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Facts About Permanent Laser
Hair Removal Treatment

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Permanent laser hair removal treatment has been widely used for more than 40 years now. It still continues to become a favorite hair removal option by people because it's safe and effective. If you're considering getting laser treatment to get rid of hair on your legs or your underarms, you need to know some important facts first.

Most laser treatments only work on dark hair and fair skin. This is because the laser beams emitted from the laser device only hit on the dark pigments of the hair called melanin. As a result, the hair follicles are damaged preventing hair growth.

However, laser only recognizes the pigment and not the surface. Thus, it may also damage the skin when laser is treated on dark skin as it also contains melanin.

Permanent laser hair removal may also not be effective in treating people with light skin and light hair. Laser light will only be reflected by light hair due to the absence of melanin.

The good news is that technology has now found a solution in treating people with dark skin. Researchers have found that using longer pulse widths is actually safe on dark skin. Development of better lasers has opened the door for treatment of more skin types then, including those with darker skin.

Question: Do you know when it would be best to have these treatments done? Actually it would be during the winter months in most parts of the country. Reason being that's when you have the best contrast between your hair color and underlying skin tone. Meaning your skin will be the lightest it's going to be and your hair is the darkest is going to be. All because you're not out in the sun much when snow covers the ground. Got it?

Now permanent laser hair removal treatment basically uses different types of laser systems including:

• Alexandrite laser - used on light skin
• Nd: YAG laser - ideal for treating dark skin
• Pulsed diode array - ideal for fair to medium type skin

Moreover, there are different factors affecting the efficiency of the permanent laser hair removal treatment including:

• kind of laser equipment used
• energy setting used
• width of the laser beam or spot size
• the rate of pulses at the same target area

The efficiency of laser treatment will also vary depending on current patient conditions like age, hair color, amount of hair, skin type, and texture of hair among others. And so called touchups may be required down the road in some cases.

For reasons of safety, be sure to consult a hair removal specialist to help you find the best permanent laser hair removal option for you.

Question: How does laser hair removal differ from waxing shaving and the like?

That's a good question so let's look at that a bit closer.

To oversimplify things - think of unwanted body hair involving a follicle that grows out from a bulb.

Shaving just cuts off the hair above the skin's surface leaving the bulb in tact which is why the results don't last very long.

Waxing stripes the bulb from the follicle which substantially slows down the regrowth process.

Laser energy destroys the bulb killing the follicle. No regrowth. End of story.

Related Laser Hair Removal Articles

Sure lasers can remove hair but what does permanent laser hair removal cost? If you're not sure or would like to know more then read on.

Read more about the things to consider with permanent laser hair removal clinics, spas and salons to insure you get a good outcome without any painful or embarrassing side effects.

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