Techniques and Procedures Available For Laser Hair Removal
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By :
Ruca Martin
Submitted
2008-08-11 08:16:07 |
Laser hair removal has recently become such a significant component of the hair removal industry that it is important to appreciate that the procedure has been in existence for about forty years. It was back in 1969 that lasers were initially employed for use in hair removal and when, in the 1990s, official approval was given for the use of the Softlight ™ laser to be used in the USA, the technology really began to develop. Today, laser hair removal is considered as an efficient, lasting method of reducing unwanted hair from places such as the bikini-line, legs, back, chest and face. It is perhaps not the totally painless procedure some would have us believe, but it certainly causes far less discomfort than either waxing or electrolysis.
In order for laser hair removal to successfully take place, a laser beam is carefully aimed at a hair follicle in order to destroy it without having a detrimental impact on the surrounding skin. This will effectively disable the follicle, preventing new hair from growing from it. The laser light used for this purpose has to have a ‘pulse duration’ that is sufficient to destroy the follicle but not so long that it could burn the surrounding skin. The common pulse duration is approximately just 1 millisecond, with the laser energy density between 10 t0 25 J per square centimeter of skin. It is usual to have a cooling gel applied to the area to be treated before application of the laser. This gel, or sometimes it might be a cream, will often contain an anesthetic such as lidocaine, which will minimize the patient’s discomfort.
It is important to realize that, for the skin to absorb the laser energy safely and successfully, the color of the skin needs to be somewhat lighter than the hair itself. This is because a darker pigmentation would absorb the energy, perhaps causing burns or discoloring of the skin. This makes the choice of your cosmetic technician or physician absolutely vital, as it is essential that you choose someone with the experience and technical knowledge to be able to effectively judge what is and is not possible for your specific requirements. Although there are laser hair removal systems that are designed for use in the home, this is a process that many people would prefer to leave in the hands of a suitably qualified professional rather than attempt themselves. The widespread availability of laser hair removal machines, and their greater affordability and portability, means that some clinics, even hairdressers, can now offer this service to clients.
Please ensure, though, that you are trusting yourself to an acknowledged and certified practitioner, rather than simply selecting the most economically attractive.
Laser hair removal – and the less concentrated Intense Pulse Light procedure – are both successful and speedy methods of hair removal. Excellent results can be achieved, especially on patients with a fair skin and dark, coarse hair, and most patients will experience no side effects other than a slight redness after the procedure, which will usually quickly vanish. Several treatments will have to be undertaken for complete success as the laser beam can only destroy actively growing follicles, which have different growth cycles. The hair follicles will, however, start to fall out about two weeks or so after the first treatment, although the hairs might disconcertingly appear to be growing for a while as they are pushed out by the new epidermis. |
Author Resource:-
This article may be used on other sites but this resource box and the URL link MUST be left intact. Andrew Long writes for a series of websites about surgery related issues, including those about Laser hair removal. Please go to http://www.surgeryknowhow.com for more information.
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