Hair removal method - Laser Hair Removal

All About Laser Hair Removal

Many have claimed that Laser Hair removal is the most effective at permanently removing all body hair, this is not the case. In fact, one of the interesting aspects of laser hair removal is that its results cannot be generalized. Each person, assuming first that the person is a good candidate, will respond differently to the laser hair removal process.

On average, laser hair removal sessions cost approximately $500 each and typically, up to four treatments are required.Many people incorrectly assume that a person need only be financially capable of paying for the multiple treatments that are necessary.

While financial ability is an important consideration, what is more important is a person's pigment. Pigment is what gives color to skin and also to hair. To be effective as a hair removal process, the color of a person's hair must be darker than the skin that surrounds it. That is why people with dark, coarse body hair and light skin have more success than light- or red-haired individuals or individuals with dark or tanned skin.

Melanin is the pigment that gives hair its color. To be effective as a hair removal process, the melanin must be able to absorb the energy that is produced by the laser, which will generate a considerable amount of heat. Inside the hair follicle, the melanin surrounds the structure that is responsible for germinating hair. Once the absorbed laser energy destroys the melanin, this structure is no longer protected. The excessive amount of heat that is generated will damage the hair germination structure which is what actually ceases future hair growth in that follicle.

Because dark or tanned skin contains a significant amount melanin, this skin can actually absorb a greater portion of the laser energy making less available to penetrate the hair follicle. Skin absorption must be kept at a minimum for laser hair removal to be effective. An important factor in inhibiting the skin's absorption of laser energy is keeping the skin cool during the laser hair removal process by applying a cold compress to the affected area. This will allow the laser to bypass the colder skin so it can reach the melanin within the hair follicle.

Another way of keeping the skin cool is to use the latest 'multi pulsing' laser technology. As the name implies, laser energy is pulsed or interrupted, rather than streamed. Because of this pulsing, less heat is delivered at once which helps to cool and at the same time, protect the skin. Other laser removal devices include: Alexandrite, a long pulse laser; Diode, which generally is used on darker skin; Q-Switched Nd:YAG, which delivers two wavelengths that work on both deep and near-surface follicles; and Ruby, that as the name implies, consists of red laser beams capable of targeting melanin.

Never forget that hair removal results will differ from person to person, so avoid any facility that boasts complete hair removal. Also steer clear of places that offer discounts to get your business. Again, you want your selection to be based on an individual's level of experience. Some states have laws governing the qualifications a person must have in order to perform laser hair removal. Be sure you check with your state requirements as they were designed with your protection in mind.

If you've determined that you are a good candidate for laser hair removal, there are several pre-treatment recommendations you should follow to ensure maximum results. First of all, do not tan prior to your treatment sessions. If you do, you may have to delay your treatment. Second, steer clear of foods that contain beta-carotenes. Found mostly in brightly-colored fruits and vegetables and in vitamin supplements, beta carotene is a pigment that can tint your skin color and impede the flow of laser energy to the hair follicle. Because laser hair removal works best on short hair, two to three days prior to your treatment session, you'll have to shave the area to be treated.

During your laser hair removal session, you'll wear special goggles to reduce the risk of laser light penetrating your eyes. The procedure is really very simple. The medical practitioner presses a laser to an area of skin and then briefly activates the laser. During that fraction of a second that the laser is activated, the laser energy passes through the skin to the hair follicle and damages it so that new hair can no longer grow.

Any side effects ?

One of the more common side effects associated with laser hair removal is discoloration and/or scarring of the skin in the treated area. Laser hair removal can also cause other skin discomforts such as swelling, redness, and sometimes even a burning sensation. In most cases, however, the latter are only temporary situations.

Advantages

The advantages of laser hair removal are there too. This is a procedure that is non-invasive, and doesn't involve the use of razors, messy creams, waxes or other home-made depilatories. Another benefit is that large areas such as legs and backs can be cleared of hair in a single treatment. New hair may continue to grow, but you will notice that it will be a lighter color and its texture will be finer.

Disadvantages

The disadvantages associated with laser hair removal are that this procedure won't work on everybody, especially those with light-colored hair and/or dark skin. Also, more than one treatment will be necessary and the reason for this lies in the fact that hair growth occurs in stages. Since hair growth does not occur in all hair follicles simultaneously, follow-up treatments are required to get the hairs that were not in a growth stage during previous treatments. For some, the cost will be a disadvantage.

Hopefully you now have the information you need to determine whether laser hair removal is right for you!

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