What is laser hair removal? This is removal of hair follicle without damaging skin. Due to the effect of laser on hair follicle, treated hair collapses, falls, and will no grow ever. A dark pigment melanin, which is contained in the hair, is a target for laser.
To completely eliminate the maximum number of hairs (70-95%) one should undergo a course of procedures with an interval of 1.5 - 2 - 3 months. Laser hair removal - the technique that really allows to solve the problem of unwanted hair on the body radically for a long time or forever. This technology exists and has been successfully applied on practice for over 20 years. Nevertheless, there are several myths around laser hair removal, that distort representations about its possibilities.
Myth 1. Laser hair removal is harmful to health, laser affects internal organs and can damage them
The depth of laser penetration is 1-4 mm, it reaches only to hair follicles, and then is completely dissipated and never penetrates deeper! Laser destroys only hair bulb. The laser beam is sliding on skin surface not damaging it. The only thing that may occur after the procedure - redness, similar to what occurs in humans who were in the sun. This redness is partly a measure of correctly performed procedure. A few hours later red trace dissapears.
Myth 2. Laser hair removal causes scarring and hair ingrowth
Scarring often occurs while electric hair removal, when needle touches skin. As laser hair removal is not accompanied by a breach of skin integrity, then there is no scarring.
Ingrowth of hair, which often accompanies wax depilation, does not occur while laser hair removal. Moreover, laser hair removal is recommended as a method to eliminate such symptoms.
Myth 3. Laser hair removal is expensive
Consider how much money a woman usually spends during a year to buy tools for depilation (tools, creams, foams, etc.). And for 10 years? And count the cost of laser hair removal course (6-8 sessions with intervals of 2-3 months and that’s all). Compare those figures.
Myth 4. Laser hair removal hurts
It is impossible to assert unequivocally. All depends on individual pain barrier. Experience from laser hair removal are unpleasant, they are comparable with flick on skin and are usually overcome well. However, for particularly sensitive sites on the body (bikini, underarms), in some cases, they use anesthetic cream. Clearly, wax and mechanical depilation are much more painful!
Myth 5. Blond hair can be removed
Laser hair removal is based on the principle of «selective photothermolysis». It implies that laser light is absorbed by the body-target (a dark pigment in the hair - melanin or hemoglobin in vessel). In doing so, surrounding skin, which contains no pigment, is not damaged.
Myth 6. One can remove hair once and for all. The result after laser hair removal is 100%
Unfortunately, it is impossible to obtain a desired effect just like that. Laser light is absorbed only by «mature» hair follicles. Destroyed follicles do not grow in future, however, new hairs can appear. A complete cycle takes from 8 months to 2 years. Rate of procedures is calculated for this period, to capture the maximum number of «mature» hairs.
Myth 7. Sunburnt skin cannot be subject to laser hair removal
Of course, if while sunburn melanin is formed in skin, which is the target for laser, ie in this case the risk of burning increases. However, today there is equipment which allows to provide effect without damaging brown skin.
Myth 8. Laser contributes to appearance of skin neoplasms
Tumors of skin are a contraindication for laser hair removal. Ultraviolet waves (320-400nm) have a carcinogenic effect, laser beam does not contain them.
Myth 9. After removal hair grow more stringent, their number increases
On the contrary, germinated hairs become soft, their number is significantly reduced and by the third session there is persistent long-term effect. Sometimes, after 2 procedures one can really observe enhancement of growth, a so-called «synchronization». This is considered a display of catalytic action of laser and shows effectiveness of hair removal.
Myth 10. Laser hair removal is valid «not for all»
The laser operates on melanin in hair bulb selectively! No melanin - no effect. The lighter and thinner a hair is, the more difficult it is to remove a hair. Another question, if there is no adequate effect when you remove black hair - then one should think about presence of hormonal disorders. Growth of hard black hair on face - is a consequence. The reason lies inside the body. The cause of hormone disruption should be identified and treated. Then one will have effect of hair removal.
