Laser hair removal

What it is

Mechanical methods of hair removal — shaving, waxing, threading, bleaching, creams and epilation — give only temporary results. They remove the hair but leave the follicle intact, so hair regrows within one to four weeks.

Medical lasers treat the hair follicles using laser light, disabling them so that they produce less hair, without damaging the skin around them.

How it works

Laser-assisted hair removal works on the principle of selective photothermolysis. The light emitted from the laser is absorbed mainly by the melanin in the hair follicle, and is delivered in short pulses which disable the follicle without damaging the tissue next to it. Follicles respond when they are in their active growth phase, and 50 to 80 per cent of follicles are in that phase at any one time.

Four to six treatments or more may be required, depending on the area, skin type and hair density, repeated at four- to six-week intervals. The procedure has been approved by the U.S. FDA for permanent hair reduction, but permanence cannot be promised. Patients usually report that regrowth is slower, finer in texture and sparser after treatment.

What to expect

You feel a tingling or pricking sensation; there is no bleeding and no open wound, and a sensitive area may need a numbing cream. The skin may become slightly red and puffy, like sunburn, settling within a few hours or a day or two. Most people return to normal activity immediately. Hairs may keep coming out for up to two weeks after treatment; this is not regrowth.

How to prepare

Avoid all forms of tanning for four to six weeks beforehand, and use a sunscreen. Avoid waxing, tweezing, plucking and epilation for four weeks beforehand — shaving and chemical depilatories are fine. On the day, avoid cosmetics and deodorants on the area, which has to be shaved before treatment. Afterwards, limit sun exposure and use a sunscreen for at least six weeks.

Safety

Laser-assisted hair removal has been extensively studied, and whether it suits your skin and hair is assessed before treatment. Temporary lightening or darkening of the skin can occur in some dark-skinned individuals, and generally fades within a few months.