"Laser
Hair Removal"
Laser
Hair Removal Facts and Resources
How
Laser Hair Removal Works Laser
hair removal systems emit a gentle beam of light that passes through
the skin to the hair follicle. The hair absorbs it, the energy from
the laser is transformed into heat and the hair follicle
is disabled.
Hundreds
of hair follicles can be treated simultaneously so the process
is much quicker than electrolysis which can be a tedious, painful
process destroying each hair follicle one at a time. This method
is quite safe. It uses a wavelength of light which passes
through the skin. Unlike x-rays, there is no residual left in the
body. Skin
may appear pink or red after treatment. This disappears
- in some cases after some minutes, in other cases after a few hours,
or in still other cases, a few days. Use of cold packs will speed
up the recovery time. Those
Best Suited For Laser Hair Removal Coolglide
Technology With
CoolGlide's unique design, there is now the flexibility to treat
all skin types. Before CoolGlide, tanned patients and persons with
darker skin could not expect good results from laser treatment.
A CoolGlide
device has a longer wavelength which allows it to treat all skin
tones. While patients with fair skin still respond the best, medical
studies indicated that patients with tanned or dark skin can now
achieve hair reduction equal to fair skinned patients without undesireable
side effects. Other
Laser Hair Removal Devices With
some laser equipment, an absolute requirement is that the hair must
be darker than the surrounding skin. White
skin with dark hair responds best. Persons with dark, coarse hair
are the easiest to treat as dark hair contains melanin, a dark pigment
which attracts the laser light so more laser energy is absorbed.
Fewer sessions are needed. Light
colored hair is more difficult to treat and blonde and red hair
are very difficult to treat requiring multiple sessions with varied
results. Anyone
on a diet high in beta-carotene will need to change eating habits
if they want best results. Beta-carotene, found in vitamin A, carrots,
squash and other vegetables produces a yellow or orange color in
the skin which absorbs the laser energy and interferes with it reaching
the hair follicle. As
beta-carotene can remain in the body for months, an adjustment in
diet may be needed well in advance for optimum results. Persons
with light skin are the easiest to treat, requiring less sessions
as the results are faster. Persons with dark skin or sun tanned
skin take longer to get results because melanin, the dark pigment
in hair, is also present in skin. Melanin
absorbs some of the laser light. There is the danger of dark skin
being burned in these instances so a laser beam with a lower energy
level is used. For this reason also a higher level of expertise
is required on the part of the clinic. Length
Of Laser Hair Removal Sessions This
varies from person to person with skin, hair coloring and
coarseness of hair all affecting the time. Here
are some estimates which can give an approximate guide.
- Back
1½ -3 hours
- Shoulders
10-20 minutes
- Underarms
1-2 minutes
- Bikini
Line 8-10 minutes
- Upper
lip less than 1 minute
- Chin
2-3 minutes
- Legs
1½ -3 hours
At
least 2 or 3 laser hair removal treatments are necessary,
and hair that has been waxed or removed with tweezers could need
from 5 to 8 treatments. Photo-Epilation
Photo-Epilation
or pulsed light devices use the same principle as in laser
hair removal but they are not lasers. An intense pulsed light is
used to disable hair follicles with minimal side effects. It
can be effective in hair removal but requires a higher level
of skill in operating as it is more difficult to adjust than
lasers. Due
to it's larger spot size, large areas of the body such as
the back or legs can be treated rapidly. One study showed a 50 to
60 percent clearance of hair in 12 weeks. Miscellaneous
Notes Pain
varies from person to person depending on their sensitivity.
Some have described the sensation to a slight sting on the skin.
Others say it feels like a pinch on the skin. After
the first treatment hair will gradually fall out over the
next two months. Repeated treatments are necessary to catch all
the hairs in their various stages of growth. The
cost depends on the size of the area needing treatment. A
consumer guide on laser hair removal gives $500 per treatment session
as a reasonable average with 3 to 4 sessions often necessary. Individual
consultations are necessary to establish accurate pricing. As
for guarantees, due to the variables involved it is impossible to
predict exactly what the results will be for any individual. Many
reputable laser hair removal clinics avoid giving
guarantees for this reason. Click
here for more information on Laser Hair Removal Costs To
ensure maximum results with laser hair removal, follow up with a
hair inhibitor.
Click Here For Information
on Hair Inhibitors
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