Laser Hair Removal
Part I: Laser Hair Removal
These days, there has been much buzz about laser hair removal,
most people take it as the permanent way of body hair removal,
however, this is not for certain cases. The results cannot
be generalized, everyone reacts differently to the laser hair
removal process.
So, who makes a good candidate for laser hair removal? Many
people falsely assume that a person need only be financially
capable of paying for the multiple treatments required. Generally,
laser hair removal requires four sessions of treatments with
each session costs approximately $500 each.
Though budget is a major concern, but, we should also pay
attention to a person's pigment. Pigment gives color to both
skin and hair. In order to hair an effective hair removal
process, the color of a person's hair must be darker than
the skin that surrounds it. That is why people with dark,
coarse body hair and light skin tend to have higher success
rate than light- or red-haired individuals or individuals
with dark or tanned skin.
Melanin is the pigment that gives hair its color. To succeed
the hair removal process, the melanin must work to absorb
the energy produced by the laser, which will produce quite
a lot of heat. Inside the hair follicle, the melanin surrounds
the structure that is responsible for germinating hair. Once
the absorbed laser energy damages the melanin, this structure
is no longer protected. The excessive amount of heat produced
wil work to destroy the hair germination structure which is
what actually reduces future hair growth in that follicle.
Since dark or tanned skin contains more melanin, this type
of skin can actually absorb more laser energy making less
available to penetrate the hair follicle. Skin absorption
must be maintained at the minimal level for laser hair removal
to be effective. An important factor in inhibiting the skin's
absorption of laser energy is keeping the skin cool during
the laser hair removal process by applying a cold compress
to the treated area. This will allow the laser to bypass the
colder skin so it can reach the melanin within the hair follicle.
Another method to keep your skin cool is to use the latest
'multi pulsing' laser technology. As the name suggests, laser
energy is pulsed or interrupted, rather than streamed. Due
to the pulse, less heat is delivered at once which generates
cooling effect at the same time, hence protecting the skin.
Other laser removal devices include: Alexandrite, a long pulse
laser; Diode, which can be used on darker skin; Q-Switched
Nd:YAG, which delivers two wavelengths that work on both deep
and near-surface follicles; and Ruby, which is by using red
laser beams capable of targeting melanin.
Up next, find out more information about its pros and cons
and what you should know before you decide on this hair removal
technique.
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