| Laser Hair Removal Treats Unwanted Hair Growth |
| Articles - Lifestyle |
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Laser hair removal treatment uses light energy from a laser beam to reduce unwanted hair growth over time with the goal of permanent removal. The laser works by generating heat in the hair shaft using the melanin pigment that gives your hair its color. This heat transfers to the hair follicle, a small capsule beneath the surface of the skin that generates hair growth. The heat inflames the follicle and causes it to go dormant and not produce hair. This dormant period can last from months to years after a series of treatments.
Laser hair removal treatment uses light energy from a laser beam to reduce unwanted hair growth over time with the goal of permanent removal. The laser works by generating heat in the hair shaft using the melanin pigment that gives your hair its color. This heat transfers to the hair follicle, a small capsule beneath the surface of the skin that generates hair growth. The heat inflames the follicle and causes it to go dormant and not produce hair. This dormant period can last from months to years after a series of treatments. A laser is a medical device that emits high-energy light directed at a specific target"in this case, the pigment in the hair shaft. Laser treatment of hair growth is performed by a doctor or a nurse with special training. The lasers used in this procedure are hand-held. There are several different types of hair removal devices that use light. In addition to lasers, there are intense pulsed light (IPL) devices. IPL isnt technically laser because it uses multicolored light in microsecond bursts, while laser emits light of a single color on the spectrum. Both types of devices have advantages and disadvantages. The choice of device to use for treatment depends on the doctors assessment of the individual patient. The experience level of the medical provider is the single greatest factor in determining whether your laser hair removal experience will be a positive one. The procedure is classified and regulated as medical for a good reason: in the wrong hands, a laser instrument can harm the patient. Skin burns occur only if the light energy escapes the hair shaft and begins to heat the surrounding skin. Properly trained medical personnel know how to carefully monitor the treatment so the laser beam is confined to the hair shaft. Although some patients experience discomfort during laser hair removal, the difficulty of the procedure depends on many factors: *the area of the body targeted for laser treatment. The more sensitive the skin, the higher the risk of some pain. * the hair's color and texture. Thicker, darker hair can transfer heat to the surround skin area. * how many treatments the patient has had previously. Repeated treatments produce finer, thinner hair growth thats easier to treat. * the individual's physical and mental tolerance for discomfort. Doctors have remarked that that patients seldom abandon treatment due to discomfort. Most doctors recommend a minimum of three laser hair removal treatments, and four to seven sessions over a period of four months to a year is considered the norm for eliminating 80 percent of the hair from the target area. These numbers are highly dependent on the individual patient's needs and physiology. On rare occasions, a patient may not respond to hair removal treatments at all. Most patients need occasional maintenance treatments one or two times a year to keep the treatment effective. Patients with very thick hair or a medical condition may need maintenance more often. Patients with darker skin are more challenging to treat than those with light skin. This is because both the skin and hair get their color from a pigment called melanin. Laser hair removal works by heating the melanin in the hair shaft without heating the melanin in the skin, so if the skin is darker than the hair, it will heat up more quickly. Patients with darker skin may still be candidates for laser treatment, and as the technology progresses, these patients will become easier to treat. Selection of an experienced treatment professional is especially important in these cases. Laser hair removal costs vary depending on geographic location, the individual clinics pricing, and the area of the body being treated. The national average cost of a single laser hair removal treatment is $429, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. A consultation with a physician who specializes in the procedure is the best way to evaluate its cost. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Jeanna Markos is a researcher and writer specializing in cosmetic beauty treatment issues. Find out more about body waxing and Laser Hair Treatment. |