Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal first began in the United States in 1995. It’s a fast and long-lasting method of removing facial or body hair. Laser hair removal rids our bodies of excessive hair in undesired locations.
How laser hair removal works:
- The laser is targeted to a small section of your skin.
- As the laser contacts your skin, it is easily absorbed by darker hair follicle cells
- These cells heat up and suffer thermal damage
- The hair follicles then shut down and may even die
Since only 25% to 35% of your hairs are actively growing at any time, these are the only ones that can be treated. Empty follicles which do not contain hair are unaffected by the laser. Subsequent laser treatments are required in order to allow all of the hair follicles in the treated area to grow hair so they can be affected by the laser.
Which areas can you treat with laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal works well on all areas of the body for both men and women. Most commonly treated areas are:
- Face – chin, upper lip, between the eyebrows, nose
- Underarms
- Bikini area
- Legs
- Arms
- Chest and back
- Back of neck
- Inside nose and ears
Does laser hair removal work on all skin types?
Laser hair removal works best on light-skinned people with dark hairs. But even people with dark or tanned skin can have effective laser hair removal treatments. However, people with blonde, grey, or white hairs that lack melanin can be very hard to treat. These hairs may need to be reduced with an alternate method.
What is a laser hair removal treatment like?
The laser is pulsed over the area to be treated. Each pulse treats an area about one-quarter inch square, and is accompanied by a slight tingling or burning sensation, similar to a rubber-band snap. If you have sensitive skin or are concerned about pain, a topical anesthetic can be used.
Your skin may feel warm and slightly uncomfortable for a few hours, similar to a mild sunburn. After a few days, your skin will begin to shed hairs affected by the treatment. These can be reduced by washing with a gentle, moisturizing soap.
How many treatments do I need?
For most people, four to six treatments may result in an 80% or more improvement in reducing hair from an area. That is the number of treatments needed to reduce all hair follicles from a desired area. Patients will need some maintenance throughout their lifetime as hormones may change the effectiveness of hair removal.