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The first trick is to get the pigment (melanin) in the hair to absorb enough light to create enough heat to permanently damage the hair follicle, without having the skin absorb the energy. Remember your skin gets its color from melanin, too. If the hair follicle around the base or bulb of the hair is sufficiently heated, it will no longer produce hair. Doctors and scientists have discovered that by using a specific wavelength of light and properly cooling the epidermis (outer most layer of skin), the melanin in the hair will absorb most of the energy. This will create enough heat to destroy the hair follicle. The word LASER is actually a fancy acronym for producing a single, specific wavelength of light.
That all seems logical, but why then does it take multiple laser treatments to get rid of the hair in a particular area? Hair goes through three phases, anagen (active growth), catagen (resting phase) and telogen (shedding phase). As it turns out, the transference of heat to destroy the hair growing capacity of a hair follicle only works when the hair follicle is in the anagen or growth phase. Furthermore, all hair follicles are generally randomized, meaning they are not all in the same phase at the same time. Also, the duration of a particular phase differs for different areas of the body. For example eyebrow hair is only in the growth phase for 4 months while scalp hair has a growth phase of 2-3 years. The anagen (growth) and telogen (shedding) phases last the longest with the catagen (resting) phase typically lasting 2-4 weeks regardless of the body area involved. Therefore, treatments are usually scheduled 5-6 weeks apart to allow hair follicles to enter the anagen phase.
Since hair growth varies between follicles and different body areas we usually say hair removal takes approximately 6 treatments, but for some patients it may take more and for others it may take less. Anyone that tells you laser hair removal only takes a few treatments probably does not understand the physiology of hair growth.
There are other factors as well that contribute to the success of laser hair removal, most importantly skin color. Remember melanin is also responsible for skin color as well as hair color. Therefore, the melanin in your skin competes for the light energy being delivered by the laser. As a result, there are different lasers that should be used on individuals of differing skin color due to ethnicity.
LaserMed's Dr. Jean Chapman has invested in the latest technology and has many lasers to ensure patients of all ethnicity can be safely treated. Dr. Chapman can answer all your hair removal questions. Feel free to schedule a free consultation or email her at jchapman@lasermedskinclinic.com.
