Permanent Home Laser Hair Removal
Permanent hair removal with home laser treatments is an option for individuals who want to save money or avoid multiple visits to a salon or dermatologist. Despite their apparent convenience, permanent hair-removal laser devices for use in the home have limited effectiveness, and there are various issues concerning safety and the proper use of such devices.
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Effectiveness
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According to HairFacts.com, laser hair-removal products do not have established records of long-term hair removal, despite being billed as offering "permanent" hair removal. The rate of hair regrowth is variable; thus, laser methods used in salons or in the home do not necessarily offer permanent hair-removal solutions. In fact, according to the article "At-Home Laser Hair Removal," published on the Good Morning America section of ABCNews.com, home lasers are only effective at removing 50 to 70 percent of your hair. More importantly, the hair tends to grow back after a few months, although the hair tends to be lighter and thinner. Hair regrowth is especially true of lasers that use lower intensity wavelengths. Finally, Hairfacts.com also indicates that laser treatments are less effective on gray, blonde and red hair.
Safety and Usage Concerns
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The ABC News article indicates that the FDA has approved home laser treatments as generally safe, but there are still various safety issues to consider. Many home laser treatment products claim that they are painless and do not cause substantial side effects. ABC News indicates that the home laser treatment products they reviewed did cause stinging and burning while in use. The pain was tolerable, but the treatment left a red rash on the skin for a few days after use. More importantly, there is not significant scientific data that analyzes the effects of laser radiation on the skin, especially with long-term use.
Hairfacts.com notes that the biggest concern for laser treatments is the high likelihood of misuse. Misuse can cause severe burning and skin discoloration. Common misuse involves focusing the laser directly on a hair follicle, rather than moving the laser in a circular motion around the skin. Also, the laser device should not be used for more than 30 minutes at a time, and the skin should always be allowed "breaks" of at least 10 minutes between usages. Additionally, misuse can occur by beginning a treatment at the higher intensity settings on your laser device; you should always begin at the lower settings to test your skin's sensitivity to the laser.
Cost and Convenience Considerations
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Cost is an important issue when selecting any treatment method. According to ABC News, visits to dermatologists to conduct laser hair-removal treatments typically cost about $100 or $150 per visit in 2009, but a complete course of treatment requires quite a few visits. For a complete treatment, the cost is upwards of $3,000, which can mean up to 30 visits. Alternatively, home laser treatment devices cost about $1,000, which is more cost-effective as well as more convenient because you do the treatments right at your house and on your own schedule. These factors make home laser-removal treatment seem appealing. Nonetheless, ABC News recommends that you use a dermatologist for laser hair-removal treatment, as there is a high potential for burning and permanent scarring from misuse of the home laser devices.
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