The Success Of Laser For Hair Removal

Laser has been one of the many tools used for various medical applications. Examples of medical applications that use lasers include bloodless surgery, laser healing, surgical treatment, kidney stone treatment, eye treatment, and even prosthodontics. Lasers have also been used as a way to remove hair in the body. This process is called laser epilation.

Epilation by Laser
In contrast to depilation, which are methods that only provide short term results in the removal of hair, epilation is a term used by cosmetologists and dermatologists to collectively refer to the methods used to provide longer lasting hair removal. Epilation methods, before lasers, include waxing, sugaring, and the use of electrology. Among the previous epilation methods - waxing, sugaring and electrology - electrology has been known to provide longest lasting results in the removal of hairs. The only drawback of using electrology is it usually takes 1-2 years before it can be considered complete.

Laser has been introduced a lot later than the other methods but it does provide more than long-lasting results. Lasers are said to provide permanent results of hair removal. It works the same way electrology does, but with more benefits. For one, laser treatments would usually take only 5-7 times, but with as many as 12 treatments, depending on the type of hair and skin color. They have also been shown in practice to provide long-term reduction of hair. Current parameters suggest a series of treatments spaced at 4-6 weeks apart for most areas, although the timing of treatments has still not been standardized.

Because of its efficacy, laser has now largely replaced the use of electrology. Laser hair removal is now generally accepted in the dermatology community, and laser hair removal is widely practiced. Many reviews of laser hair removal methods, safety, and efficacy have been published in the dermatology literature. However, there are several risks that come with the use of lasers as a method for hair removal.

Risks of lasers
There are certain risks that accompany the use of lasers. According to laser hair removal montclair practitioners, these risks involve the chance of burning the skin which could cause irreversible discoloration. There is also a chance that the lasers could develop hypopigmentation, or the loss of skin color, which is caused by melanocyte or melanin depletion (which is usually the target of lasers), or a decrease in the amino acid tyrosine, which is used by melanocytes to make melanin.

Sudden outburst or flare of acne is also an issue. Other risks include swelling around the follicle, scab forming, and purpura or the appearance of red or purple discolorations on the skin that do not blanch on applying pressure which are usually caused by bleeding underneath it.