This Is The Ultimate FAQ on Laser Hair Removal

What is laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is a FDA approved, laser treatment that involves a laser beam which kills the hair follicles.

Results of laser hair removal depends on your skin pigmentation and the color of your hair (dark hair absorbs the laser energy, thereby making it easier to treat).

So, if your are thinking about trying out laser hair removal, you will first need to find out if you are a good candidate for the procedure. The best results occur with people who have fair skin and black hair.

You should also keep in mind that you cannot receive a laser hair removal treatment if you are tanned, as a tan messes with your skin's pigmentation and can lead to blistering or permanent discoloration. This is why darker-skinned people might not make good candidates, so consult with a practitioner or dermatologist first.

While laser hair removal offers a permanent reduction in quality or quantity of hair, it's also the most expensive method, with each session possibly costing you a few hundred dollars. The total cost depends on the size of the desired body part, as well as factors like hair density and number of treatments required.

Laser hair removal is one of the more popular methods out there, for both men and women.

According to HairRemovalForum.com, as of 2001, men represented 17.7% of the population that opted for laser hair removal treatments, especially among the 35 to 50 age bracket. This percentage has surely only grown exponentially since!

Laser hair removal requires several sessions and although it's expensive, it can be considered an investment, as you will never need to worry about hair removal in the desired area again.

Just ask any woman out there how many times she's had to go for a wax -- and you'll most likely get a pretty high grand total.

Permanent Laser Hair Removal

Many people are burdened by what society has deemed “unsightly” hair. Shaving is only a brief solution to this problem and quickly leaves tell-tale stubble. Plucking or waxing are painful and the results do not last much longer than shaving.

So what is the best way to permanently remove hair from areas such as the upper lip, chin, neck, armpits, forearms, back, chest, legs, or bikini line? Many people are now discovering the benefits of laser hair removal, a non-invasive procedure that removes unwanted hair.

However there are limitations on who should have laser hair removal done. For starters, the laser works by searching for hair follicles to destroy based upon melanin. Melanin is the pigmentation in hair and skin.

Thus, it is harder to target hair that is red, white, gray or true blond, and will not be as effective. Furthermore, people with more melanin in their skin (those who have dark skin or are tanned) risk skin discoloration by undergoing laser hair removal treatment because the laser will target the melanin in the skin.

Thus, the ideal candidate for laser hair removal is someone with pale skin and dark hair. For people who decide to undergo laser hair removal, there are different settings that affect the outcome of the procedure.

First, the laser technician can set the pulse length, and most will chose longer pulses as long pulsed lasers tend to be safer.

Second, they can adjust the fluence according to your skin. Different types of skin require different energy levels.

Third, the technician sets the delay between laser pulses. The difference this gives is the time that skin and hair follicles are allowed to cool between pulses.

Fourth, different spot sizes can be chosen. Larger spot sizes will reach deeper to the follicle. Last, cooling methods are chosen.

The procedure can be unpleasant because of the heat emitted so the skin can be cooled by gels, sprays or lasers that have cooling tips which are pressed to the skin.

By Margaret Wommack
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