Using lasers for Laser hair removal seems to make sense to most people, but a series of adverts seems to have confused that a little, after all, if they use them to destroy a hair how can they then say that they use a laser to stimulate hair growth?
In this article we'll look at five of the most commonly asked questions about laser hair removal. We'll briefly cover what it is, whether it's permanent, are their side effects, the parts of the body you can use it on, and if you're a suitable candidate for it.
What is laser hair removal?
Forms of phototricholysis or photoepilation (commonly referred to as laser hair removal) have been available since the 1970's. The IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) epilators used aren't actually lasers as such, they use xenon flash lamps to emit full spectrum light.
It's a technique that uses the heat and pinpoint accuracy of a laser to reduce hair growth over a number of hair growth cycles. It's targeted at a hair follicle, and damages the root. This damage helps to stop the hair from growing again.
There will typically be 6-8 treatments, with each treatment being 8-12 week apart. The reason for this is so it coincides with the hair growth cycles.
Is this a permanent solution?
Not really as technically it's only classed as "permanent hair reduction". People will see different results; you could see anything from a fifty to an eighty percent reduction in hair regrowth, however, some people may have all of the hair regrow over the years following the treatments.
Does laser hair removal have any side effects?
Yes, there can be. Everyone reacts differently to the process, so there are a number of possible side effects that you may suffer from. These include: Skin discoloration, a temporary rash, some blistering, scarring, a burning of the skin, white spots (hypopigmentation), infection, puffiness around the follicle, and possibly even acne.
However, if done correctly, and with the right type of laser, the chances of these side effects happening is greatly reduced.
Where on the body can laser hair removal be used?
This technique can be used in the majority of the parts of the body where you're likely to get unsightly hair growth that you want to remove, such as your: hairline, face, ears, between the eye brows, upper lip, chin, neck, arms, fingers, chest, back, stomach, bikini line, legs, feet, and toes.
Who is a suitable candidate for laser hair removal?
Not everyone will be able to use this method. In fact, if you go to a clinic that has an older type of machine, and you don't have light skin and dark hair you will, probably, be told that you aren't suitable to have laser hair removal treatments. Newer machines are coming out that are said to work for people with dark skin and hair, so it may be possible to try a few places to get one that will work for you.
The reason why it doesn't work for so many people is the fact that it's based on targeting melanin, or at least the eumelanin in the melanin in dark hair. Melanin is naturally occurring in the skin and gives it and your hair its colour.
Only dark hair has the photon absorption needed for its removal with the current lasers being used. This is possibly one of the reasons why you shouldn't have a tan if you're going to have the treatment i.e. a tan would mean that your skin is, effectively, indistinguishable from the hair when the laser targets the eumelanin.
There we have it; five of the most commonly asked questions about laser hair removal.
Before you consider it just stop to think about whether you have the skin and hair colour for it to work, the fact that it's only, at best, going to be a "permanent hair reduction", and the fact that there may be some side effects.
Is it still worth the time and money to try out laser hair removal?
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