Laser Hair Removal Hair Reduction

Summary

Laser/Intense Pulsed Light treatment has revolutionized the treatment of unwanted hair.
Around six treatments will remove 80% of dark coarse hairs that are surrounded by fair skin
More treatments are needed to clear facial hair, especially if you have an underlying problem with your hormones
Alexandrite lasers, 800 nm diode lasers and high power, medical quality, intense pulsed light devices with cooled treatment heads achieve the best results

Background

Lasers/Intense pulsed light treatment is the best method of permanently eradicating more than a few unwanted hairs. Electrolysis is an alternative for small numbers of hairs.

The treatment works by heating up the part of the hair shaft that is under the skin. The heat from the hair shaft is then transferred to the cells that produce the hair and damages them.

Wide, coarse, dark hairs absorb the more light than fine, fair hair and so do a better job of destroying the surrounding cells in the hair shaft. Fair hair responds better if radiofrequency added to the pulse of light.

What to expect from treatment

Results vary but, taking all body sites together, people with black hair and fair skin can expect an 80% reduction in hair growth after 6-8 treatments. Whereas, those with dark hair and dark skin or light hair will achieve a 40-60% reduction in hair growth.

People with underlying hormonal problems can expect to require twice as many treatments to achieve the same result.

Some hairs will be permanently destroyed but others will grow back but will be finer, lighter and grow more slowly than before. People with a combination of light and dark hairs will notice that the dark hairs clear more quickly.

Maintenance treatment will be needed once or twice a year to maintain optimum results.

Treatment

Each treatment takes between 10 and 30 minutes and involves between 30 and 300 pulses of light. Each pulse produces a warm, pricking feeling. The discomfort is controlled by cooling the skin with cold air and most people find the procedure quite tolerable. The skin may be flushed for a few minutes or hours after treatment. Most people can return to work or social activities immediately.