FDA approved since 1995, Laser Hair Removal has improved the quality of

life of thousands, especially female with male pattern hair growth.

Removal of unwanted hair by laser is a major advance over treatment

such as electrolysis. It has brought hope to several individuals with

hair growth in areas where they cause embarrassment. There are certain

things you should know about this form of treatment. Some are listed

below.

1.  What is Laser Hair Removal?  It is a laser beam targeted

at the hair follicle. The high intensity ray of light gives off heat

energy. The laser tracts along the hair shaft, heating it and leading

to thermal damage to the follicle while leaving the surrounding tissue

unharmed. The effectiveness of this treatment depends on the

concentration of melanin in the hair. It is more effective in dark

hair, less effective in brown or ginger hair and will not work on

white, grey or platinum blonde hair. As the laser travels along the

hair shaft, there must be hair present. It is, therefore, not

recommended to pluck unwanted hair before treatment. Similarly since

laser hair removal works on the melanin level, dark skin or tanned skin

need alternative treatment.

2.  Cost depends on the size of the area that needs treatment. The

larger the area, the greater the cost. In the USA, the average cost per

session is $450 and in the UK, the cost may vary from £45 to

£450. Treatment may be for several sessions in a year because

hair will re-grow. The re-growth, however, will be slower and the hair

thinner. Mr. David Gault, Plastic Surgeon, reported 80% reduction of

upper lip hair growth after 6 months.

3.  What you should find out: Make sure you know as much as you

can about Laser Hair Removal. Choose a clinic that offers free

consultation so that you can assess suitability and what is on offer.

Find out before hand how much it will cost you. Make sure you know

whether a medical practitioner will be on the premises during your

treatment. Check that your assigned therapist is suitably qualified and

experienced.

4.  How safe: Laser is a pure high beam light. It does not cause

cancer. It only penetrates up to the dermis of the skin. It is

dangerous to the eyesight. You will probably use goggles to protect

your eyes during treatment. The skin can be darkened by laser because

of the melanin concentration. Too much exposure can leave the skin with

paler patches that slowly fades away. Over heating can cause blistering

and rarely scarring especially in darker skin and people with recent

tans. The paler you are before treatment the safer and better the

treatment.

You should not have laser hair removal if you are sensitive to light or

have any infection on the area to be treated. You should not have

treatment if you had isotretinoin as acne treatment in the last year.

5.  Is Hair removal permanent?  Laser hair removal and

electrolysis are considered the only permanent hair removal treatment.

Although laser hair treatment is promoted as permanent by the industry,

this is not strictly the case. It cannot stop the unwanted hair from

re-growing. It will, however, slow the re-growth so that it can take

several months or years. The re-growth will consist of thinner hair.

6.  What happens during treatment?  Depending on the types of

laser beam system and the area to be treated, you may be required to

wear goggles. Laser hair removal treatment can cause stinging or the

area may tingle. The time taken for a session depends on the size of

the area and can last between 15 and 45 minutes. The area concerned

will be treated roughly once a month for between two and eight months.

Not all lasers are the same and results may vary with different

systems. Before you embark on Laser hair removal, make sure you do your

homework.

7.  What types of Laser Hair Removal are available?  There

are various types available. The Ruby Laser is the oldest. It is not

suitable for dark skinned or tanned people and only covers a small

area. The Alexandrite Laser is the fastest laser available. It is used

on light to olive complexion. It is the most popular type because it

can cover large areas of the body. The Diode Laser works better for

dark skin and is not as effective in lighter skin. It is fast and

covers large areas during treatment. The Long Pulse Nd:Yag Laser can be

used on all skin types. It is fast and covers large areas. Patients,

however, tend to experience more discomfort during treatment. Intense

Pulsed Light (IPL) is not really Laser but will have the same effect as

laser on the hair follicles. It is more difficult to use and needs

greater skill.