how does laser work on course hair

by Terry Schmeler 7 min read

How does laser hair removal work?

Jul 04, 2019 · How does laser treatment work? Lasers emit a wavelength of light with a specific single colour. When targeted to the skin, the energy from the …

How effective is laser hair removal on dark skin?

Male with course dark arm hair, I have very light skin so my hair really stands out. Can I do one treatment of laser hair removal in an effort to thin the arm hair and make some of the follicles less thick and noticeable.

What areas can be treated with laser hair removal?

Feb 28, 2019 · Often as a course of laser hair removal progresses, the follicles miniaturize and hair becomes finer requiring a reduction in pulse width to ensure continued effective treatment. Laser Spot Size. Small spot sizes are most effective for the treatment of smaller superficial hair follicles, while larger spot sizes are ideal for deeper targets.

How do I choose the right doctor for laser hair removal?

May 11, 2017 · Laser hair removal works by using concentrated light to affect hair follicles, which are small cavities in the skin from which hair grows. The hair follicle absorbs the …

What type of laser is used for hair removal?

Lasers suitable for hair removal include: long-pulse ruby lasers, long-pulse alexandrite lasers, long pulse diode lasers and long-pulse Nd:YAG lasers. Intense pulsed light (IPL) devices are not laser devices but flash lamps ...

What does permanent hair removal mean?

Permanent hair removal means none of the hairs in the treated area will regrow after a single course of therapy and no ongoing laser therapy is needed. Whether hair is removed permanently or just reduced in density is influenced by: the competence and training of the person operating the laser.

How to remove unwanted hair?

Options to camouflage or remove unwanted hair include plucking, shaving, bleaching, using creams and epilation ( using a device that pulls out multiple hairs at once). Longer-term options include electrolysis, which uses an electrical current to destroy individual hair follicles, and laser therapy.

Do lasers remove hair?

They work in a similar way to lasers, albeit less effectively and they are much less likely to permanently remove hair. To minimise the risk of damage to melanin producing cells on the skin surface, the choice of laser and how it’s used can be matched to your skin type.

Removing the 5 o'clock shadow on the armpits?

I'm pale and have really dark coarse underarm hair, and nothing helped removing the green shadow on that area. The green shadow is shaped exactly where I usually have my hair growth. Shaving, waxing or epilating didn't help. I'm thinking of using an at home IPL (Silk Expert Pro 5 by Braun) to...

Can I get one treatment of Laser Hair Removal in order to thin out my coarse dark hair?

Male with course dark arm hair, I have very light skin so my hair really stands out. Can I do one treatment of laser hair removal in an effort to thin the arm hair and make some of the follicles less thick and noticeable. Will my hair grow back patchy? Specific laser light setting/or procedure...

Is laser hair removal safe for type 3 skin with Hx of hypopigmentation following waxing? (Photo)

Hello, I have a history of long lasting hyperpigmentation following upper lip waxing and have been reluctant to pursue laser hair removal on my face. However, I try it on my arms many years ago w/ no adverse reaction. I'm experiencing issues around my mouth with black and white coarse hair...

Is it normal for your hair to look worse and more noticeable before it looks better after first laser hair removal treatment?

Now each hair is dark and more noticeable and it’s feels so coarse it’s painful to shave. Will this hair fall out and I just have to be patient?

Why was my experience with the GentleMax Pro laser so painful?

Hi, I am 30 year old male with light skin tone and a really thick coarse beard. I decided to get laser done to remove it- the place I went to used a gentle max pro laser. It was sheer torcher and after one pass I didn’t think I could continue! My hands were shaking when I was done from the s...

LightSheer Duet or Yag for Light Skinned South Asian With Dark Coarse Hair? (photo)

I am from Pakistan, with lighter skin than most South Asians with dark coarse hair - my skin also pigments dark brown with ingrown hair. I have done alot of research but am so confused between using lightsheer duet or a yag machine. The Clinic using Yag are offering 6 sessions and 6 touchups,...

3 sessions of Soprano Platinum 2018 did not work on my underarms, advice?

Hello, I have done 3 sessions of laser treatment on my underarms (intervals between sessions 35-40 days) however I still need to shave every two days, only a small amount of hair has fallen off. As laser technician told me generally laser treatment on this area is the most effective as there are...

What laser is used for dark skin?

Lighter skin types respond well to the Alexandrite 755nm laser whilst darker skin types respond to the Nd Yag 1064nm laser. The diode 810nm laser is very useful for moderate skin types. Effective treatment of multiple depths of hair follicles. The base of the hair follicle can lie between 2 to 7mm below the skins surface and hence, ...

How deep are hair follicles?

The base of the hair follicle can lie between 2 to 7mm below the skins surface and hence, some hair follicles are superficial (e.g. upper lip) whilst others are much deeper (e.g. Bikini). Optimal results hence require multiple laser wavelengths enabling the operator to target all the follicles situated at different depths.

Is IPL a laser?

This is often incorrectly termed Laser Hair Removal (An IPL device is not a laser it is a light source) and described as the superior method of hair removal. It is clinically proven that IPL is as a rule far less effective at a given task than a laser dedicated to that purpose.

How to avoid laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal shouldn’t be performed on tanned skin. Avoid irritating the skin. Stay away from waxing and plucking. Try not to take anti-inflammatory drugs that may increase bleeding, such as aspirin.

When was laser hair removal first used?

The first laser for hair removal was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995. If registered, equipment used in laser hair removal is vigorously regulated by the FDA for safety.

What to wear before laser eye surgery?

If the area is particularly sensitive, numbing gel can be applied. During the procedure, everyone in the room needs to wear special protective eyewear to prevent eye damage from the laser.

How long does it take for hair to grow after laser hair removal?

Two to eight weeks after laser hair removal, you may begin to notice an increase in hair growth in the treated area. The reason for this is that not all hair follicles respond equally to the laser. Most patients see a 10 to 25 percent reduction in hair after the first treatment.

How long does it take to lose hair?

It typically takes between three and eight sessions for permanent hair loss. The evaluation with your specialist before the procedure will give you a better idea of how many treatment sessions you may need. Also, you will likely need a touch-up session yearly to maintain effect.

How long does it take for a numbing gel to work?

The bigger the area you would like treated, the longer the procedure takes. Small areas can take as little as a couple of minutes while larger areas such as the chest can take an hour or more.

Can a laser be used on dark skin?

Patients with dark skin typically need to be treated with a special type of laser that detects the hair against their skin. Those with light hair make less ideal candidates, and they are also less likely to experience drastic results as the laser doesn’t focus well on nonpigmented hair.

I have folliculitis on my back. Will IPL laser hair removal work to get rid of it? Any possible negative effects? (photo)

Antibiotics only work slightly and it comes back so I'm not sure what kind of folliculitis I have. There are no pustules and its only in areas I have shaved before. From what I've researched, I can not afford any therapy other than IPL. I'm sure the folliculitis in my scalp is bacterial so I'm...

Laser or IPL for fair skin, dark and coarse hair on bikini line, which would be best? Which is less painful?

Hello. I'm wanting to get laser done on my bikini area. I have dark, course hair that grows fast. Also now have ingrowns from waxing. For my skin and hair type, what would be the best type of hair removal? Laser ( diode) or IPL? The clinics around me use IPL or one clinic has the diode but they...

IPL and laser shedding process

I know all about different stages of hair growth just curious how do I notice hair shedding when I keep hair shaved or they feel more coarser because they can't come out

Can ipl cause more hair growth on the face?

I started an ipl+rf home treatment on my face (sideburns and chin) 2 weeks ago. I am 33, I have light skin and some coarse dark hairs on these areas. I have been plucking them for 10 yrs. I hped this was a solution, but I read that it was possible for new follicles to be activated by ipl? This...

Which IPL Laser Should I Use?

Basically I have thick coarse hair that I would like not to remove but make grow finer. Which setting or wavelength should I use to prevent permanently damaging the follicle but instead shrink the follicle to make it smaller?

Will IPL Laser Make Hair Grow Finer?

Basically, I have coarse dark hair on several parts of my body that I would like not to remove permanently but make grow finer. One part is the back of my neck. I did some research and found that IPL is less "intense" in a way than lasers; if I use IPL in a low or medium setting and with only 1...

IPL Treatment for Arm. Interval Between Treatments?

I have had 13 treatments of ipl for hair removal on arm. After which I still have hairs. The first four treatments were spaced weekly apart. After which they changed to a new machine and I felt a great difference in treatment. The first four treatments were not painful, I felt nothing at all. I...

How does laser hair removal work?

Laser hair removal works by using a high intensity beam to target and destroy hair follicles without damaging the surrounding skin and tissues. Because the procedure reduces the number of hairs found in the area that has been treated, re-growth is rare. If you have blonde hair and are looking to visit a laser hair removal clinic, ...

What is the best way to remove hair?

Visiting a laser hair removal clinic or cosmetic surgeon who offers this at their practice is your best option. Although laser hair removal procedures are becoming more and more common, you should have your treatment done by a doctor, registered nurse, or certified technician who has special training. April 3, 2017.

What is the difference between terminal and vellus hair?

Vellus hair is the short, fine, practically invisible hair that cover our entire bodies (except the palms and bottoms of our feet) while terminal hair is thicker and pigmented.

Does hair grow in cycles?

Once the telogen phase is complete, the cycle starts again. As aforementioned, hair grows in cycles. Because of this, hair removal will only be complete after several treatments. Moreover, these treatments need to be spread out, giving the hairs on the legs, bikini and underarms a chance to grow.

What are the three phases of hair growth?

Hair grows in cycles. Our has grows in three cycles — anagen, catagen and telogen. Anagen is the active phase in which our hair is actually growing. When our hair is in the catagen phase our hair follicles are dying, which slows growth down. Finally, the telogen phase occurs in which our hair has stopped growing.

Can laser hair removal work on blonde hair?

Upon its inception, laser hair removal was reserved strictly for people with darker hair. However, new lasers exist that work on blonde hair. Any reputable laser hair removal clinic will tell you how effective the procedure is now for blondes.

How does laser hair treatment work?

Unlike laser pointers, the lasers used in this treatment release pulses of light energy that target the melanin in your hair. As the hair absorbs the laser light, the energy changes from light to heat energy, which damages the hair follicle. This inhibits or delays future hair growth.

How long does it take to remove hair from legs?

While it’s a relatively easy method to do, it also is time-consuming. Over a lifetime, women spend approximately 72 days shaving their legs! That extra time shaving in the shower really adds up.

Why do people hate shaving?

One of the main reasons people hate shaving is that the more often you shave, the faster your hair grows back, not to mention that it has a tendency to grow back even thicker. Plus, everyone who shaves has cut their legs doing it at least once or given themselves ingrown hairs or irritated, dry skin.

What is the best way to get rid of hair?

Laser removal is the perfect way to get rid of that unwanted hair from basically anywhere on your body. Laser removal offers precision, speed, and predictability. The lasers offer precise treatment that damages the hair follicle while leaving your skin untouched.

How many laser removal sessions are needed?

It’s impossible to know exactly how many sessions of laser removal you will need without a consultation, because it all depends on how your individual body reacts to the treatment. Most people need somewhere from 4 to 6 sessions for optimal results, and it’s encouraged that you come back for maintenance treatments once a year or so.

Can depilatory cream cause burns?

Afterward, you simply wipe away the cream and liquified hair. It’s fast-acting and usually painless, but it involves putting toxic chemicals on your skin and can result in pretty significant skin damage over time. Some individuals have superficial chemical burns after using depilatory creams.

Can you wax your hair at home?

Waxing. The best option for waxing is to have it done in a salon by a professional , but you can also do it at home. This method involves applying hot wax to the skin , letting the wax cool down and harden, and then ripping the wax and attached hairs off .

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Why It's Done

Procedure to remove unwanted hair permanently or for a long time.

Treatment for: Unwanted Hair · Excess Body Hair

Type of procedure: Noninvasive

Recovery time: About one day

Duration: Can be few minutes or hours

Hospital stay: Not typically needed

Risks

How You Prepare

What You Can Expect

  • Laser hair removal is used to reduce unwanted hair. Common treatment locations include legs, armpits, upper lip, chin and the bikini line. However, it's possible to treat unwanted hair in nearly any area, except the eyelid or surrounding area. Skin with tattoos should not be treated either. H…
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Results

  • Risks of side effects vary with skin type, hair color, treatment plan and adherence to pre-treatment and post-treatment care. The most common side effects of laser hair removal include: 1. Skin irritation.Temporary discomfort, redness and swelling are possible after laser hair removal. Any signs and symptoms typically disappear within several hours. 2. Pigment changes.Laser hair re…
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