Laser hair removal – How it works?

Laser hair removal– There are many methods of removing unwanted hair from cutting, shaving, waxing, etc., and each of them has its advantages, but it is not effective in permanently getting rid of hair growth. The use of laser hair removal is an innovative and comfortable way to get rid of it permanently, and this is done by shining a light beam focused on the hair follicle, then the dye absorbs it, then the follicles die due to the high temperature.

See also: Mesotherapy For Hair

How to use the laser

The laser is used to removing hair by highlighting the area with the natural hair dye that absorbs light to reach the hair shaft, then its temperature increases to destroy the hair follicle, and thus stops hair growth again, and the laser hair removal process needs several sessions; This is because hair has a life cycle that passes through several stages, namely: the stillness phase, the transition phase, and the growth phase.

Hair in the dormant stage needs a period to appear on the surface and is affected by the laser, so the complete treatment period needs between two to three months.

The length of the sessions

Laser pulses need fractions of a second to treat a lot of hair at one time, and one laser session takes about an hour to treat large areas such as the back, while the area above the lips does not need more than a few minutes.

Results can start from the third session of treatment.

The required treatment period varies according to the region, so the area above the lips that grows rapidly needs four to eight weeks, and the back area needs a period of up to sixteen weeks.

The durability of laser treatment

Laser hair removal is known as a permanent and fast method, but a part of the hair may grow back again, in a lighter and lighter form than the previous one, so even if the laser fails to completely eliminate the hair follicle, it weakens it greatly, and to get rid of it and prevent it from growing again, it is recommended to do several separate sessions.

After the treatment, so that the hair does not grow back at all, and if the hair continues to grow again, other solutions can be resorted to removing it, such as plucking. The speed of hair regrowth also depends on the nature of the hair’s passing through the three growth stages, which are different for each person. There are people whose hair grows faster than others, and the hair in the dormant phase takes longer to grow.

Skin type and hair color

Skin color, hair color, and nature play an important role in the effective use of laser for permanent hair removal so that white skin with black hair is more suitable for laser treatment; Where the pigment collects in the hair, which makes it easier to target the laser to the hair shaft and then move towards the follicle to destroy it. Unlike dark skin or light hair, they need several sessions to get satisfactory results, and hair may grow after treatment more than others. Some research was conducted in 2013, which concluded that using laser light with long wavelengths gives better results for people with darker skin tones.

Tips when laser hair removal

The most important thing to ask about is choosing a suitable clinic and a qualified treating doctor, or that the treating person is properly trained and under the supervision of the responsible doctor. When going to the doctor for the first time, he will need some information, such as health history, history of skin disorders, and old hair removal methods; To understand the patient’s condition and determine whether laser sessions are suitable for them, then create a plan for the sessions and costs. And what are the following tips that specialists ask to follow when laser hair removal:

• Stay out of the sun: You must take the necessary precautions to protect from the sun’s rays throughout the day, by using sunscreen daily, and you must adhere to not being exposed to the sun before treatment for a period of up to six weeks.
• Skin whitening: The doctor may request the use of a cream to whiten the skin if it has been exposed to tanning before, and the use of tanning creams and creams that do not contain protection from the sun should be avoided.
• Avoid using other methods of hair removal: You must stop using any method of hair removal before laser treatment for at least four weeks.
• Avoid taking blood-thinning drugs: You must inform the doctor about the medications he is taking, such as anti-inflammatory or aspirin, before undergoing the laser sessions.
• Shaving the area that will be subjected to the laser session: The doctor advises to shve the area that will be applied to the laser a day before that, in order to ensure that the skin is not damaged by the laser burned hair, because the presence of the cut hair makes the focused light penetrate into the hair shaft below the surface of the skin, affecting the follicle only.
• Preparing for the laser session: special glasses are worn to protect the eyes from the laser rays, and to reduce the sensitivity to pain, a gel should be used as a local anesthetic for the area. Then the doctor begins by passing the portable laser device on the area specified for treatment, and a cooling gel may be placed on the skin or a cooling device installed on the end of the laser device, depending on the laser beams used. To protect the skin and reduce the side effects of redness, irritation, and pigmentation.
• After the laser session: It is advisable to place ice cubes on the area to relieve side effects or when redness or swelling is noticed, and the doctor may prescribe a cream containing steroids if the laser session causes skin irritation directly. The doctor’s advice must be taken not to be exposed to the sun between sessions and to use sunscreen.