Laser Hair Removal Is It For You?
Author: Rose PualHow does hair removal by laser work? Laser hair removal machines emit a gentle beam of light. This penetrates the skin through to the hair follicle and the hair absorbs it. From there, the energy is then transformed into heat which disables the hair follicle.
What's the difference between hair removal by laser and electrolysis?
Electrolysis takes time as each hair follicle has to be individually treated. It can be painful and tedious and many sessions are required over months or even years. Hair removal by laser on the other hand can treat hundreds of hair follicles simultaneously so the process is much quicker.
Is laser hair removal for anyone?
A Word About Coolglide Technology
It is now possible to use laser hair removal on all skin and hair types with the advent of CoolGlide technology. Of course, each individual can respond differently so a test needs to be done. This is an improvement however over the early days when dark skin and tanned skin greatly impaired the results you could expect.
The longer wavelength used by CoolGlide technology means all skin tones can be treated. While individuals with fair skin can expect very good results, it has been found through medical studies that people with tanned or dark skin can also expect good results, without the side effects previously experienced.
Other Laser Hair Removal Devices
With some laser hair removal equipment, an absolute requirement is that the hair must be darker than the surrounding skin.White skin with dark hair responds best. Persons with dark, coarse hair are the easiest to treat as dark hair contains melanin, a dark pigment which attracts the laser light so more laser energy is absorbed. Fewer sessions are needed.
It is more difficult to treat light hair and red hair or blonde hair can be very difficult to treat. Many hair removal sessions may be required and even then, the results can be mixed.
Anyone on a diet high in beta-carotene will need to change eating habits if they want best results from laser hair removal. Beta-carotene, found in vitamin A, carrots, squash and other vegetables produces a yellow or orange color in the skin which absorbs the laser energy and interferes with it reaching the hair follicle. It can take months for beta-carotene to pass out of the body so if a person with such a diet is considering laser hair removal they will need to stop the intake well in advance of the first laser hair removal session.
Persons with light skin are the easiest to treat, requiring less laser hair removal sessions as the results are faster. Persons with dark skin or sun tanned skin take longer to get results because melanin, the dark pigment in hair, is also present in skin. Melanin absorbs some of the laser light. A lower energy laser beam is used for dark skin to avoid the risk of burning. It also needs a high level of expertise so make sure you get a well experienced professional to perform the treatment if you are dark skinned.
So now you have a reasonable overview of what is involved in hair removal by laser. Use this information to prepare for your consultation and see if you will be a suitable candidate for laser hair removal.
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