You know the drill. You get up, take a shower, and watch your hair swirl in the drain. You check your hair out in the mirror and find a little less than you had the day before. Your hairline is receding and you've tried the shampoos and the Rogaine with minimal success. You've done the hair system thing, but that's just not you. So what's a person to do? Live with hair loss? Maybe not. Here are top ten reasons to try a new laser hair treatment program. 1. The use of low level lasers in the treatment of hair loss is one of the latest technological breakthroughs in hair restoration therapy. This low level laser hair treatment has been used with great success in Europe for the past ten years, but is only recently coming into use here in the states. Uses of hand-held laser combs have been approved by the FDA for home use. 2. Low light lasers use cool red light to stimulate blood flow to the scalp. There are many factors involved in male and female pattern hair loss - genetics, hormones, age. When hair follicles begin to fail because of an overabundance of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) in the body (a hormone that comes with aging) and lack of blood flow to that area of the scalp, hair follicles shrink and eventually miniaturize and fail to thrive. Finally, hair follicles disappear altogether. Once follicles die, nothing can be done to help them. That's why it's important to start laser hair treatment when your hair is in the thinning stage, before it's gone altogether. Cool laser hair treatment stimulates this blood flow and restores vitality to the root, encouraging regrowth. 3. This can be used in conjunction with your current mode of hair loss treatment. If you've taking Rogaine or Propecia and seeing minimal results, laser hair treatment can boost the effectiveness of medications. By stimulating regrowth of hair follicles with the use of red, low light lasers, it helps the medications work more effectively. In clinical studies, 45% of patients saw noticeable results in 6 - 8 weeks, and within 4 - 6 months, another 45% saw definite improvement in the quality of the hair that was regrowing and in the thickness of their hair. 4. This is pain-free and has virtually no side effects. For those fearful or reluctant to use prescription medication treatments such as Rogaine or Propecia, a laser hair treatment program offers a safe, effective and risk-free way to treat hair loss. Lasers stimulate blood flow to the scalp, and energized the hair follicles, but do not damage skin. 5. This will not bust your budget. Compared to other hair loss treatments the cost is much cheaper than alternatives like surgical hair restoration, or a high-end hair system that will require maintenance. 6. Laser hair treatment vs. hair systems - Hair systems require some kind of glue or adhesive to stay on. There is always the risk that an edge will come up or that even the best hair system will be detectable. With laser hair treatment, you're only dealing with your own natural hair. No glue, no hoping people don't notice you're wearing a hair system. 7. No surgery - There is no surgery involved with laser hair treatment, and more importantly, no anesthesia required. Hair restoration surgery (or follicular hair transplantation surgery) is very expensive and requires 10 days of downtime following surgery. Laser hair treatments can be done on your lunch break or in front of the TV at night and require no down time. And there is no risk of infection involved as there is with any surgery. 8. Laser Hair Treatments are natural - Many people simply don't believe in taking medication or in doing surgery to restore hair. They want a more natural approach. Nothing is more natural than using light to regrow your hair. The kind of red light used in laser hair treatments is not the kind that will give you sunburn or encourage skin problems. On the contrary, it can even help flaky, itchy scalps to heal and naturally stimulate the health and vitality of the scalp and hair. 9. No need to be self-conscious by visiting a hair replacement clinic. If you dread the idea of walking into a hair restoration clinic to be measured, prodded and evaluated, or if you're simply too shy to be bothered with it, a laser hair treatment program with an in-home hand-held laser comb may be your best solution. 10. Hand-held laser combs for home use - If you choose the hand-held laser comb that is now on the market, it's an even more cost effective option. Use of the laser comb three times a week at home for 30 to 40 minutes is all you need to do. No need to drive in to a clinic for laser hair treatments. And it's yours forever. As your hair regrows after using laser hair therapy, your confidence will grow as well. A thick head of healthy hair means a more vital, healthy, happy you. Ray Treadwell is a freelance journalist with specialized knowledge of the Hair Loss industry with an emphasis on Laser Hair Loss Therapy Contact Ray at laserhairloss@gmail.com for more information. Laser Hair Loss Treatment.
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Surgical Therapy Laser-assisted hair removal is accomplished by destroying the follicular unit and thus inhibiting future hair growth by the follicle. The ability to accomplish this without damaging any surrounding tissue is based on the theory of selective photothermolysis. The theory states that at a particular wavelength (in nm), pulse duration, and fluence matrix, lasers or other light sources with wavelengths within the absorption spectrum of melanin are effective for hair removal. Typically the pulse duration, or length of time the pulse of light is emitted, should be shorter than or equal to the thermal relaxation time (TRT) of the target. The TRT of a hair follicle is from 10-100 milliseconds. However, pulses longer than the TRT of the hair shaft allows thermal damage to occur in the hair matrix stem cells and ensure follicular destruction. In order to minimize the risk of thermal damage to surrounding skin cells, cooling devices may be used to chill the skin before or during laser treatment. Laser SystemsSince the first lasers were approved for the use of hair removal in 1996, dramatic advances have occurred in laser technology. This has led to the development of several laser types for the treatment of unwanted hair. Before the widespread use of longer wavelengths and pulse durations and more effective cooling devices, laser-assisted hair removal was best used to treat individuals with light skin and dark hair. More recently, however, long-pulsed lasers have been used to safely and effectively treat patients with darker skin types. Laser light sources currently used to destroy hair photothermally include the long-pulsed ruby (694 nm), long-pulsed alexandrite (755 nm), long-pulsed diode (810 nm), and long-pulsed neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG, 1064 nm). The efficacy of these different lasers for treatment of unwanted hair and the frequency of adverse effects encountered after treatment have been compared in various skin types.5 The efficacy of each of the following laser systems is compared in terms of permanent hair reduction. Hair reduction, as defined by the FDA, "refers to a significant reduction in the number of terminal hairs after a given treatment, which is stable for a period of time longer than the complete growth cycle of hair follicles at the given body site." Long-pulsed ruby The long-pulsed ruby laser was the first widely used laser for hair removal. Its light energy has the most selective absorption by melanin and the shortest depth of penetration (wavelength of 694 nm). Use of this laser for hair removal is indicated in individuals with light skin and dark hair. Its efficacy in individuals with light skin has been demonstrated in numerous studies, ranging from 20-60% hair reduction after one treatment and up to 50-78% reduction after multiple treatments. The ruby laser penetrates the skin by only 1-2 millimeters and can cause significant absorption by epidermal melanin of thermal energy. In studies treating a wide range of skin types with the ruby laser, more adverse reactions have occurred in patients with darker skin. The use of this laser on patients with darker skin types is not recommended. Long-pulsed alexandrite The 755-nm alexandrite laser has now been widely used for laser hair removal and is recognized as being efficacious and generally safe. This laser is still typically used for patients with lighter skin types, but its longer wavelength allows for deeper penetration into the skin, and it can be used for patients with darker skin.5 Studies have reported hair reduction from 4-56% after only a single treatment and from 33-95% hair reduction after multiple treatments, depending upon number of treatments and body location. The adverse effects of this laser, when used on patients with darker skin types, can include blistering, crusting, and alterations of pigment, even when skin cooling devices are used. In patients classified as having the darkest skin, residual hypo- or hyperpigmentation is the rule with the alexandrite laser. Long-pulsed diode Treatment of unwanted hair with the 810-nm long-pulsed diode laser has been demonstrated as comparable to those of the ruby or alexandrite lasers. After a single treatment, hair reductions of 32-34% have been reported, and up to 84% hair reduction has been reported after multiple treatments. The diode laser has a longer wavelength and adjustable pulse duration, and, when used with an efficient skin-cooling device, allows for the treatment of patients with darker skin types. The diode laser is more effective for laser-assisted hair removal in patients with dark skin because of the higher absorption by melanin than is seen with the Nd:YAG laser. Still, temporary adverse effects have been reported with the use of the diode laser in the form of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation when used on individuals with dark skin.6 Long-pulsed Nd:YAG The Nd:YAG laser is the safest type used to treat unwanted hair on patients with dark skin and is most suitable for patients in this group. At 1064 nm, this laser penetrates the skin deeper than other lasers (to a level of 4-6 mm) with less absorption at the skin, but it is also less effectively absorbed by melanin. This leads to lower instances of adverse effects and better tolerance in patients with dark skin, but also lower efficacy for hair removal.7 Permanent hair loss has been reported, however, with reported hair reductions of 27-53%, depending on the number of treatments administered and the body location. The FDA has approved the long-pulsed diode and the long-pulsed Nd:YAG lasers for use in hair removal in patients with darker skin classifications. All FDA-approved laser systems used for hair removal must have efficient and effective epidermal cooling devices incorporated as part of the system. Intense pulsed light systems Pulsed, noncoherent broadband light sources are now accepted and widely used in the medical industry for hair removal and other applications. Intense pulsed light (IPL) systems utilize a xenon bulb as a light source, which produces polychromatic light with wavelengths from 550-1200 nm. This is in contrast to laser light sources, which produce monochromatic light of a specific wavelength. Light emitted by the bulb passes through a filter that excludes shorter wavelengths that may severely damage skin. The ability to "tune" the wavelength of light emitted by these systems gives IPL systems the advantage of versatility. Using different filters, a pulsed light system could mimic any number of laser systems, allowing the operator to treat many different conditions amenable to light therapy, including, of course, the removal of unwanted hair. Studies have shown intense pulsed light to be an effective method of hair removal. In a study of 210 patients who underwent hair removal by IPL, a mean hair reduction of 80% was reported after 3-5 treatments. Minimal adverse effects, including transient erythema and localized edema, were reported. The variability of light output can also be a disadvantage of IPL systems. The light spectrum may vary slightly with each pulse, and reproducibility of treatments varies between operators. The handpieces of IPL systems are typically larger than laser-based systems, which makes treatment of fine areas of the skin difficult. Preoperative Details A large discrepancy can exist between patient expectations of treatment with laser-assisted hair removal systems and the actual effects of such a treatment. Open communication must exist between the care provider and the patient. A body surface area does not realistically remain completely hair-free after a single laser-assisted hair removal treatment. Expectations
- Approximately 80% of all patients respond well to laser hair removal therapy.
- Patients should be counseled to expect a 30% decrease in hair at the treatment area with each laser treatment.
- Patients should understand that multiple treatments are often necessary to achieve the desired reduction in hair at a given body area. A minimum of 5 treatments is often necessary to achieve optimal patient satisfaction.
- Treatments are typically spaced 1-3 months apart.
- Individual response to laser-assisted hair removal is highly variable and depends upon numerous factors, including skin color, hair color and size, laser type, fluence, wavelength, and skin preparation.
- Laser hair removal is not without risk. Some discomfort may be associated with the procedure. Patients must also understand the potential for adverse effects, adverse reactions, and complications of laser treatment for unwanted hair.
- The best candidate for laser hair removal is a patient with light skin and dark hair.
Skin preparation and safety
- Patients should be instructed to avoid sunlight and active tanning prior to treatment. Bleaching of the skin with retinoic acid or hydroquinone can lighten the skin prior to laser treatment.
- Patients may shave or use depilatory creams up to the day prior to treatment, leaving hairs within the follicle and below the skin surface.
- Topical anesthetic creams or cryogenic sprays may be applied to the treatment area to reduce discomfort during the procedure. Cold compresses are also effective in reducing discomfort, erythema, and edema at the treatment area.
- The skin surface must be thoroughly cleansed of all makeup, anesthetic creams, and other applicants immediately prior to laser treatment. This may be done with water, followed by alcohol swabs, and should be allowed to dry completely.
- Laser systems are dangerous hazards to the eye. The highest concentration of melanin in the body is contained in the retina, which is highly susceptible to damage by laser light. Every person in the room during laser treatment should wear protective eyewear that is certified for the wavelength of the laser in use. Because the patient usually lies supine, he or she may require full occlusive eye protection to prevent laser light from entering underneath a sunglasses or goggle type of protective eyewear.
Intraoperative Details Optimal outcomes of laser-assisted hair removal are obtained with the highest fluences, appropriate pulse duration, and the largest laser spot size. Test spots may be performed prior to treatment of larger areas to determine to highest fluence tolerated by the individual patient and the laser's effect on surrounding skin. The amount of fluence used should also depend upon the area of the body to be treated and the density of hairs at the site. - In areas with thick, dense hairs, such as the beard area or upper back in men or the bikini area in women, a lower fluence should be used until the hair has sufficiently thinned. Epidermal damage could otherwise occur, due to the additive thermal energy absorbed by the higher density of hair follicles.
- When treating the brow area on men or women, the skin should be pulled up and away from the eyes and should overlay a flat portion of the forehead. This helps minimize the risk of laser light exposure to the eye and retina.
- A higher occurrence of adverse effects and adverse reactions has been noted at the neck region in women; higher fluences in this area should be used with caution.
- For treatment of the chin, perioral region, or upper lip, tooth enamel should be protected from excessive laser light exposure. Inappropriate exposure to certain laser light may induce hard tissue disintegration in the tooth and irreversible damage to dental pulp.
To minimize the possibility of thermal damage to skin and to improve patient comfort, the skin should be cooled during laser-assisted hair removal. As previously stated, all FDA-approved laser systems have an epidermal cooling device incorporated into the handpiece. Incorporated cooling mechanisms currently in use include cryogen sprays, sapphire-cooled hand pieces, and cold airflow. - Cryogen sprays are used in short bursts prior to each pulse of laser light. Increasing the length of cryogen spurts can decrease the pain felt by the patient.
- A pre-cooled, heat-sinked sapphire window or water-cooled glass window can be incorporated into the laser handpiece. This comes into contact with the skin to be treated and cools the skin.
- Some laser handpieces contain a source of continuous cooled air. This cold air is blown over the area to be treated and cools the skin during laser treatment.
- Cold compresses or ice packs may be used prior to treatment, along with cooled laser handpieces. These may be applied prior to treatment or intermittently during a longer treatment time.
- Application of a cooled gel (eg, ultrasound, aloe vera) to the skin can aid in minimizing discomfort and epidermal damage. All gel must, however, be thoroughly removed from the skin prior to treatment.
A recent study has introduced a pneumatic skin flattening (PSF) device as an alternative to the dynamic cooling devices that are currently used.8 This device generates negative pressure on a small area of the patient’s skin, elevating and flattening the skin onto a sapphire window in preparation for laser therapy. This feeling of pressure against the skin may block the sensation of pain experienced by the patient. Study results thus far show that this method of treatment can be successful. During laser treatment, each laser spot should overlap by no more than one third of the spot size. Further overlapping of continuous pulses causes accumulation of thermal injury and potentially causes epidermal damage. No overlapping of spots could result in missed areas in the treatment area. A treatment grid could be applied to the patient's skin and used as a guideline to outline the treatment area. With experience, the laser operator becomes proficient in visually tracking the treatment area. Postoperative Details - Immediately after a treatment session, patients should be given a cold compress or ice pack to decrease pain and reduce swelling. This effectively reduces discomfort, edema, and erythema, and keeps epidermal adverse effects to a minimum.
- Patients may also be given a topical corticosteroid cream to decrease local erythema.
- If minor skin damage has occurred, a topical antibiotic ointment may be applied until the skin has sufficiently healed.
- For more serious skin damage, an oral antibiotic may be prescribed for prophylaxis if deemed necessary by the health care provider.
- Makeup may be applied to treated areas the day following the procedure, as long as no epidermal damage has occurred.
- Patients should be told that hair casts will shed from treated areas over the following week and that this should not be confused with new hair growth.
Follow-up Future treatments should be planned when they are likely to be most effective. Timing depends upon the body surface area to be treated. Hair on the trunk and extremities grows more slowly than on the face and head, and future treatments to the trunk and extremity should be planned after 2-4 months. In women, facial hair is lighter in color and finer in texture than on other parts of the body. These hair properties make the face a resistant area to treatment. Therefore, greater numbers of treatments are often required, and at shorter intervals. Treatments of the face should be timed at intervals of approximately 4-6 weeks. Complications Immediate effects after a single treatment of laser-assisted hair removal include perifollicular erythema and edema. These are expected after treatment and should not be considered adverse effects. They are minimized by cold application and resolve in a few hours. The risk of developing adverse effects or complications after laser-assisted hair removal varies widely and depends upon many factors. The type of laser used may contribute to the incidence of adverse effects. - The highest incidence of adverse effects has been reported to occur in patients with darker skin who were treated with the long-pulsed ruby laser.
- For individuals with darker skin, the long-pulsed diode laser and the long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser are recommended, and the Nd:YAG laser has been shown to have the least incidence of adverse effects.9
The incidence of adverse effects was reported after laser-assisted hair removal was performed on 480 patients. Reported adverse effects included (from highest to lowest incidence) blistering, hyperpigmentation, scabbing, hypopigmentation, scar formation, and thrombophlebitis. - Blistering appears to be the most common adverse reaction and has been reported after treatment with all of the laser systems in use today over various skin tones. Blistering is a result of injury to the epidermis, possibly due to high fluences or increased overlapping of laser pulses.
- Scab formation is also a common adverse effect of laser treatment, due to epidermal damage. Blistering and minimal epidermal crusting have been reported in up to 15% of patients treated with both ruby and alexandrite lasers. These occurrences are more common in patients with tanned skin and darker skin types.
- Hyperpigmentation is a darkening of the skin and can occur after laser treatment. This phenomenon is usually reversible and is due to a stimulation of melanin production in skin melanocytes. This reaction is similar to a suntan.
- Hypopigmentation, or lightening of the skin, can occur after laser treatments. This is caused by damage to the epidermal melanocytes after their melanin absorbs laser light energy, causing destruction of these cells. This type of damage may be permanent and occurs more commonly in patients with darker skin.
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Technology is creeping fast on our planet. Everyday a storm of scientific knowledge is given in and most of it is being converted into its useful application, the birth of new technology.
The advent of laser hair removal is a clear example of this phenomenon. The birth of a new technology always gives rise to a lot of questions. Same is the case with the laser hair removal technology. Many questions arise in the mind of a people like;
Who is an ideal candidate for laser hair removal? Is there any standardization of laser hair removal? What are the merits demerits of laser hair removal? Who should perform laser hair removal? This technology is new and it has very bright business prospects so everyone is claiming to be expert of it including professionals and non-professionals. So the biggest current issue is that who is going to use this technology a physician or a beautician or the so called laserologist, because everyone claims to be master of it. There are self-declared laser specialists who have set up their training institutes where everyone can get training without any problem. So beauticians and other non-physicians are having training from these institutes and are going to play with the health of the masses. There is lack of medical supervision which is most important part of all the health related businesses. There is increased risk of quackery implicated with its beneficial uses. This is a serious problem which needs to be correctly promptly. The other problem with this is that there is no legislation about selling of this technology equipment to the buyer. Anyone can open buy laser hair removal equipment. This will make it available to non-physicians with great likelihood of increased incidence of laser hair removal side effects. The only recommended person to use this technology in logic terms is a physician, who has got respective training for proper use of the laser hair removal equipment. This will enhance the affectivity of the trade and safeguard the interests and health of consumer. No doubt it will increase the costs of laser hair removal but will also make the laser hair removal safe and cost effective in the long term.
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Laser hair removal is an extremely delicate procedure and much care is given to the preferences and the comfort of client. Before the start of any medical procedure including laser hair removal an adequate insight into patients general out look, past medical history and on going medical ailments is necessary. Following conditions should be considered before opting for laser hair removal procedure to achieve best laser hair removal results.  Patient education and consent The patient should be informed about the details of the actual procedure, possible side effects and success rates. An agreement about the laser hair removal costs should also be reached to avoid future disputes. Proper written consent of the patient should be taken. Precautions and post procedural care should also be told. Six weeks before laser treatment The following care should be taken 6 weeks prior to the laser hair removal treatment - Conditions causing Hypertrichosis which include hormonal, familial, drug-related, or tumor-related conditions.
- History of previous treatment methods, last treatment session and results should be considered.
- History of herpes a skin disease.
- History of scarring after a dermal laser treatment
- The specific pathological condition causing excessive hair growth if any should be known and also treated like hormonal derangement and ovarian tumors.
- Medication in use if any.
Use of sun block Exposure to the sun should be minimized and skin tanning should be avoided at all costs if one is looking forward for laser hair removal on the exposed sites. Laser hair removal works well in high contrast areas, light skin verses dark hair, and for that purpose a broad-spectrum sun block is highly recommended. Even passive tanning can greatly worsen the situation so, strong sun block, effective against both UVA and UVB with high SPF (sun protection factor) like Fake Bake SPF 30 Body Lotion  is usually recommended. You can also use Joey New York Pure Pores Oil-Free Moisturizer with SPF 15  if u have an oily skin or want to use an oil free solution. Use of bleach cream Bleach creams and sun screens should be advised to the dark skinned or suntan persons to lighten up the complexion before the procedure. Patients with darker skin or tanned skin are generally prescribed a bleaching cream such as hydroquinone in order to ensure proper contrast. The Fade Out Gentle Cream Bleach  is an effective non-prescription option available to get reliable results. Skin patch testing Three or four days before the treatment skin patch testing is done to determine appropriate parameters for best laser hair removal results for a particular person. Probable estimation of results and suitable settings of the laser equipment are calculated by skin patch testing. Avoid waxing plucking and electrolysis The patient should avoid plucking, waxing, or electrolysis as now it is a documented fact that better results are obtained by shaving the area before treatment instead of waxing, suggesting that light absorption by the pigmented hair shaft itself plays an important role. Depilatory creams and shaving Shaving and the use of depilatory creams can be allowed till the day of treatment. The intact hair shaft respond better targeted by the laser light because the hair shafts absorbs laser light and follicle burns easily. The patient should be instructed to shave area and if shaving causes irritation then second choice is depilatory creams. Use of drugs Drugs like (e.g. acyclovir, valacyclovir, famicyclovir) should be used prophylacticaly incase there is a risk of viral infection. Same is the case with antibiotics. Anesthetic creams should be applied only one hour before the start of procedure .The use of various drugs requires extreme caution and should only be used in consultation with your doctor. On the day of treatment On the day of treatment the following things are done - The skin is prepared for procedure by removing all topical applications including makeup creams powders etc because these can cause allergic reactions and can also decrease the efficacy.
- Local anesthesia is given on the requirement of client and the area under procedure but if required then topical cream is used to give the anesthesia.
- The operator should have good visibility for effective treatment. It can be facilitated with help of a head lamp or treatment gird.
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Laser hair removal post operative care is an important aspect of the laser hair removal procedure which should not be overlooked at any cost. Let aside the matter of laser hair removal preoperative care, the question of postoperative care haunts loads of people. They normally think about the side effects, skin implications and pain associated with laser hair removal procedure. For those of us who are really haunted by these nightmares about laser hair removal following passage will help to answer some 
of there basic fears. Redness Just after the treatment patient may experience redness and perifollicular edema in the area of treatment. There is no need to panic about small erythema or redness. The intensity and duration of these changes depends on the hair color and density. The fluence should be reduced if signs of epidermal damage develop during treatment .It is normal and subsides within a day but if it fails to subsides, although it happens very rarely, you should consult your doctor. Fate of treated Hairs The hair treated gradually shed off in a period of three to four weeks. After some time you may come across new growth. Don’t worry; this hair growth is due to the dormant hairs which are activated by the laser treatment. This growth of hair as you will notice will be much less in density as compared to the previous one. Just for that reason you need multiple visits to rid yourself of all these residual hairs. Care of Skin Immediately after the laser hair removal treatment don’t wash your skin with hot water and leave it as such but if required use tepid water. It’s suggested that you should use an effective sun block against UVA and UVB if the treated area is exposed area like face, neck and forearms. Pain and Swelling Pain is the first thought that pop up in ones mind and it can be reduced by using ice packs post operatively, ice packs also help to reduce the swelling after the procedure. If larger areas are treated then analgesics can be used for laser hair removal pain management but are seldom used for small areas. History Of previous ailments If there is any previous history of bacterial, viral or fungal infection then proper pre operative care should be taken. The course of prescribed medicine should be completed before the treatment. Care of Injury If epidermal injury occurs during the procedure then application of topical antibiotic creams and ointments twice daily is recommended. Mild topical steroid creams may also be prescribed to fight swelling and erythema. The steroids additionally reduce scarring of skin in case of injury. General Care In nutshell, take proper care of your skin after the procedure and avoid scratching the treated area, use sun screens to fight the hazardous effect of sun light over your now fragile skin for few days, use broad spectrum sun screen with a sun protection factor of 30. Makeup after treatment You can apply makeup immediately after the procedure is complete, it will help to hide some ill looking redness and you can leave the laser hair removal center immediately after the laser hair removal procedure and join the party. Incase if blistering or crusting develops then its better to avoid using makeup as makeup may cause some allergic reaction to the broken skin. Blistering and crusting Blistering and crusting may appear depending upon the skin type under laser hair removal treatment and measures should be taken to avoid harm. Make up is not recommended. Shedding of hair cast is a normal process after laser hair removal treatment and it should not be mistaken for hair growth.
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Laser hair removal treatments are usually pain free .The pain or discomfort experienced during laser hair removal varies greatly among different people. This is most often described as a burning or stinging sensation, and varies from one individual to the next. The pain experienced during laser hair removal is mostly bearable and doesn’t require any pain relief medication. But for a few people this might turn out to be a very painful experience. Management of Pain during Laser Hair removalFollowing types of pain management medicines are used for laser hair removal pain relief.
Topical creams, oral medicine and injectables. The topical creams are the recommended drugs but should be used only after advice from your doctor.
Risks of potential side effects - Allergy: Some people may be allergic to the medication used for laser hair removal pain relief. So proper medical history and sensitivity patch testing should be done to minimize the risks of allergy during laser hair removal treatment.
- Combining different drugs: The practice of combining different pain relief medication for more effective laser hair removal pain relief is common. This practice should be discouraged due to the possibility of harmful drug interactions.
- Using of habit forming drugs and dependency:Most of the drugs used for pain relief are habit forming. The patients have the tendency to use these drugs as pain killers other than laser hair removal pain relief. Along with many other adverse effects the most dangerous is the decency.
- Risk of over treatment:Due to insensible use of medication for hair removal pain relief, patients are unable to assess the extent of damage done as a result of over treatment by laser. This can result in burning and blistering of the skin. In one incidence the patient suffered second and third degree burns as a result of over treatment of an area at the hands of an experienced operator who had earlier prescribed her prescription drugs for hair removal pain relief.
AdviceThe use of medication for laser hair removal pain relief should be decided by your doctor not you. With the advent of new and effective laser hair removal devices the extensive use of medication for laser hair removal pain relief has become a thing of past.
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The growing popularity of laser hair removal and use of lasers in other cosmetology procedure has highlighted the need to use laser safety products especially laser eyewear. Laser safety eye wear is especially designed to reduce the amount of light of specific wavelengths to safe levels, while transmitting sufficient light for good vision There are different types of Laser safety eyewear which are in use. With the increase in the use of lasers for cosmetic procedures,  including laser hair removal, the concern about laser eye safety is also growing.
Laser eyewear selection The following things should be taken care of when choosing an eyewear for eye protection from laser hair removal. - Laser wavelength and peak radiance
- Optical density (OD)
- Visual transmittance
- Field of view
- Effects on color vision
- Absence of irreversible bleaching of the filter
- Comfort
- Impact resistance
Ignorance to these factors can result in severe eye injury. So carelessness on the part of a person can claim vision of a person as laser is double edge sword. WavelengthThe wavelength of laser light has a lot to do with the energy levels of laser light. The longer wavelength has low energy as compared to short wavelength .The eyewear should have imprinted on it the wavelength for which it can be used. The wavelength specific eyewear should always be used. Optical densityThe optical density of laser eyewear material gives its ability to reduce the energy level of a specific wavelength to a reduced safe level. The new reduced energy level of laser light is tolerable for human eye. The optical density values for a specific wavelength can be obtained from ANSI 136.1 guidelines or it can be calculated. The manufacturer should mention the material used in the manufacturing and should also give its optical density value. The user should take care of the optical density and wavelength specific values are imprinted on the eyewear. The other thing a customer should keep in mind when buying a laser eyewear that it should not be damaged because any damage can claim ones eyesight. Impact resistanceThe laser safety eyewear should be resistant to a level to different type of impacts which can damage it and cause reduction in its affectivity. The eyewear should be dust, heat and impact resistant up to a normal level. The proper data should be provided with the eyewear for the help of customer. Comfort This is a personal satisfaction factor and should be given a proper thought before acquiring a laser safety eyewear. Field of view It is related to the design of the eyewear. The design should not restrict field of vision because a hindered or reduced field of vision can result in an accident. Color vision effects The eyewear should not affect color vision during laser hair removal because it can lead to different types of accidents during the process. The color filter of material should be taken care of. Laser eyewear types Mostly three types of laser safety eye wear are used during laser hair removal procedure. Theses are Laser safety Glasses The glasses are typical type of laser eyewear. They fit tightly and provide specific protection against laser light energy. They can be worn over the vision correcting glasses. They are usually larger and heavier than spectacles and wraps. Laser safety spectacles Laser safety glasses are commonly used for protection against laser light. It is a frame having two separate with side shields. Wavelength specific lenses should be used in laser safety glasses for effective laser eye safety. Laser safety goggles Laser safety goggles are more effective than the laser safety glasses because of more extensive eye covering. Laser safety glasses might seem uncomfortable or rather awkward but these are safer and provide excellent laser eye protection. Wraps It is a kind of eye wear which can cover both eyes in a lighter frame. It consists of a single lens. It is a better choice than laser safety glasses and laser safety goggles Conclusion Laser eyewear is the only way out to avoid permanent damage to the retina resulting in blindness or in mild cases damage lens or cornea. The laser eyewear should be given proper consideration during laser hair removal procedure specially the imprinted wavelength and optical density of the lens used in laser eyewear. This could be achieved by ensuring proper laser hair removal standardization. This also demands a proper education about laser eye safety both for client and physician to avoid mishaps associated with the use of lasers for laser hair removal and other medical uses.
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Laser eye safety is one of basic concerns during any procedure involving lasers. Proper awareness of the laser eye safety is required both for the general public and the staff performing these procedures. Laser eye safety is extremely important as eye is the most sensitive part of the body and is more vulnerable to the laser energy. Any direct or indirect exposure to the laser light can do permanent damage to eye. The laser light in 400-1400nm range damages the retina (photosensitive part of eye). This damage to eye leaves retina of eye functionless.
Symptoms of eye damage The burning of retina is a painless process so irreparable damage to the eyes can take place with out any experience of pain. The other wavelengths leave bad affects on the cornea and lens of eye. So, laser exposure overall in any wavelength range or in any intensity can hurt eye in any process involving lasers including laser hair removal. -
Invisible lasers; Invisible lasers of wavelengths (10,600 nm) damage the light sensitive layer of the eye, with a feeling of a burning sensation.
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Visible lasers; As the visible lasers can be seen so exposure to it is felt as bright flash of light which changes its color first of the color of emitted wavelength is seen followed by its secondary color. It can cause direct damage to various structures of the eye like cornea, sclera and retina of the eye. In the later case damage to cones may result in loss of ability to differentiate red and blue colures. -
Color blindness; After retina is affected, the difficulty in detecting blue or green colors secondary to cone damage, and pigmentation of the retina may be noticed. -
Vision abnormalities; Exposure to laser of wavelength 1064 nm is also dangerous as it is undetectable due to lack of pain sensory nerve endings in the retina. Photo acoustic retinal damage may be associated with an audible "pop" at the time of exposure.
Factors determining damageThe following factors determine the extent of damage during laser hair removal procedure - Laser irradiance
- Exposure duration
- Beam size
Based on these factors the resultant damage can rage from partial exposure to severe damage to the eyes. Laser safety eyewear This should be used whenever there is exposure to laser light of any intensity or of any wavelength. The protective eyewear includes goggle, glasses, or shields which protect eye from potential laser injury. Specificity of Laser eyewear According to ANSI Z136.3 (1988) guidelines, each laser requires a specific type of protective laser eyewear which meets the respective safe requirement of the laser device being used. If you are not using a laser specific eye wear then chances are that u might damage your eyes despite wearing laser protective eyewear.
Conclusion Hence it is concluded that care of eyes must be the first priority. Eyes should be taken care of during any procedure involving lasers especially the laser hair removal procedure. As a general rule says, "safety of both client and performing physician should be first the priority of the physician during any cosmetic procedure".
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Laser hair removal safety issues are often overlooked. The wide acceptance of use of lasers in laser hair removal has overshadowed the safety issues associated with this procedure. The use of laser energy for laser hair removal can not only cause damage to eye but it can also cause other 
hazards. In the hands of an experienced operator and safe working condition the laser hair removal procedure is smooth sailing but in the hands of an inexperienced operator or faulty equipment it can be catastrophic. Some important issues like laser eye safety and the need of use of laser eyewear are discussed in full detail both for the benefit of consumers and laser operators. In order to avoid the hazards attached with the use of lasers following measures should be taken into considerations; General safety measures Laser clinics have an important role to play in this context. They must ensure that they are treating their clients with professional Following general safety measures should be adapted by the laser hair removal clinics in order to minimize the chance of any mishap which can occur during the course of treatment; Laser safety education The first and most important step to ensure proper safety of the clients and the persons using lasers is the laser safety education of the people. There should be proper education about the hazards associated with the misuse of lasers in any procedure including laser hair removal. The physician and client should have proper knowledge of the laser hair removal procedure and basic principle of laser hair removal which will ensure their safety during the procedure. The proper education on laser safety should be given to all persons involved. In this context proper warning signs and literature in the form of charts, booklets and hand outs should be made and displayed at the laser clinic for the benefit of prospective clients and other people. Laser warning signs There should laser warning signs placed on the rooms where the laser is being used. Safety signs should be placed on the rooms where laser hair removal procedure is performed. Also there should be an indicator on the entrance of the room telling that treatment is in progress. So. that the chances that any person enters the room unprotected by chance and damages himself. Laser safety officer A person expert on laser safety should be taken in as a laser safety officer who can properly look after the lasers and can suggest the proper solution to laser safety issues. He should also conduct routine checkups to ensure that the equipment being used is in perfect condition and all the safety rules are being followed. All these measures can only be effectively followed if there is standardization of laser hair removal. Also there should an agreement on who should perform laser hair removal and who should not. The above mentioned things can help to minimize hazards attached with this evolving technique and make it safe sound and more user friendly process.
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Pregnancy laser hair removal might be a confusing problem for pregnant mothers annoyed by the new hair growth which might be a problem for some. Pregnancy laser hair removal might be encountered by women who are already undergoing laser hair removal and are worried should they continue their with their sessions as planned or stop. Some women might also be worried about the safety of pregnancy laser hair removal for women who are trying to conceive. 
Is it wise to opt for pregnancy laser hair removal? Is it prudent to go for laser hair removal treatment when trying to conceive? These are the common question a laser experts get from many health conscious ladies. Importance Pregnancy marks the entry of a woman into motherhood. Pregnancy is an important and difficult stage in the life of a woman. Along with other problems associated with pregnancy the problem of unwanted hair growth is a visible and most annoying problem for some women. Various hormone changes going in the body during pregnancy are responsible for this problem. Most of the women experience morning sickness, insomnia, heartburn, headaches and body pains during their early pregnancies but later on they know with experience how to overcome these problem. Safety during pregnancy To get the answer those simple questions, proper insight into the mechanism of laser hair removal procedure is required.
Laser hair removal works by sending beams of high energy laser beams targeting hair follicles. In order to reach the hair follicles laser beams must pass through the skin not farther than few millimeters. Therefore, it’s not likely that laser light will penetrate deeper to cause any damage to the developing baby.
The laser light is nothing like an x ray and the exposure is only on the skin. A healthy pregnant woman has a 3% risk of birth defects and 15% chances of miscarriage and nobody can alter the risk. There is no proof that use of laser increases these risks in any way.
The next question is regarding conception. Whether the use of laser is safe if one is trying to conceive or if one conceives during the course of multiple treatments sessions required. The answer is the same that there are no risks involved at it all. Use of pain relief medication Last but not the least there is a question associated with the use pain relief medication. Extreme caution should be taken before using any medication for laser hair removal pain management during pregnancy due to possible harmful effects of certain drugs during pregnancy. No anesthesia is employed during the procedure but only topical anesthetic cream is employed which only desensitizes the upper skin and has nothing to do with the fetus or embryo. Additionally the introduction of new and safe laser devices with efficient cooling has minimized the use of anesthetic medication during this procedure. Advice Pregnancy can be a difficult time for women especially women pregnant for the first time. Due to the mood changes and increased irritability during pregnancy laser hair removal might turn out to be a painful procedure for some women. Also due to risk of complications not relating to laser hair removal but due to pregnancy itself the laser clinics do not take up pregnant patients. So, due to this consideration it’s better not to consider this procedure during pregnancy. If you have a previous schedule to follow then u should wait until you have delivered. Conclusion No known problems have been recorded yet which discourage pregnancy laser hair removal. It is quite safe and it has a good safety profile. So, whether you are pregnant or trying to conceive there are no risks associated with the use of lasers for removing hairs. But the main glitch is that laser clinics do not take pregnant ladies as patients. Also during pregnancy you might experience some new hair growth, so you should wait and get rid of all these hairs after your pregnancy.
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Laser hair removal procedures are usually not associated with complaints of allergy. Proper laser hair removal post operative work up of the client should be done. Prospective laser hair removal client with known allergies to different drugs or chemicals should tell the laser clinic before the laser hair removal procedure, to limit the chances they might be accidentally exposed to this chemical during laser hair removal procedure.
 Another question is whether laser hair removal is associated with development of allergy after laser hair removal procedure ? Allergy during Laser hair removal Allergy is a vast term for many bizarre reaction going in the body of person who is particularly at risk to some specific allergens (foreign material like pollen, dust etc). Allergy may manifest as skin itching, redness, swelling and rarely it may lead to anaphylactic shock, a life threatening condition. Some people associate allergy with laser hair removal side effects but it’s unlikely that laser hair removal patients will join hands with those who are already suffering from allergic episodes.
The detailed discussion of allergy is beyond the scope of this article but a brief over view is necessary to clear some doubts. Over body can develop allergy to any thing it recognizes as foreign. When the allergens (foreign materials causing allergy) interact with white blood cells, these are recognized as foreign .Our body’s immune mechanisms came to rescue and releases the mediators from their inventory. These mediators cause skin swelling, redness, edema and itching.
Certain people don't respond to foreign allergens but some sensitive skin types do respond to allergen. Laser hair removal from areas with tattoos Antigenicity of tattoo pigment is altered by the beam of Q switch lasers thus converting the otherwise harmless pigment into an allergen. Those altered pigments can cause allergic reactions particularly pruritis (itching), swelling redness and rarely anaphylaxis. The bright side is that experienced doctors can effectively mange the arousal. Contact dermatitis to topical medications Laser hair removal procedure may cause contact dermatitis or allergy especially to topical antibiotics and pain killers used for laser hair removal pain management. This can be avoided by prior testing because it is difficult to differentiate between contact dermatitis and infection in patients who have already had laser hair removal. Conclusion The risk associated with laser hair removal is not a direct. Nobody is allergic to light and off course laser is a light. It is recommended to remove the tattoo before laser hair removal procedure or conveniently plan the tattoo after laser hair removal treatment. Proper pre operative care should be given to the patients and those who are susceptible to allergy should undergo skin patch testing to rule out the chances of contact dermatitis.
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A large proportion of clinical tests and investigative materials about laser hair reduction do not fully address the issues of Side Effects Of Laser Hair Removal. If you are considering this treatment, you should be cognizant of the following potential side effects. Laser Scars
Most patients are concerned about the chances of scarring when undergoing reduction of hair with laser treatment. While this has been known to happen in the past, particularly in patients with tanned skin, these days the new laser machinery has all but eliminated this side effect. Injury to Eye
Laser eye safety is critically important during any therapy involving lasers. To avoid any damage to the eyes, wavelength-specific laser safety eyewear must be donned by both operators and clients. Tattoo Darkening
If you have tattoos in the area of the body being treated, you should be aware that darkening is sometimes experienced and discuss this with your doctor before undergoing laser procedures. Reddening After Treatment
The dermis may be transiently reddened after repeated laser exposure. It is one of the minor side effects of laser hair removal. Proper cooling and the use of proper exposure time during the therapy minimizes this side effect. Skin Blistering
With the introduction of new and efficient cooling devices, blistering has been pretty much eliminated as a problem caused by laser hair removal. Tissue cooling can be performed through a contact chill tip or freezing spray to safeguard the dermis. These measures serve to safeguard the skin from excessive thermal abuse. Crusting
10% of clients treated for laser hair reduction with long-pulsed ruby and alexandrite lasers may develop crusting. This is generally as a result of repeatedly over treating an area of the body with laser. When this occurs, appropriate post procedural care is very much recommended in order to avoid further side effects. Wound Infection
Wound infection is uncommon after laser procedures. In the rare circumstances that any wounds are to be seen on the dermis after laser hair reduction, infection can be avoided with antibiotic and anti viral materials.
Darkening of the Skin
Whichever the type of laser that is used, there may be hyper pigmentation of skin after exposure to lasers. In this reaction the skin becomes darker as a result of increased pigment deposition. Usually tanned skin has a greater chance to develop this. The good news is that it can be readily treated with the use of bleaching materials and does not last long. Hypo Pigmentation
Lightening of the dermis, or hypo pigmentation, can occur, particularly in tanned skin types and where there are multiple exposures to laser procedures. It normally does not last long; permanent hypo pigmentation is hardly ever seen. This side effect is mostly experienced with use of alexandrite, Q-switched ruby and Nd:YAG lasers. How Concerned Should You Be?
Laser hair reduction is an critically safe therapy; the side effect we have described are very uncommon. To keep yourself as safeguarded as possible, always use a reputable laser hair clinic with a doctor you can trust, and you are likely to encounter no side effects of laser hair removal at all!
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Your very first laser hair removal appointment can be exhilirating or nerve-wracking or both! Here is a checklist of things to remember: Four weeks or more in advance It's important to stop using depilation creams, sugaring, tweezing , epilating and waxing at the latest 2 weeks prior to treatment, and ideally a month or more in advance. These depilation methods interfere with the root that the laser treatment for hair removal is designed to target. Lose your tan! The whiter your skin is at the point you have your laser treatment for hair removal, the more effective and long lasting your results from laser hair removal are likely to be. Talk about pain prevention with your hair laser removal clinic and choose a plan. There are topical anesthetics such as EMLA, which you apply to your skin. These products are excellent if you are concerned about pain during the treatment, however do be cautious if you are spreading it on large areas of skin as the chemicals are absorbed into the bloodstream. Follow the directions closely. Think about whether you wish to take photographs of the areas of the body you are having treated to have a visual record of how well the treatment works. The clinic might do this but even so you might want to keep your own record. About a week in advance Consider the option of booking some vacation time if you are having laser hair removal on the face and feel you might be embarrassed about the red skin that you'll probably have present immediately after your laser hair removal treatment. For other areas of the body, you can most likely go immediately back to your regular day after your hair laser removal appointment. 24 Hours to go! The night before is a ideal time to shave the areas of the body you are going to have laser hair removal done on. If you shave within 24 hours of the treatment you will find the pain more tolerable and it can also be more effective because less of the laser energy is used on torching the hair above the skin, meaning a greater proportion of the laser energy is directed where it is most useful, at the root, to kill it off. The morning of your appointment If you are getting your underarms treated, don't apply any deodorant. Just wash your underarms with soap and rinse thoroughly. If it's a hot day and there's a danger you might get too sweaty prior to your appointment, you could use unscented baby wipes to ward off any smells. For any areas of the body, don't put lotions or creams on before laser hair removal. 20 minutes prior to your appointment For those of us who get a bit concerned at the thought of pain from laser hair removal, taking two oral painkillers at this point seems like a really good idea - better to be safe than sorry! Wishing you a successful and stress-free laser treatment for hair removal!
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Detailed Laser Hair Removal Procedure The laser hair removal procedure is not as simple as it seems. Laser hair removal is a sensitive procedure as it involves lasers and the most sensitive area of the body skin. The procedure for Laser hair removal is a stepwise process comprising of following steps Pretreatment considerations The following things should be taken into account when deciding Laser Hair Removal - Conditions causing hypertrichosis which include hormonal, familial, drug-related, or tumor-related conditions.
- History of previous treatment methods, last treatment session and results should be considered.
- History of herpes a skin disease.
- History of scarring after a dermal laser treatment
- The specific pathological condition causing excessive hair growth if any should be known and also treated like hormonal derangement and ovarian tumors.
- Medication in use if any.
Six weeks before treatmentThe following care should be taken 6 weeks prior to the laser hair removal treatment Patient education and consentThe patient should be informed about the details of the laser hair removal procedure, possible side effects and success rates of the laser hair removal procedure. Proper written consent of the patient should be taken. Precautions and post procedural care should also be told. Use of sun blockUse of suns block is recommended before laser hair removal and sunbathe should be avoided. Use of bleach cream The practitioner should advice the use of bleach creams and sun screens to the dark skinned persons or suntan persons as a preparatory measure for laser hair removal. Skin patch testingThree or four days before the treatment skin patch testing is done to determine the best settings for a particular person and estimate the probable results of laser hair removal in that person. Avoidance of waxing plucking and electrolysisThe above mentioned processes should be avoided if you are planning to undergo a laser hair removal procedure because these processes affect the result of laser hair removal procedure. Use of depilatory creams and shavingShaving and the use of depilatory creams can be allowed till the day of treatment. Moreover the patients are instructed to shave the area to be treated or use depilatory creams before the treatment. The intact hair shaft respond better to laser hair removal procedure because the hair shafts absorb laser light and follicle burns easily. On the day of treatmentOn the day of treatment the following things are done - The skin is prepared for procedure by removing all topical applications including makeup creams powders etc
- Local anasthesia is given on the requirement of client and the area under procedure but if required then topical cream is used to give the anesthesia.
- The operator should have good visibility for effective treatment. It can be facilitated with help of a head lamp or treatment gird.
Laser energy per unit area Amount of laser energy required for the laser hair removal varies from client to client and it is estimated before treatment by test doses given to particular area of which treatment is to be done. Principle of procedureLaser hair removal procedure is based on the principle that there should be no overlapping of the laser radiation and also highest amount of tolerable laser energy should be delivered per unit area to ensure maximum outcome of the treatment. Cooling of the skinThe cooling of the skin is required after the laser hair removal procedure is completed and it is done by - Clear gel cooling.
- Contact cooling.
- Cooling cryogen sprays.
- Airflow cooling.
Newer laser hair removal devices have the ability to simultaneously cool the skin during the treatment hence further decreasing the chances of irritation and skin burns during the procedure. Care required after treatmentJust after the completion of laser hair removal procedure ice packs are applied to minimize the pain and swelling of the skin. Pain killers are not used until required. If the skin gets injured then antibiotic and antiviral creams are applied on the skin. The area treated should not be scratched or pricked to avoid injury to that area. Sun block should be used and sun light exposure should be avoided. Make up can be used after a day or two if there is no skin damage.
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Permanent removal of hair by laser - is it really permanent? How long can the results last?
The answer to this question relies a great deal on understanding some key facts about how your body hair grows, and how laser hair removal actually works. How Does Hair Grow? Hair grows from structures named follicles underneath the skin. The root grows in the follicle, and the portion of the hair that can be seen above the skin is named the "shaft" of the hair. Your body hair grows cyclically. At any one point in time, the hair in some of the follicles will be actively growing; other follicles will be resting, and yet others will be in the process of shedding. How Laser Hair Removal Works Hair reduction or even permanent removal is now practical for most skin and hair colorings. Laser hair reduction therapy works by targeting hair root cells under the skin. It is possible for the laser rays to hone in on the hair root cells because of the melanin these cells contain, which makes them darker than the ambient tissues. However, this does mean that the success rate of laser hair removal treatment is dependent on the difference in color between the hair root cells and the skin. That is to say, it works most effectively if you have very fair skin and very dark hair - where there is a strong difference between the dark color of the hair root cells and the light color of the ambient skin tissues. Even in ideal scenarios, however, the lasers do not kill off all of the hair. Why? Due to the fact that the lasers can only target actively growing hairs. As we learned earlier, only a proportion of the body hair in any one part of the body will be actively growing. This is why laser hair removal treatments are usually spaced several weeks apart - so that different follicles will be active at the next visit, and can be effectively treated. Conclusion Because of the mechanism by which laser hair removal works, while it may disable a significant proportion of the follicles it will not cause a 100% stoppage in all body hair growth in the treated area. However, an 80% reduction in hair is entirely possible - permanent laser hair removal is a truly viable solution for undesirable hair growth.
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If you have the problem of Ingrown hair, you need to learn about laser hair removal - the new and powerful way of solving the problem of Ingrown hair. Ingrown hair occurs when hairs attempt to grow but do not break through your exterior of your skin. Instead they grow sideways along or under your skin, or even rotate in reverse and grow into your skin. At times Ingrown hair are accompanied by folliculitis, a condition where the follicle becomes infected. The Traditional Ways to Tackle Ingrown Hairs The usual approaches to addressing this upsetting problem are exfoliating the skin and removing the affected hairs one by one with tweezers. Neither of these solutions address the underlying cause of the problem and are at best a short lived solution and at worst can result in horrible scars and scabbing. Mechanical Epilating Machines The use of mechanical epilating machines is a particularly bad culprit in terms of Ingrown hair - as the hairs are torn out from their roots at odd angles it is common for your root or follicle to become distorted, and Ingrown hair can then become numerous in a short space of time. Laser Hair Removal - the Ultimate Solution Unlike the commonly used solutions, removal of hair by laser goes straight to the root of your problem - literally! In removal of hair by laser, special lasers attack the follicle under your skin and disable it to stop any more regrowth from that follicle. Unlike electrolysis, which used to be considered the only way to permanently stop growth, laser hair removal not only has a permanent impact but also can be employed to speedily treat significant expanses of your body rather than the one shaft at a time that normally characterizes electrolysis treatments. Ingrown Hair - the Causes Regardless of whether you use shaving, waxing or another method of getting rid of excess body and facial hair, you would be in a small minority if you did not have the problem of Ingrown hair at one time or another. In reality this unpleasant problem can even occur spontaneously on skin which has not even been tweezed, shaved or waxed at all, although it is more frequently occuring on waxed or shaved skin. The Future of Your Skin with Laser Hair Removal If you are tired of battling with Ingrown hair, perhaps now is the time to find out more about the advanced technological breakthroughs that have been made in laser hair removal, and discover how you could take advantage of removal of hair by laser to solve your Ingrown hair problems - once and for all!
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The laser hair removal procedure is not as simple as it seems. Laser hair removal procedure is sensitive procedure as it involves lasers and the most sensitive areas of the body skin.  So, detailed knowledge of laser hair removal procedure is necessary for both person performing and the person undergoing the procedure.
The Laser hair removal procedure is a stepwise process comprising of following steps The laser hair removal procedure is not as simple as it seems. Laser hair removal procedure is sensitive procedure as it involves lasers and the most sensitive areas of the body skin. So, detailed knowledge of laser hair removal procedure is necessary for both person performing and the person undergoing the procedure.
The Laser hair removal procedure is a stepwise process comprising of following steps Pretreatment considerations Laser hair removal pre operative care of the patient should be included as a part of the procedure because neglecting this important aspect severely affects the out come of the treatment. Pain relief medication or anesthetic cream are applied an hour or so before the start of the procedure. Principle of procedure The basic principle of laser hair removal procedure is selective photo-thermal destruction which is the selective destruction of hair follicle by means of heat energy which is provided by the laser light. Laser energy per unit area Amount of laser energy required varies from client to client and it is estimated before treatment by test doses given to particular area of which treatment is to be done. Highest amount of tolerable laser energy should be delivered per unit area to ensure maximum outcome of the treatment. This is calculated by skin patch testing before the procedure. Procedure During the procedure, a hand-held laser is pressed against the skin and with the help of an automatic switch it is activate just for a fraction of a second. The laser light emitted as a result traverses the skin's surface to reach the hair follicles. Hair follicle structure include hair shaft, hair bulb and hair follicle matrix. These hair structures are abundant melanin which is highly laser sensitive. As a result selective targeting of the hair follicle and hair shaft takes place. The energy transmitted in this process is high enough to destroy the hair bulb and the hair follicle. As the skin contains far less amounts of melanin as compared to hair structures it absorbs negligible amount of laser energy. To enhance this effect a carbon lotion can also be used which is wavelength specific to the type of laser used and gives improved results. If sufficient laser energy is delivered during this procedure and enough hair follicle damage has occurred, the old hairs are stunned and shed out after some time. The results are best when appropriate equipment is used with selection of recommended laser parameters for that equipment. Cooling of the skin The cooling of the skin is required after the laser hair removal procedure is completed and it is done by - Clear gel cooling.
- Contact cooling.
- Cooling cryogen sprays.
- Airflow cooling.
Newer laser devices have the ability to simultaneously cool the skin during the treatment hence further decreasing the chances of irritation and skin burns during the procedure. Care required after treatment Just after the completion of procedure ice packs are applied to minimize the pain and swelling of the skin. Pain killers are not used until required. If the skin gets injured then antibiotic and antiviral creams are applied on the skin. The area treated should not be scratched or pricked to avoid injury to that area. Sun block should be used and sun light exposure should be avoided. Make up can be used after a day or two if there is no skin damage. After completion of the procedure, an extensive laser hair removal post operative care is necessary to minimize the laser hair removal side effects.
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