Women and men alike have long desired hairlessness. While waxing, threading and shaving remain popular methods for eliminating unwanted hair growth temporarily, only laser hair removal reduces it permanently.
Before the first laser for hair removal was created, much research and testing had to take place. Unfortunately, its first prototype – a ruby laser – proved ineffective and caused skin burns.
The First Laser
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive, painless treatment designed to permanently decrease unwanted hair growth. When performed by a licensed and trained dermatologist at an approved clinic, its risks are low. Prior to treatments it is important to limit plucking, waxing or exposure to sunlight as these activities could undermine its efficacy.
Beginning in the 1960s, attempts at hair removal with lasers first saw light. Theodore Maiman created a ruby laser which could minimize hair growth but caused severe burns on the skin. Later in the 70s came another invention – the YAG laser which could reduce hair growth but did not provide permanent results.
Scientists developed a laser with an adjustable pulse duration in order to provide targeted photothermolysis – or selective photothermolysis.
Laser hair removal technology has undergone years of development and refinement to reach where we are now with it. Now, laser hair removal is quick and effective with success rates reaching 95% of patients experiencing permanent reduction in hair growth after treatment. Furthermore, its uses extend beyond hair to treating tattoos, birthmarks, and other pigmented lesions as well.
Before going forward with laser hair removal, patients must wait at least six weeks after bleaching or dying their hair to stop bleaching their skin and dyeing their locks as this can change the contrast between hair and skin and make it difficult for lasers to target and destroy each follicle effectively. Furthermore, waxing, plucking or electrolysis should be avoided for this period as these procedures could potentially compromise permanent hair reduction efforts.
Laser hair removal is generally safe and effective treatment option, though it can sometimes be uncomfortable and require topical anesthetic for some patients. To make the treatment as comfortable as possible, cooling technology may be used to keep skin and surrounding hair follicles cool during treatment.
The Second Laser
Laser hair removal has quickly become one of the most sought-after beauty treatments, often described as being virtually painless, safe and long-term. Electrolysis takes much longer, so laser treatment offers faster solutions when treating larger areas at once. Unfortunately, despite scientific advancements that make laser treatment feasible there still exist some misperceptions about laser hair removal procedures.
Laser hair removal requires knowledge from various fields, from quantum and optical physics to the biology behind hair growth cycles. Understanding how this cosmetic procedure works provides an interesting window into how society values interact with engineering practices and vice versa.
Scientists developed the alexandrite laser in the early 1980s, which could successfully target and destroy individual hair follicles without harming surrounding skin. While this revolutionary new technology was an impressive advance over its predecessors, multiple treatments still had to be administered in order to achieve desired results.
Scientists were faced with an additional obstacle when creating laser hair removal technology: melanin concentration disparity between hair and skin pigmentations. Melanin in hair follicles is what absorbs laser light, disabling their ability to grow new hairs; so having a contrast between skin color and hair color ensures successful laser hair removal results.
Laser hair removal should not be seen as a permanent solution and that hair will return in its original location over time. However, its growth back will likely be finer and lighter, providing less pain-inducing options than shaving, tweezing or waxing.
No matter your method for hair removal, it’s essential to use cutting-edge laser technologies as this will both minimize risks and maximize results. Selecting an advanced laser type and settings will enable it to safely destroy hair follicles while leaving surrounding skin undamaged for beautiful smooth skin results.
The Third Laser
Laser hair removal remains one of the premier solutions for eliminating unwanted hair, but its development took many years of testing and research. While early prototype lasers were revolutionary, they often proved ineffective or caused severe skin burns when used to remove hair.
Harvard dermatologist Thomas Fitzpatrick revolutionized laser hair removal when he created the skin color scale. By determining whether a person was suitable for laser treatments, risks such as burns or regrowth associated with early variations were reduced dramatically.
In the 1970s, new laser variations started providing more permanent reduction of hair growth without necessarily completely eliminating it. Unfortunately, early laser models were ineffective on darker skin tones, and were more prone to burning and hair regrowth than their predecessors.
In the 1980s, another significant breakthrough occurred with the discovery of laser treatments to target melanin pigment in hair follicles and disable them permanently. This innovation allowed people with all types of hair and skin tones to finally realize permanent results from laser treatments.
Laser hair removal has evolved to the point that most can consider it permanent treatment, although hormonal changes may necessitate up to six treatments per leg for some individuals. This is often due to hormonal follicle growth accelerating faster in one area while in others not responding at all to laser.
However, if you have been waxing or shaving regularly before seeking laser treatment, hormones in these areas could have already caused damage to the hair follicles. As such, it may only take a few sessions until permanent results begin appearing; but always consult an experienced professional beforehand to make sure laser is right for you.
The Fourth Laser
Laser hair removal is an advanced treatment which uses light energy to destroy hair follicles that produce hair, thus stopping new growth from emerging. This procedure is generally safe, non-invasive and does not require much downtime – yet multiple sessions may be needed before seeing full results of this method; most patients require between two and six sessions in order to reach their desired goals.
Laser hair removal took considerable research and time before becoming an effective way to address unwanted hair growth. Initial trials managed to reduce the amount of new growth while not stopping it completely or permanently.
In the 1960s, Theodor H. Maiman developed an innovative method of laser hair removal utilizing alexandrite laser radiation that forced its way through skin layers to reduce hair growth; although effective, this solution did not last and caused serious skin damage.
Further improvements to laser hair removal technology enhanced its safety and efficacy. Harvard dermatologist Thomas Fitzpatrick introduced a skin color scale in the 1970s that enabled laser hair removal to target patients more appropriately for hair removal with light beams less likely to cause burns or other skin damage. This made for more efficient laser treatments.
Laser hair removal became a reliable and popular treatment by the late 1980s, becoming mainstream by 1990. Since then, technology has advanced enough for lasers to provide long-term hair reduction on virtually all patients who undergo treatment.
Though not a permanent hair removal solution, most patients find that their hair growth has significantly been reduced and any regrowth is noticeably finer and lighter in tone. To maintain results after an initial series of sessions have concluded, one or two follow-up maintenance treatments per year may be needed for maintenance purposes.
Are You Curious About Laser Hair Removal Or Are You Ready for a Consultation? Don’t wait any longer! Contact our team now so that they can answer all your questions about the progress of laser hair removal, or schedule your consultation and help you achieve healthier and more beautiful bodies! We look forward to assisting in accomplishing that goal together!
