Hair removal has come a long way from the days of temporary fixes like shaving, depilatories, and waxing. We moved on to the more permanent but painful process of electrolysis, but still sought something better. Now, women and men can experience the benefits of laser hair removal.
Gentle on delicate skin, and much faster than electrolysis, laser hair removal can take as little as 10 minutes for small areas. But how does it work? Hair removal is achieved through the use of a laser wand which is passed over the skin. The laser’s energy, emitted as a pulse of light, goes through the skin to the hair follicle. The energy is absorbed by melanin in the hair shaft, where it is received as heat.
At this point, the heat causes the follicle to become inflamed. The hair follicle experiences a “resting” stage known as telogen. This is where the lasers work their magic; the follicle doesn’t produce hair during the telogen phase. Since the laser targets only the melanin, its heat doesn’t damage the surrounding skin.
To further protect your skin, an instrument is used to cool the area. The device cools the upper layers of skin tissue, ensuring that your hair removal experience is comfortable. Using a cooling gel pack or compress after your session will stave away inflammation. Expect multiple sessions, since hair is most easily removed during phases of active growth.