Detailed Information on Laser Hair Removal

• Hair Biology Facts
• Hair Growth Cycle
• What is Excess Hair Growth
• Laser Hair Removal
• Laser Facts
• Types of Laser Used
• How to Choose the Right Clinic
• Laser Hair Removal Procedure
• Potential Treatment Risks
• Laser Hair Removal Care
• Before Laser Hair Removal
• Care After Laser Hair Surgery

What is Laser Hair Removal

Since the dawn of self consciousness and desire to improve how one looks, unwanted hair has been a cause of psychological distress for people, especially women (quite understandable).

In ancient times people used laced cotton string (threading), depilatories, sugaring, and abrading of hair with pumice stone to get rid of undesired hair. Later on shaving, first with broken sea shells and eventually with metal blades, became the major method of hair removal. In the 20th century some more technologically advanced methods such as electrolysis were developed and became popular.

But all these methods of removing hair were time-consuming and their effect is by and large, temporary. The need of the hour was something less messy and with more permanent effects.

In came the laser era.

History

Epilation performed by laser was first conducted experimentally in the mid 1970s before being commercially available in the mid 1990s. What we see today is result of five phases of development:

1. In the mid to late 1960's the method used employed a continuous wave, but its less than controllable nature involved a risk of collateral skin damage. The advent of Q-switch, akin to a camera shutter, brought the emitted laser energy under control so that it now comes out in controlled pulses.
2. The late 60´s also saw laser-like devices targeting selective individual follicles with the help of a wire-thin fiber optic probe.
3. In the late 70´s a device using an argon laser started becoming popular.
4. 1995 saw first FDA approved laser hair removal method in the US, the SoftLight™ Nd: YAG by ThermoLase.
5. In 1997 the FDA cleared several types of devices targeting melanin in the hair.

The Method Today

Laser-assisted hair removal employs selective photothermolysis. This is done by using laser of appropriate wavelength, pulseduration, and fluence. It ensures that thermal injury is limited to the targeted chromophore (the pigment in the hair follicle and hair fiber). Usually endogenous melanin or another exogenous chromophore in hair follicle is the target of laser.

Types of Laser Used

Nd: YAG: 1064nm (Neodymium: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet): Pulsed solid state laser with high repetition rate.

Q-Switched Nd:YAG 532-1064nm: This method uses Q-switch to control the high intensity pulses of energy into the laser chamber.

Ruby 694nm: This is the first practical Q-switched laser that was made available for laser hair removal. It is best for darker hair colors but gives very poor results with lighter hair colors.

Alexandrite 755nm: The Alexandrite laser can be employed both for short and long pulse duration. Unlike most other lasers, with this laser the temperature increases are followed by increase in laser gain.

Caution: Laser hair removal is not meant for everyone.