What You Need to Know About Laser Hair Removal

If one wanted hair removal, he or she is faced with a lot of options: shaving, plucking, hot or cold waxing, hair removal creams and laser hair removal. Shaving, plucking, waxing and creams offer you a bit shorter period of time of being free from unwanted hair, not to mention the appearance of 'chicken-skin' and in-growth hair.

Laser hair removal, though, offers you more advantages like having a soft, silky smooth, hair-free skin and breaking you free from unwanted hair - permanently. Although, there are a number of procedures that can be done to get rid of unwanted hair permanently, laser hair removal is one of the most effective. Researches show that those who have undergone laser hair removal have had limited to nonexistent growth.

Laser hair removal procedure utilizes a beam of light which passes through the skin. This beam targets the melanin, the dark pigmentation of the skin and the hair shaft. The beam seeps through the deep part of the skin to the hair follicle thus destroying the hair follicle. Removal of hair by using the laser should immediately retard the growth of hair but it needs a few follow-up treatments to finally stop the growth of hair.

Laser hair removal treatments vary for every individual. Darker-skinned individuals are rather difficult to treat than lighter-skinned ones. This is because of the amount of melanin present in dark skin toned individuals. There are also different kinds of lasers for each and every specific area of the body to be treated with laser hair removal. Follow-up treatments for optimum laser hair removal treatment should be very well maintained. These treatments may be further and further apart depending on the response of the individual to the treatment.

Laser hair removal may be effective or may cause damage to an individual. This is the reason why one should be very careful in choosing a clinic or a spa to service you with the procedure. This procedure should be done without causing any damage to the skin's surface of the individual being treated, thus one should be very wary on whom to choose to have the procedure performed on oneself. Individuals with blonde hair should be a bit choosier and cautious with regards to laser hair removal treatments. With the old laser hair removal treatment system, gray, blond or re-haired patients need to have 1 to 3 month intervals on their follow-up treatment to benefit much from the procedure.

The new laser hair removal treatment systems though; like the "Epilight", which offers more treatment possibilities with the range and precision of light wavelengths; and the "Elos", which is the combination of the laser technology and the use of radio waves. Pre-laser treatments of blonde hair may also be done to optimize the results of laser hair removal on blonde hairs, this treatment is called "Meladine". Meladine comes from compounds present in the ink of marine squid. It enhances the natural melatonin in hair follicles. In addition, for expectant mothers, no studies have been made to prove how the laser light used in laser hair removal affects the fetus but Obstetricians opts to advice pregnant women to do away with the treatment. Waxing or electrolysis may be considered as an option for hair removal treatments.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-laser-hair-removal-139.html
About the Author: Skincare, acne and health expert. I also have been building a variety of websites for the last 3 years. Julia Elorriaga LastSkinCare.com For more information about Skin Care visit Skin Care - LastSkinCare.com


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Is Laser Hair Removal Really Permanent?

Laser hair removal is the latest trend for people wishing to rid themselves of unwanted body or facial hair. Using a laser to remove unwanted hair is touted as a procedure based on state-of-the-art technology, which is a fact. You've also heard the claims that the laser hair removal procedure is the ultimate in permanent hair removal. You've seen the advertisements claiming that laser treatments are fast, painless, and safe.

It all sounds very enticing, but is it all too good to be true?

To answer this question, let's take a hard look at this high-tech hair removal procedure and see if these claims prove reliable.

How does laser hair removal work?

The laser hair removal procedure focuses on the delivery of light into the skin, measured at a specified wavelength, from a hand-held instrument. The light concentrates on darker material in the skin. This targeted material is the pigment found in hair. The intense light damages the hair follicle, which slows or eliminates future hair growth. This process occurs without affecting the surrounding skin tissue.

A great advantage of laser hair removal treatments is the speed in which the procedure can be administered. Small areas, like the upper lip, can be treated in a matter of seconds. Larger areas, such as the back or legs, can be treated in as little as an hour. By contrast, electrolysis can take up to 125 hours of treatment for the back area alone.

Are laser treatments for everyone?

Individuals who response best to the laser hair removal treatments tend to possess lighter skin tones and a darker hair color. The greater the contrast, the easier it is for the laser light to focus on the darker material, or the pigment in the hair.

The latest technological advancements in laser hair removal have made the procedure more effective for those with darker skin. The concern for the risk of tissue damage, from the laser targeting the darker skin rather than the hair follicle, has been significantly reduced.

In most cases, people with darker skin can take advantage of the laser procedures. However, these individuals should not expect results as dramatic as those experienced by candidates with the most favorable characteristics, fair skin and dark hair.

Is the procedure really safe?

In almost all cases, laser hair removal devices used in these procedures have been evaluated and deemed safe by the FDA for hair removal purposes. Of course, an important caveat also applies here - the procedure must be performed by a licensed medical specialist or doctor. When looking for a hair removal clinic, it is recommended that you use a licensed medical doctor to perform these treatments.

Are laser hair removal treatments truly pain-free?

The laser treatment involves a light delivered through a hand held instrument that is attached to a laser console. As the high intensity light is being administered, some patients report a stinging sensation. Thanks to new technology, this stinging effect can be reduced. Many new lasers now incorporate a cooling system that automatically reduces, or removes, heat from the skin's surface during the laser exposure.

Most people describe the sensation as a slight tingling of the skin, and tolerate the laser procedure very well. That's not to say that some areas of the body aren't more sensitive than others. In these cases, a topical anesthesia can be administered prior to the procedure. General anesthesia or pain medication is usually not required.

Are results from the laser hair removal procedure really permanent?

At the present time, the medical consensus regarding laser hair removal is that the procedure results in a range of outcomes, dependent on the individual's physical characteristics (i.e. skin tone, hair color, etc.). Generally, after a series of laser hair removal treatments, one can expect a very dramatic reduction in hair growth. If and when hair does re-grow, it will come back lighter in color or finer in texture.

Overall, laser is still the most effective technique for permanent hair removal that exists today.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/is-laser-hair-removal-really-permanent-139.html

About the Author:
Bill Wilson is a writer skin care articles for a number of online publications. For more information about laser hair removal visit Laser Hair Removal


Sponsored by
Gla Nature

Is Laser Hair Removal Really Permanent?

Laser hair removal is the latest trend for people wishing to rid themselves of unwanted body or facial hair. Using a laser to remove unwanted hair is touted as a procedure based on state-of-the-art technology, which is a fact. You've also heard the claims that the laser hair removal procedure is the ultimate in permanent hair removal. You've seen the advertisements claiming that laser treatments are fast, painless, and safe.

It all sounds very enticing, but is it all too good to be true?

To answer this question, let's take a hard look at this high-tech hair removal procedure and see if these claims prove reliable.

How does laser hair removal work?

The laser hair removal procedure focuses on the delivery of light into the skin, measured at a specified wavelength, from a hand-held instrument. The light concentrates on darker material in the skin. This targeted material is the pigment found in hair. The intense light damages the hair follicle, which slows or eliminates future hair growth. This process occurs without affecting the surrounding skin tissue.

A great advantage of laser hair removal treatments is the speed in which the procedure can be administered. Small areas, like the upper lip, can be treated in a matter of seconds. Larger areas, such as the back or legs, can be treated in as little as an hour. By contrast, electrolysis can take up to 125 hours of treatment for the back area alone.

Are laser treatments for everyone?

Individuals who response best to the laser hair removal treatments tend to possess lighter skin tones and a darker hair color. The greater the contrast, the easier it is for the laser light to focus on the darker material, or the pigment in the hair.

The latest technological advancements in laser hair removal have made the procedure more effective for those with darker skin. The concern for the risk of tissue damage, from the laser targeting the darker skin rather than the hair follicle, has been significantly reduced.

In most cases, people with darker skin can take advantage of the laser procedures. However, these individuals should not expect results as dramatic as those experienced by candidates with the most favorable characteristics, fair skin and dark hair.

Is the procedure really safe?

In almost all cases, laser hair removal devices used in these procedures have been evaluated and deemed safe by the FDA for hair removal purposes. Of course, an important caveat also applies here - the procedure must be performed by a licensed medical specialist or doctor. When looking for a hair removal clinic, it is recommended that you use a licensed medical doctor to perform these treatments.

Are laser hair removal treatments truly pain-free?

The laser treatment involves a light delivered through a hand held instrument that is attached to a laser console. As the high intensity light is being administered, some patients report a stinging sensation. Thanks to new technology, this stinging effect can be reduced. Many new lasers now incorporate a cooling system that automatically reduces, or removes, heat from the skin's surface during the laser exposure.

Most people describe the sensation as a slight tingling of the skin, and tolerate the laser procedure very well. That's not to say that some areas of the body aren't more sensitive than others. In these cases, a topical anesthesia can be administered prior to the procedure. General anesthesia or pain medication is usually not required.

Are results from the laser hair removal procedure really permanent?

At the present time, the medical consensus regarding laser hair removal is that the procedure results in a range of outcomes, dependent on the individual's physical characteristics (i.e. skin tone, hair color, etc.). Generally, after a series of laser hair removal treatments, one can expect a very dramatic reduction in hair growth. If and when hair does re-grow, it will come back lighter in color or finer in texture.

Overall, laser is still the most effective technique for permanent hair removal that exists today.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/is-laser-hair-removal-really-permanent-139.html

About the Author:
Bill Wilson is a writer skin care articles for a number of online publications. For more information about laser hair removal visit Laser Hair Removal


Sponsored by
Gla Nature