Laser Hair Reduction

No more waxing, electrolysis, or razors?   Permanent hair reduction can be accomplished with lasers or pulsed light devices.  Hair reduction may not mean permanent hair removal.  There are a number of factors that affect the outcome; such as the type of laser, skin and hair color.  Laser hair treatment, in comparison to other methods for maintenance, is fast, safe, and very effective. 

There are a number of devices approved for permanent laser hair reduction. Lasers generate energy or heat in the form of lights waves.  The energy produced by a laser is determined by its wavelength. This energy must be strong enough to disable hair growth without burning the skin.  Wavelengths between 700 nm and 1100 nm balance the trade-off between benefit and safety.  Shorter wavelengths have more energy compared to longer wavelengths.  Diode, Alexandrite, Nd:YAG, and Ruby lasers fall within these wavelengths.  Pulse light covers the spectrum of wavelengths.  There are no studies that demonstrate one laser being far superior to the others.  In general, the Nd:YAG laser is thought to be better for darker skin types.

Melanin in the skin and hair shafts determines the natural color. Dark hair, olive, tanned or dark skin types have more melanin.  Melanin in the hair shaft and melanin in the skin absorb the laser energy.  There is a balance between burning the hair and burning the skin.  Longer wavelengths have less melanin absorption and should be safer for darker skinned individuals. The best candidate for laser hair reduction is an individual with coarse dark hair and lighter skin. 

Hair grows in different phases.  Laser devices mainly affect hairs in the active growth phase.  Hairs enter the active growth phase at different times.  Multiple treatments are necessary in order to catch the hair follicle during this active phase.  During the treatment, no anesthesia is required.  Some patients experience a pinching or stinging sensation.  There are certain areas which are more sensitive.

Key Points to Understand

Maintenance treatments (e.g., once- or twice-yearly touch-ups) are often needed to sustain optimal results.

Per-session gains are incremental: Many patients see 10–25% reduction after the first treatment, with cumulative improvement over multiple sessions. Healthline

Complete 100% removal is uncommon: Even with multiple treatments, many patients are left with some hair regrowth, usually finer and lighter.

Results vary by area and individual: Facial hair reduction can be less predictable than body areas with longer hair growth cycles. PubMed