Just about everyone has their own preferred method of removing unwanted hair on their body. The most common techniques are waxing and shaving. Supplies can be purchased at any drug or discount store. And they cost next to nothing.
How Electrolysis Works
There is also the option of electrolysis, which needs to be done by a professional. This is where probes are used to administer currents of energy to permanently stop hair growth. Many people find that this is a painful process. It is a suitable option for treating small areas, since follicles need to be treated one at a time.
What Is Laser Hair Removal and What Are Its Advantages?
The ideal of having body areas free of unwanted hair can be accomplished with laser hair removal *
Another way to get rid of excess hair is through the use of lasers. Here at Fine Touch Dermatology, Dr. Umar uses the Gentle YAG system which relies on the 1064nm wavelength. Laser require a colored target known as a chromophore. The chromophore helps pull in the light energy below the skin’s surface into the base of the hair follicle. This triggers an inflammatory reaction which prevents any new growth.
Dark colors will absorb light. Lighter colors will reflect it. This is why lasers are recommended for black or dark brown hair. Good candidates would include those who have thick and abundant growth of dark hair.
The reason why laser for hair removal is advantageous is that it can quickly treat very large surface areas, such as the back, chest, legs and arms. It is less painful than electrolysis. However, doctors can typically minimize this using:
1) numbing cream
2) topical anesthesia
3) oral analgesics
The hair enters the telogen resting phase. Therefore, lasers can permanently reduce the number of hairs. In other words, this form of treatment is able to address existing hairs. But it is not possible to stop new growth.
During a hair removal session, all the follicles within a given treatment zone will be in different phases of the growth cycle, instead of being in sync with one another.
Any hair that does grow back will be thinner and finer. This effect normally does not occur with waxing and shaving.
How Many Laser Sessions Are Needed?
Usually the desired end effects can be seen between three to eight treatment sessions. These should ideally be scheduled about four weeks apart from one another.
Celebrities and Hair Removal With Laser
Kim Kardashian told Allure magazine that her entire body is hairless. She also spoke to Rachel Ray about how she relies on laser treatments for hair removal.
Rachel quipped that being Sicilian, hair removal is also an important part of her grooming regimen. This topic was featured one of the Kardashian episodes where Kim talks to her sister about having laser treatments from head to toe.
During her interview, Kim implied that this has to do with her genetics,
“I mean, I’m Armenian and so I think laser hair removal should be a requirement. I begged my mom to do it and she didn’t believe me. And she’s finally done it and fallen in love with it. I think that the fact that you can not shave anymore, waxing is really painful and laser people probably think is really painful. To me it’s not.”
For more information about laser hair removal, click here.