How Hair Removal by Laser Actually Works

This page provides laser hair removal information and facts. It explains the method of permanent removal and how it destroys hair permanently. The information in this guide is based on various reports and articles that have been written.

Laser hair removal works by sending a beam of laser light to a group of hair follicles with enough power to disable or destroy the root, but not enough power to harm the surrounding skin. This process is called selective photothermolysis. It is selective because it targets only the hair and not the skin. Photo means light and thermolysis means destroying with heat. The surrounding skin is usually cooled. Some methods include a gel, a spray, or a cooling tip.

The Laser beam finds the hair follicles by targeting the substance that gives skin and hair dark color - melanin. Therefore, the ideal candidate for laser has dark hair and light skin. The laser will not work on people with red, white, gray or true blond hair. The hot laser light will also be attracted to the melanin in the skin, so people with suntans, or dark skin types are at more of a risk for discoloration of pigment and other side effects.

Hair Removal by Laser is NOT ELECTROLYSIS. Electrolysis is a method of removing individual hairs one-at-a-time by directing an electric current into each hair follicle. This is the high tech/modern day method of destroying massive amounts of hair follicles with a simple trigger pull.

Laser only destroys hair in its active growth phase, the anagen phase. This phase lasts several years, and up to 85% of our hair is in that phase at any given time. The good thing is that during this phase, the hair has an abundance of melanin and the hair follicle is easily targeted.

Types of lasers

There are four different kinds of laser light that are commonly used for hair removal:

• Alexandrite- such as the Candela GentleLase Plus.
• Ruby- such as the EpiTouch or the Epilaser.
• Diode- such as the Coherent Light Sheer.
• ND, and LP ND Yag- such as the Candela GentleYag and the Altus Cool Glide.

These are all effective, fast, comfortable and safe for permanent hair removal.

There are several factors that a laser technician can often control to customize a treatment for efficacy, safety and comfort:

• Pulse length- long pulsed lasers are considered safest.
• Fluence- Selection of energy levels can be varied for skin type.
• Delay- The time in between pulses of light affects how much the skin and hair follicle are allowed to cool off
• Spot Size – Affects the speed and penetration of the laser. A larger spot penetrates deeper. A good selection of spot sizes helps the technician reach the hair at the depth at which it grows.
• Cooling- The surrounding skin may be protected by a gel, spray or cooled tip pressed against the skin.