All About Hair and Different Types of Hair Removal

Today Laser hair removal is the one of the widely accepted and practiced hair removal techinques around the world. The efficiency of laser hair removal method is well accepted by the dermotology community in the world. Many people around the world look for laser hair removal services to have unwanted hair removed. In this process hair is removed from different parts of the human body such as earlobe, legs, cleavage, lips, hands, face, shoulders, under arms, pubic area, buttocks etc. Its success depends on the experience and skill of the practitioner or laser operator, its hair removal procedure, type of laser used, type of hair and type of skin. Laser hair removal has its own advantages, disadvantages and risk factor which is to be considered properly before undergoing this practise.

The main principle behind laser hair removal is selective photothermolysis. In this process, lasers are used to selectively heat the melanin in the follicle. This damages it locally there by restricting the hair growth without damaging the skin. Only black or brown hair can be removed because of the selective absorption of photons of laser light by melanin. The effectiveness of laser varies for different combinations of hair and skin. Light skin and dark hair are the best combination for laser hair removal. It is a bit difficult to perform this process on people with dark skin but new lasers have arrived which are mostly effective even for the people with dark skin.It's important to note that laser does not work on light hair and very fine and vellus hair. At present FDA only aprroves laser hair removal to be termed as "permanent hair reduction", where as electrolysis is approved as "permanent hair removal".

Different types of lasers with different wavelenghts are used for laser hair removal. The details of the lasers used are given below. 1). Alexandrite : This laser is the most effective but it is only safest on light skin. The wavelength of this laser is 755 nm. 2). Pulsed diode array : This laser is also effective and is suitable for light to medium type skin. The wavelength of this laser is 810 nm. 3). Nd:YAG : This laser is capable of treating people with dark skin. The wavelength of this laser is 1064 nm. 4). Argon : At present this laser is not used for hair removal. The wavelength of this laser is 488 or 514.5 nm 5). Ruby : Even this laser is no longer used for hair removal as it was not safe on most skin types.The wavelength of this laser is 694 nm. The performance and effectiveness depends further on pulsewidth, width of the laser beam, energy level of the laser beam and repetition rate of the treatment.

The number of sessions in this treatment depends on various parameters which include the area of the body treated, type of hair, skin color and sex. In normal, it is necessary to undergo 6 - 8 treatment sessions. As it is said earlier, it is easy to treat Coarse dark hair on light skin where as hair on darker skin and finer hair are harder to treat and may require more treatments. Usually these session are spaced 3-12 weeks apart to start, although the spacing depends upon individual response to treatment. Treatment spacing also depends on the area treated as hair cycles ( normally hair grows in three stages and is collectively termed as one cycle) vary based on the body part.Hair removal lasers are effective treatment for pseudofolliculitis barbae and pilonidal cysts.