Looking Into Laser Hair Removal

The technical term for laser hair removal is "selective photothermolysis". 'Photo' meaning light, and 'thermolysis' meaning, "destroying with heat". It is 'selective' because it targets only the hair and not the surrounding skin, which, depending on the particular machine being used, is usually cooled with either a cooling tip, a gel or a spray. There have been reports of horrible rashes after laser hair removal, but usually these subside.

Basically, laser hair removal works when a focused beam of laser light is absorbed by the melanin, (pigment), in dark hair, which disables the hair root in the follicle, (the depression from which the hair emerges), to at least slow down the growth of the hair.

Some have described the experience of laser hair removal as being similar to a rubber band being snapped against the skin with each pulse of laser light.

There have been reports of laser treatments eliminating thirty to forty percent of hair for as long as a year, but laser hair removal is NOT permanent. And at least here in the United States, it is illegal to claim laser hair removal is permanent.

Laser hair removal works best on light skinned people with dark, coarse hair because the dark pigment, melanin, attracts the laser light and more laser energy is absorbed. People with lighter hair colors such as true blonde, grey, white or red don't get good results, even with multiple treatments.

And one side effect with laser hair removal is that the hot laser light will also affect the melanin in skin. Which means people with suntans, or dark skin types will risk permanent skin discoloration.

Laser hair removal by laser light is capable of affecting hundreds of hair follicles at one time and is suitable for any part of the body. Of course it depends on the size of the area and the color of the hair, but usually, only 2 to 4 treatments are needed to effectively remove hair.

In some states, it's legal for a nonmedical person to be trained to use a laser in select salons that are licensed to operate the Class II medical device.

But as not all lasers can be used on every body, you really should find a physician who's a certified laser hair removal specialist and the procedure should be performed in their office.

This is, in large part, what makes laser hair removal the most costly hair removal procedure. With prices ranging from $150 to $500 per treatment, you'd do well to call around to your local clinics to get some idea of how many treatments you'll need, which will determine your total cost.

The cost of laser hair removal may have kept it from being the most used method of hair removal, but with support from those who could afford it, laser hair removal has been doing a booming business.

That may all change. Because some very disturbing information has surfaced regarding the laser hair removal process.

Laser hair removal is reputed to be not as painful as electrolysis, which is a major reason some people have been paying the big bucks to get it done.

But anyone who has looked into laser hair removal or actually had it done, knows that it's painful enough that it's recommended that a topical anesthetic be used before hand to numb the pain.

Well, there have been at least two deaths attributed to the use of the cream, Lidocaine, commonly used to numb the skin before laser hair removal.

Even the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health state that Lidocaine can result in seizures, cardiac arrest, and death when too much has been applied on the skin, in an effort to dull the pain of laser hair removal. They also point out that anyone can have a serious allergic reaction to such a substance.

Even though you may point out that it wasn't the actual laser hair removal treatments that caused the death of these people, and YOU would never use too much of any topical anesthetic, we're still talking about a hair removal method that involves the need of using a substance that has the POTENTIAL of taking life.

You might want to think about this a while. How do you know you won't have a serious allergic reaction to such a substance? Is ANY hair removal process worth risking your well being?

It's unfortunate to end this page on such a heavy note. But if you're seriously looking into laser hair removal, you really need to know all of the risks as well as all of the benefits. That's what research is all about. And that's what honest reporting is all about.

Jennifer Hardin-Miller from Salt Lake City, Utah definitely did her home work and says she found an infinitely safer alternative to laser hair removal, for any part of her body.

All Articles Contained In This Website Are Copyrighted By Bodworx International Personal Shaving Experts
No Copying, Duplication Or Re-Printing In Part Or In Whole Under Violation Of International Law

However, We Do Have Specific Bodworx Articles Available For Re-Print