Does Laser Hair Removal Work

Laser hair removal is the latest technology that uses a laser, guided by a light beam with a continuous source of heat flow through the skin to remove unwanted hair from the body. The process involves locating the base of the hair follicle by targeting the melanin (dark color of hair). The result of this is the destruction of the root of the hair where it starts to grow and it takes anytime from 5 minutes to several hours to complete the process depending on how much hair needs to be removed and the texture of the hair.

The most beneficial advantage of using laser treatment to remove hair is that hair takes a lot longer to grow back and in some instances it never grows back at all. It is ideal for bikini area, under arms and legs. So instead of shaving or waxing every week or so, you can expect to be hairless in those areas for longer periods for up to three months. Unlike shaving or waxing where pain is inevitable, laser treatment is virtually painless because Anesthetic products are applied to the area of the skin where the hair is to be removed but you may experience a little sting depending on the sensitivity of your skin.

However, it must be noted that laser hair treatments are not a one-time treatment. You need to have between three to five sessions done depending on the texture of your hair. Results are not immediate like waxing or shaving but when attending each session you will see a dramatic decrease in hair growth. After five sessions or more, you will most likely not have any hairs growing from that area. Laser treatments are more expensive than shaving, waxing and electrolysis and not usually covered by medical or health insurance.

The most common laser hair removal side effect is temporary rash or sun-burn like reaction. It usually disappears in a few days after treatment but there have been cases where hyper pigmentation (skin getting darker) or hypo pigmentation (skin getting lighter) become permanent. This could be because either the procedure was incomplete or the patient did not follow up on sessions as recommended. Hyper pigmentation is reversible but hypo pigmentation is not reversible.

On very rare occasions of laser hair removal problems, some people experience excessive itching on the treated area and also appearance of acne related symptoms on their face (if the treated area was around the face). There has been no medical proof yet to establish that laser treatments could trigger skin cancer.

Not everybody qualifies to go through a laser hair treatment. The most ideal candidates would be people with very dark hair but fair skin. This is because the laser is attracted to dark colors and if you have dark skin it would probably be dangerous as the laser would be all over the place! This process is also not recommended for red hair or blonde haired people as the laser would not be able to detect your hair. This is so far the best method of removing unwanted hair but remember to first consult a qualified dermatologist experienced in laser treatments before you proceed with any laser hair removal procedure.