Laser Hair Removal, Treatment by permanent laser hair removal
The most revolutionary method of successful modern hair removal is, without a doubt, laser hair removal, and this technology is continually being fine-tuned and improved. Laser hair removal came into commercial prominence back in the early 1990s.
Laser hair removal systems use a laser to disable the follicles and once a follicle is destroyed, it is believed to stop producing hair. However, some research indicates that with some medications or hormonal imbalances, dormant hair follicles can be stimulated to regrow hair. Two to four laser hair removal treatments carried out at 4 to 6-week intervals are required.
LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) treatments (hair-removal-wise) are becoming more and more popular among women, many still stick with the conventional approach in getting rid of unwanted hair. Many dermatologists are also advocating long term control of hair growth using lasers, rather than advocating permanent hair removal.
How Laser Hair Removal Works
During the treatment, a laser, consisting of one wavelength and a pulse width of monochromatic light, targets the melanin in the hair (the darker the hair, the better). The aim is for the laser to destroy the hair follicle without harming surrounding tissue or causing hypo pigmentation of the skin (areas of lighter pigmentation).
Laser hair removal is sometimes marketed as being permanent - although this is not the case, even though it can remove some hairs permanently in instances where the hair follicles are completely destroyed. (This is also the case with electrolysis). Unfortunately, not all hair follicles are targeted accurately enough to achieve permanent removal of all the hair. So, at most, you can expect hair reduction. You will also need multiple treatments over several months - how many, depends on the part of your body that you are having treated, and this also varies from person to person. The good news, however, is that laser treatment does delay hair growth, and scientific studies have shown that this may lead to temporary hair loss for about three months.
Because the laser targets the melanin, laser hair removal treatment works best for people with dark hair (containing lots of melanin) and fair skin (containing little melanin), but as the technology improves, good results are also being achieved on darker skin (however, if you have very dark or black skin, laser treatment is definitely not for you). As you have to have pigment in your hair for laser hair removal to work, you are also not a candidate if you have blonde or grey hair.
Picture for Laser Hair Removal
This woman is having laser treatment to remove unwanted hair from her face. Both she and the laser operator are wearing goggles to protect their eyes.
Laser Hair Removal Treatment, Benefits and Side Effects
One of the major benefits of laser treatment is that when it is done professionally, it is a safe procedure and can treat large parts of the body in a short period of time (as opposed to electrolysis where each hair is targeted individually). There are a number of excellent lasers for laser hair removal. The one best suited to you depends on your skin type and the part of the body that is to be treated. These days, dermatologists seem to prefer lasers with a slightly longer wavelength, such as the normal mode alexandrite laser, the pulsed diode laser and the YAG laser.
You have to wear eye protection during the treatment to prevent any possible damage to your retinas. Depending on your pain threshold, there is minimal pain. (Generally, you do not need anesthesia, but for larger or more sensitive body areas, a topical anesthetic, applied as a cream, should do the trick.) If you have dark skin, you may have some temporary hypopigmentation (lighter areas of pigmentation) following the treatment.
There is a risk of scarring if the laser practitioner uses too powerful a laser during the laser hair removal treatment - another reason to choose the best clinic you can find. Opting for a less reputable establishment offering inexpensive treatments may not save you money in the long run.
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