Are you tired of dedicating half of your shower time to shaving your legs? Are you exhausted by the endless cycle of waxing or plucking? Do you often suffer from razor burns or ingrown hairs? If you want a long-term solution to unwanted hair, you might be interested in laser hair removal. It provides smooth, silky skin without the hassle of constant maintenance, and it virtually eliminates the possibility of razor burn. Talk about a game-changer! But how does laser hair removal work?
The Science Behind Laser Hair Removal
You might be surprised to learn that laser hair removal actually works by harnessing light! The laser uses concentrated light energy to target and destroy hair follicles, preventing future hair growth. Exactly how does laser hair removal work? Let’s go through the process step by step:
- Melanin Absorbs Light: The laser emits a specific wavelength of light, which is absorbed by the melanin in the hair. Melanin is a pigment that ranges from dark brown to black and naturally occurs in hair. Because laser hair removal works by targeting melanin, it’s most effective on darker hair. It also works best on those with a strong contrast between their skin color and hair color. However, due to advancements in laser technology, laser hair removal is increasingly available to people with a wider range of skin tones and hair colors.
- Light Converts to Heat: The absorbed light energy is converted into heat. How? The concentrated light excites the pigment molecules in the hair, causing them to vibrate and generate thermal energy. The heat travels down the hair shaft and into the follicle.
- Heat Damages Follicle: The heat rises to a temperature high enough to damage the hair follicle, preventing it from producing new hair. Because the laser only targets the hair follicles, heat transfer to the surrounding skin is minimized, reducing the risk of irritation or burns.
While this three-step process is quite simple, it’s important to remember that hair growth occurs in cycles, so it’s impossible to eliminate all the hair in the treatment area at once. Multiple sessions are required to target all the hair follicles.
In addition, your provider will typically need to treat each hair follicle multiple times. Gradually, the treated hair will become finer and sparser, and many follicles will cease growth entirely.
Interested in Laser Hair Removal?
At C.O.R.A.MED HRT & Regeneration Center, we use a GentleMax ProTM (GMP) system from Candela for laser hair removal. This dual platform laser can also be used to remove skin imperfections, treat broken blood vessels, reduce facial redness, tighten the skin, and more. It’s considered the gold standard for laser hair removal, delivering optimal patient comfort as well as exceptional results.
Now — i.e., winter — is the best time to schedule laser hair removal for several reasons. First, laser-treated skin is more sensitive to UV rays, but that’s unlikely to be a huge issue in winter since most people tend to spend less time outdoors. Second, as we mentioned above, laser hair removal works best when there’s a strong contrast between your hair and skin color. If you tend to be a little paler in the winter, your treatment may be more effective. Finally, because laser hair removal requires multiple sessions spaced about 4–6 weeks apart, if you start now, you can enjoy smooth, hair-free skin this summer!
If you’re interested in laser hair removal and you live in the Springfield, Missouri, area, reach out to C.O.R.A.MED HRT & Regeneration Center today. Our dedicated care team is committed to providing personalized, accessible, and integrated care, focusing on the root causes of health issues and employing advanced medical technology. No referral is required, and C.O.R.A.MED will create a custom care plan tailored to your unique needs. To learn more, please give us a call at 417-207-2441 or send us a message online.
