How Lasers for Hair Removal Work

Laser History

First introduced in 1998, lasers for hair removal have been available to consumers for over 10 years. Today, there are four lasers that are regularly used for successful hair removal; these are the Alexandrite Laser, the Nd: YAG laser, the Diode Laser and the IPL (intense pulsed light) Laser. Each laser is specifically designed to treat certain individuals based on their skin type. All lasers for hair removal utilize pigment-seeking light. We have pigment both in our skin and in our hair; those patients with darker skin tones require different technology than those with lighter skin tones because there is less of a differentiation between hair color and skin tone. Lasers with shorter wavelengths such as the Alexandrite are designed to treat patients with lighter skin tones, and lasers with longer wavelengths such as the Nd: YAG are designed to treat patients with darker skin tones. Being treated with the proper laser will ensure safe, effective laser treatments.

How Lasers Work

As the laser is passed over the treatment area, short pulses of laser light pass through the outer layers of skin and are attracted to the pigment in the hair follicles below. The laser energy is absorbed by the hair follicles and transforms into heat, which cauterizes the blood flow to the hair, effectively destroying the follicle. Once a hair follicle is destroyed by laser, it will never grow again. After a series of treatments, men and women will experience a drastic reduction in unwanted hair.

Hair Growth Cycles

Many hair removal patients ask why they need more than one treatment. The fact of the matter is our hair grows in three different stages: the anagen, or growth stage, the catagen, or resting stage, and the telogen, or shedding stage. Hair can be effectively destroyed by the laser only when it is in the anagen stage because this is the only growth stage where the hair is attached to the blood supply. Facial and body hair are continually cycling, which means that at any given time, only a certain percentage of hair is in any one stage. Because of this, a series of laser treatments is needed in order to treat all hair while in the anagen stage. The average number of treatments needed to see successful results is three to six; some may need more, and some may need less. The number of treatments required will vary from individual to individual.

Who is Eligible?

Lasers utilize pigment-seeking light; therefore, not everyone is a proper candidate for laser treatments. Those men and women with light brown to black hair will experience successful results because those hair colors contain enough pigment for the laser to "see." Those individuals with red, white, blond and gray hair are unable to undergo laser treatments because these hair colors simply do not contain enough pigment for successful treatment. Some companies will claim to be able to treat all hair colors, but it is important to know that not one single laser has the ability to treat lighter hair colors. If you undergo laser treatment with any of these hair colors, you may see temporary results, but the hair will eventually grow back. Electrolysis is the only other form of permanent hair removal, and patients with all hair colors can see results with this method.

Potential Side Effects

With laser hair removal, side effects are few and far between as long as patients take proper caution during their treatment series. The most important factor involved in the laser treatment is pigment. Hair pigment and skin pigment both affect the treatment outcome, but only skin pigment can influence potential side effects. The laser energy can be adjusted during treatment; the higher the energy, the more intense the treatment. Laser energy is set specifically based on skin tone, so if skin tone is altered in any way, treatments can result in burning and pigmentation problems. It is essential to stay out of the sun and refrain from tanning beds and sunless tanning creams for at least 2 weeks before each treatment. Your skin always needs to be in its most natural state to ensure both safe and effective treatments. Patients who have suffered side effects such as burning, hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation, more often than not, experience these because their skin color was darker. When undergoing treatments, follow all precautions stated by your practitioner; by doing this you'll ensure safe laser treatments.

Results

Depending on the area you are having treated, your sessions will be spread out every 4 to 10 weeks. With an average of three to six treatments, it can take anywhere from 3 months to a year to complete your treatments. Once your series is complete, you can expect to experience an 80 to 99 percent reduction in unwanted hair. Laser hair removal is FDA-approved for permanent reduction, not permanent removal. This is because it is impossible to remove 100 percent of hair with the laser. However, hair that does remain will be finer, thinner and less noticeable; similar to the "peach fuzz" that covers certain parts of the face and body. Men and women alike have experienced successful results with this hair removal option.

Resources

• LaserHairRemoval.Com