How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

And What About Laser Hair Removal Pain?

If you wanted to answer the question "How does laser hair removal work?" in ten words or less, "a laser beam kills the hair follicles." Bottom line that's what's going on.

You see, the light energy is attracted to the dark melanin found in your hair follicles. Technically speaking the darkness in the bulb. The laser beam heats that up and actually destroys the follicle. No follicle no hair.

Which is why laser hair removal works best on dark hair. Actually the darker and thicker the better since that presents a better target. Which is also why traditionally the fair skinned with dark hair were the best candidates for laser hair removal.

But recent advances in laser technology has resulted in newer lasers that can help people who really couldn't be helped before. For example YAG or long pulse lasers are used to treat those with darker skin. While other lasers work better on fine hair.

Typically the hair that has been zapped will fall out of "shed" within a week or two.

Problem is hair removal lasers only work on hair in the growth phase. Hence the need for repeated treatment. Since only about 25% of your hair is in that phase at any point in time.

Also when talking laser hair removal you're talking hair reduction. Not permanency. At least that's how the FDA perfers such treatments be marketed.

Then when it comes to laser hair removal pain, there have been advances there too. Although some clinics may use the old standbys of icing down or and taking something like Tylenol or applying EMLA anaesthetic cream newer equipment comes with cooling laser heads that cools the skin to minimize the pain. Which is pretty common whether you're looking at Philadelphia laser hair removal or other parts of the country.

This bring up the trick of laser hair removal. You want to disable the hair follicle without causing harm, pain, to the surrounding tissue.

Post treatment you can apply some aloe vera like you would a sunburn. Which can aid recover and reduce residual laser hair removal pain.

» Laser Hair Removal Home