Have you ever wondered how hair removal by laser works? In brief, laser hair removal equipment emits a gentle beam of light which goes through the skin and reaches the hair follicle. The hair follicle is disabled when the energy is transformed into heat, thus disabling the mechanism of hair growth. How does laser hair removal compare with electrolysis?
Electrolysis can be a tedious, painful process destroying each hair follicle one at a time. This can sometimes require treatment over years at regular intervals.
Hair removal by laser treats hundreds of hair follicles at a time so the process is quicker than electrolysis.
Is laser hair removal for anyone?
Coolglide Technology
With CoolGlide’s unique design, there is now the flexibility to treat all skin types with hair removal by laser. Before CoolGlide, tanned patients and persons with darker skin could not expect good results from laser hair removal treatment. The longer wavelength used by CoolGlide technology means all skin tones can be treated. While individuals with fair skin can expect very good results, it has been found through medical studies that people with tanned or dark skin can also expect good results, without the side effects previously experienced.
Other Laser Hair Removal Devices
With some laser hair removal equipment, an absolute requirement is that the hair must be darker than the surrounding skin. For best results the patient needs dark hair on light skin. Dark hair has melanin, a dark pigment, and this attracts the laser light which is then transformed into energy and disables the hair follicle. Not so many treatment sessions are required.
Red hair or blonde hair are very difficult to treat while light hair can be just, well, difficult. It may need a number of treatment sessions to treat an individual with these characteristics and the results may be poor.
Anyone on a diet high in beta-carotene will need to change eating habits if they want best results from laser hair removal. Beta-carotene, found in vitamin A, carrots, squash and other vegetables produces a yellow or orange color in the skin which absorbs the laser energy and interferes with it reaching the hair follicle.
As beta-carotene can remain in the body for months, an adjustment in diet may be needed well in advance of laser hair removal treatment for optimum results.
Are you light skinned? Then chances are you might be a good candidate for laser hair removal and get away with fewer treatment sessions with faster results.
Dark skinned or tanned skin clients may need to take more treatment sessions to see reasonable results because the melanin in their skin absorbs some of the laser light energy thus dissipating the effect.
To avoid the risk of burning when treating dark skin, a lower energy laser beam is used. It should also be noted that a professional technician with experience is best for this kind of treatment.
So now you have a reasonable overview of what is involved in hair removal by laser. Use this information to prepare for your consultation and see if you will be a suitable candidate for laser hair removal.