philtrum has a mix of thick dark hair and fine hair, so even in the same area, the hair types are diverse.
Thus, satisfaction varies greatly depending on the fineness of the equipment settings (wavelength, pulse width, energy).
Rather than a simple approach of “a few times and it’s done,” it's much more effective to adjust based on observing hair changes and reactions.
This is a key point emphasized in hair removal dermatology as well.
2. Key Points
1️⃣Precision of Energy Control Among the factors that determine hair removal effects, the most important is energy intensity control. ▽ If the energy is too low,
the heat does not reach the stem cells, and hair comes back a few weeks later,
△ If it is too strong, the risk of side effects such as burns or pigmentation increases.
In particular, the philtrum is a thin and sensitive area, so simply firing strongly is not sufficient,
and settings must be adjusted for each session according to individual hair density, thickness, and skin tone to achieve stable results.
There is also a large difference in hair thickness between men and women,
and even for the same person, as treatments accumulate, hair gradually becomes finer, so
applying the same settings each time can actually reduce effectiveness.
Therefore, a skilled medical team that can carefully observe reactions
and make fine adjustments is essential.
For this reason, if you are searching for a hair removal dermatology clinic,
I recommend those that provide personalized settings. 2️⃣Equipment Selection ft. The Role of Pulse Width The second most important factor is the performance of the equipment used. Generally, the widely used 755nm Alexandrite laser is effective for bright skin and fine hair, but
it has limitations when the skin tone is dark or the hair is thick.
Therefore, equipment that supports dual wavelengths (755nm + 1064nm)
is more stable and has a wider application range.
Additionally, the pulse width adjustment range must also be checked.
The philtrum has a mixture of thick hair and fine hair, so
long pulse width alone cannot effectively target the fine hair.
Devices like GentleMax Pro Plus that can precisely adjust short pulse widths
can accurately capture not only thick hair but also fine hair follicle cells, resulting in significant differences in outcomes.
In particular, equipment that can reduce the pulse width to around 2ms shows strength in fine hair removal.
Also, since the philtrum is an area where pain is felt sensitively,
having equipment with a powerful cooling system using gas jets
is safer in terms of pain reduction + preventing skin damage.
All these factors must be in place to ensure that we can expect not just to reduce hair but to achieve a state where it does not regrow in the long term. 3. Differences in Hair Removal for Men and Women
Although the philtrum may seem simple on the surface,
the hair structure and skin characteristics of men and women
are clearly different, so the approach itself must change.
▷ Characteristics of Men
The above photos are actual cases taken under the same conditions on the day of the procedure (2025.02.14) and in the 23rd week post-procedure.
Uploaded in the original form without brightness or color corrections. Individual variations exist and the post was made with personal consent.
😊High ratio of thick and strong terminal hair with a lot of melanin, so heat absorption is very high.
😊Often sensitive skin or pigmentation due to repeated shaving.
😊Initially requires high energy settings, but controlling within the safe range for the skin is crucial.
😊As hair grows strongly, maintaining a consistent interval between sessions is more effective.
▷ Characteristics of Women
😊A structure with a high ratio of fine hair while having thick hair.
😊Fine hair has low melanin, so short pulse width and delicate energy settings are essential.
😊Short hairs often show through makeup, so even minor changes are highly noticeable.
😊While thick hair decreases relatively quickly, fine hair diminishes gradually, making detailed adjustments important for each session.
Even for the same philtrum hair removal,
the structure and hair characteristics differ, so strategies must vary for stability.
Q&A — When is it possible for women to apply makeup after hair removal of the philtrum?
Q. Can I apply makeup right after hair removal?
A. Light makeup can be applied at least 6 to 12 hours later.
The philtrum is a sensitive area, so if you apply makeup immediately after the procedure,
there could be redness, stinging, or irritating dermatitis. A short rest time is necessary. ▷ Immediately after the procedure Only lightly apply moisturizer. Avoid tight makeup like foundation, cushion, and concealer. ▷ After 6 to 12 hours
If there is no redness or heat sensation, a thin base is possible.
Thick cover makeup is recommended a day later. ▷ Sensitive Skin Makeup is recommended 24 hours later. ▷ Precautions ▶ Avoid exfoliation, scrubbing, and waxing for 5 to 7 days.
▶ Avoid heat stimuli such as hot showers, saunas, and exercise.
▶ If you have skin prone to folliculitis, wear a mask at least on the day of treatment.
Delaying makeup a little bit does not reduce the hair removal effect, so there’s no need to worry.
Summary of Today’s Content 🌙The principle of targeting hair follicles and stem cells summarized 🌙The principle of targeting hair follicles and stem cells produces hair removal effects. 🌙Energy control for each session is the key to effectiveness. 🌙Equipment that can finely adjust pulse widths determines the outcome. 🌙Men and women have different structures and hair characteristics, requiring different approaches. 🌙It’s advisable for women to wait at least 6 to 12 hours before applying makeup after the procedure.
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Honest and sincere description of skin beauty treatments
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What's the difference between philtrum laser hair removal for men and women?
Men generally have thicker, denser hair in that area, so treatment settings and the number of sessions needed can differ noticeably from women's.
Q2. How many sessions of philtrum hair removal are needed?
It usually takes repeated sessions for hair to gradually become finer, with results building toward something close to permanent reduction rather than disappearing after just one treatment.
Q3. Is laser hair removal safe on the philtrum area?
The philtrum is thin and sensitive, so energy settings need careful adjustment each session based on hair density and skin tone to avoid side effects like burns or pigmentation.
Q4. Why doesn't hair removal work well if the energy setting is too low?
If the energy doesn't sufficiently reach the hair follicle's stem cells, hair tends to grow back within a few weeks, which is why proper calibration matters more than simply completing a session.
