Laser hair removal is an efficient solution for unwanted body hair. It removes the need for depilation, waxing or shaving as well as producing even skintone.
Laser light penetrates your hair’s pigment to damage its follicle and stop future hair growth.
But some individuals require follow-up sessions after having undergone multiple treatments.
The laser’s wavelength
Laser hair removal works by targeting melanin (color) in hair follicles with energy from laser pulses emitted by a laser light beam and absorbing by pigment, damaging it and stopping future hair growth. The wavelength determines how deep into skin the laser can reach; different wavelengths from visible light up to near infrared are available for selection.
For hair removal, the best lasers are those which emit light at wavelengths which penetrate skin without harming surrounding tissues, such as alexandrite, erbium, diode and neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers. These types of lasers can treat all skin tones including darker ones effectively.
As important as its wavelength is, laser pulse duration also plays a vital role in how deep into the skin it can penetrate. An optimal pulse duration should be at least 10 milliseconds to allow epidermis cells to cool as they’re heated by laser light – this helps avoid thermal injury. Furthermore, its duration must also fall between 40-100 microseconds of hair follicle cooling time (40-100 milliseconds).
Hair’s color and texture is another crucial consideration. Blonde and gray hair don’t respond as well to laser treatment due to lack of melanin content to absorb its energy; in comparison, brown and black hairs with enough melanin content to target by the laser are easily treated; thicker hairs tend to work more effectively because they’re easier to target with laser light.
Laser hair removal can be accomplished quickly, yet requires multiple sessions for long-term effects to take effect. On average, five treatments should be scheduled four weeks apart for optimal results – much faster than shaving or waxing which often take hours per session. A dermatologist or trained technician presses a handheld device against your skin while activating laser pulses; you may feel sensations like pinpricks of pain or even snaps like an elastic band snapping against it!
After the procedure, your skin might become red and swollen. Applying cold compresses or using ice packs may help ease discomfort and swelling. Some individuals also experience a burning sensation which should subside within several days; during this period it’s wise to keep out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
The laser’s power
Laser hair removal is one of the most effective and popular permanent hair reduction methods, using light pulses emitted by a laser that penetrate deep into skin tissue to damage hair follicles and stop their future regrowth. However, laser treatments’ success depends on intensity and duration of pulses as well as power output from laser. Higher level laser power tends to be more successful at eliminating unwanted hair, though excessive exposure could result in skin discolouration or other side effects if used incorrectly.
As such, it is vital that you choose a clinic with experienced laser specialists who will ensure that the laser operates at an ideal level for your skin type and achieve desired results with minimum risk and side effects.
The wavelength of a laser plays a pivotal role when it comes to determining its depth of penetration. Different wavelengths have various effects on skin pigment and hair colour, so you should select a laser that best matches both your skin tone and hair colour – for instance alexandrite lasers should not be used on dark skin tones (Fitzpatrick scale III-VI) due to possible changes in pigmentation resulting in urticaria (hives). Diode lasers would be preferable as an option.
Laser hair removal uses pulses of light energy that penetrate into the skin and are absorbed by melanin pigment found within hair follicles, where they convert it to thermal energy that damages them and prevents future hair growth. Anagen phase hair follicles respond best to laser-induced thermal injury, making the treatment effective for most patients.
Jenoptik QCW diode laser stacks form the heart of professional laser hair removal systems, providing gentle yet pain-free laser-based hair removal with long-term clinical efficacy. These lightweight diode lasers boast impressive output up to the kW range – an outstanding combination of performance and compact durability that make them an excellent choice for use within laser hair removal devices.
The laser’s duration
Laser hair removal utilizes light from a laser machine to target and eliminate unwanted hair by targeting its source: the hair follicles responsible for growth. Pulses of light absorbed by melanin convert into heat energy that destroys these follicles and prevents further hair growth, making this procedure virtually painless on any part of the body and offering different wavelengths that can accommodate various skin types and treatment areas.
Laser hair removal lasers that emit short pulses of energy are most effective, as the pulse duration (measured in nanoseconds) can be adjusted to meet individual patient’s needs. A shorter pulse duration results in reduced thermal damage and risk, while longer pulse durations increase laser intensity and may cause more serious side-effects.
Lasers can also be adjusted to target specific blood vessels and pigmented lesions such as port wine stains. Nd:YaG lasers (Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet) can penetrate skin layers to reach deeper blood vessels while treating superficial oxyhaemoglobin by converting it to methaemoglobin which is then captured by the vessel wall, thus inhibiting new red blood cell formation and diminishing port wine stains.
Before administering laser hair removal treatments to any patient, their physician must review their medical history in detail. Questions should include any medications or supplements which might affect results of laser hair removal and any existing tattoos, nevi or scars; multiple freckled patients should be advised that laser treatment could result in their permanent removal.
Laser treatments for hair removal tend to work best on patients with darker skin, since the wavelength and power of the laser will penetrate deeply into where hair follicles reside. Darker skin also contains more melanin which provides natural protection from its energy being absorbed.
Laser hair removal is generally safe for most ages and skin types, although pregnant women or those with herpes simplex infection should refrain from this treatment. A review of your medical history is important as chronic inflammatory disorders, lupus or other autoimmune conditions could hinder its success.
The laser’s temperature
Lasers emit near-infrared laser light that is effectively absorbed by melanin pigment in hair follicles, and pulsed for fractions of seconds to cause the follicles to heat up and damage themselves, ultimately leading to permanent hair reduction over time.
Laser hair removal is an excellent solution for women suffering from unwanted body hair. It can be performed almost painlessly on any part of the body and provides more effective results than waxing or shaving alone; additionally, no numbing cream is required – results of laser treatment become gradually visible after multiple sessions are administered.
At the outset of treatment, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive history and physical exam. Documenting tattoos or nevus in the treatment area as this could impact its success; also prophylactic antiviral therapy for any previous episodes of herpes simplex virus should be provided prior to laser treatment.
Notably, only hair follicles in the Anagen phase of growth respond to laser-induced thermal energy treatment; those in Catagen and Telogen will continue growing back after laser treatments but not with as dense and dark strands. Anagen length varies depending on anatomic site: upper lip hair can range between 1mm and 2.5 mm while pubic hair typically stands at 5mm.
Studies conducted through clinical trials have proven that alexandrite laser (755nm) and diode laser (810nm) devices are most suitable for hair removal in darker skin types. They produce longer wavelengths that better absorb melanin than the shorter ones produced by ruby (488nm), KTP or pulsed dye lasers (795nm).
Laser hair removal relies on selective photothermolysis as its principle mechanism of action, with treatment energy level set close to that which causes tissue damage. Finding the optimal energy level for each individual patient without damaging surrounding tissues presents a unique challenge; especially so with dark skinned people absorbing energy from laser beams that could result in serious burns.
