Laser Hair Removal Procedure

Author: Jennifer Moore

Believe it or not, but many people suffer from unwanted hair, or hair in unwanted places on their body. If you are one of these people, then you know the feeling. One of your major concerns is the safe removal of that unwanted hair.

Methods for Removing Unwanted Hair

Up until recently, most people used one of three methods, electrolysis, shaving or waxing. Each of these methods has its own drawbacks. Some are more painful than others are, but the hair grows back at a slower rate. Still the hair always returns with any of the above three methods.

How does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Now we have a laser hair removal procedure that eliminates most of the drawbacks of the other hair removal procedures. Laser hair removal is considered a safe, permanent way of removing hair. However, this procedure is not a cosmetic procedure, but a medical procedure, and as such, you should take the necessary precautions when deciding to get laser hair removal done.

Let’s define how the procedure works before we go into the different types of laser hair removal procedures.

Laser hair removal uses light at special wavelengths to damage the hair follicle so that it won’t grow. The strength of the light used depends on the individual, his skin coloring, hair pigment, etc. The light affects the high pigment in the hair. This is why your doctor will suggest you stay away from the sun, or sun bathing for a three to four week period before undergoing laser hair removal process. This is done so that the hair will not discolor and will have a high pigmentation when undergoing the laser treatment. Otherwise, if your hair has bleached with the sun, the laser may not pick it up and the treatment won’t be effective.

Different Types of Laser Hair Removal

There are five different types of laser hair removal procedures that can be done.

• Ruby Laser -- This is the oldest type of laser hair removal and it really works the best on very fine, light hair. It does not work very well with people who have dark or tanned skin. This is probably the reason this procedure is the least favorite of all laser hair removal procedures.

• Alexandrite laser -- This is the laser treatment that takes the shortest amount of time. It works well with patients who are light skinned or even olive skinned. This procedure is mostly used because it works with most people.

• Diode Laser -- This laser procedure works with all types of people, but its best benefit is that it works with people who are dark skinned and people who have coarser hair. It can cover large areas very quickly.

• Long Pulse Nd:Yag Laser -- This procedure can be used or all skin types, even on tanned skin. The fast repetition of this laser allows large areas to be covered in very small amounts of time. The disadvantages to this treatment is that it does not work as well with fine hair, and people tend to feel a little more discomfort with this procedure than with the others.

• Devices of Intense Pulsed Light -- These are not really lasers, but they work in very similar ways. This device is a little more intricate to work and require a very skilled person to use it, but it works on all skin types and hair types.

Which Type of Laser Hair Removal is the Best?