Laser Treatment for Hair Removal

Laser treatment for hair removal is a procedure for the elimination of brown or black hair, in use since the 1970s. Laser hair removal is long-lasting compared to shaving, though it is not a classified by the Food and Drug Administration as a permanent solution. The hair removal laser works by targeting the dark pigment found at the hair follicles, a process known as selective photothermolysis. This works particularly well on lighter skin with dark hair because dark colors absorb the light from the laser, while light matter reflects the laser’s light, leaving the skin virtually unaffected. Those with lighter hair or darker skin may still be able to receive effective laser treatments, depending on whether dyes and long wave lasers are available from the local facility.

Typically, laser treatment for hair removal requires multiple visits to be completed. The average person can expect to undergo about a half a dozen treatments, with each laser procedure spaced every 2 or 3 months, for approximately 1 year. An individual may require more or fewer visits than this for hair removal, though rarely will the visits be more frequent than every 2 months. However, the space between visits as well as the number of visits is determined by several factors.

One criteria that will determine the number of visits required is the location on the body where the treatment is being performed. Facial hair and hair near the bikini area is typically coarser and therefore more difficult to treat than hair on the legs, which requires additional visits. Areas of the body where the skin is more sensitive may require more visits, spaced widely apart. Another reason that may affect how frequently laser treatments need to be scheduled is simply the resistance of one individual’s hair follicles to the treatment. Most people will shed the majority of the hair from the treated areas within a 3 week period, but others may need an extra visit in order to obtain shedding.

The use of laser treatment for hair removal is not for everyone. There is a certain amount of discomfort involved in the process, though there are measures that can be taken to alleviate this somewhat, such as the pre-application of a numbing gel or lotion before the procedure, or the use of a cooling and numbing agent during the procedure. Those with sensitive skin in particular may wish to have a numbing cream applied prior to their skin, if the clinic offers this type of balm.