Well-known methods of permanent hair reduction include the use of lasers and electrolysis. This article focuses on the former. The mechanism for how lasers work is called “selective photothermolysis.” This concept means that there are different-colored pigments in the skin, including the hair. If certain of these skin elements absorb more of a particular wavelength of laser light than another element, then they will be more likely to be damaged by the laser. A classic example of this is using laser on black hair growing on light skin. In this scenario, the dark hair absorbs the laser light at a much higher rate than the surrounding skin. At a particular energy, the hair and its follicle will be damaged, but not the surrounding skin. The energy used has to be just right for the best effect that is still safe. A contrary example is someone who is tanned or dark skinned but has blond hair that they want lasered. It is quite likely that the surrounding skin would absorb more of the laser light than the hair itself. This would lead to a burn and such patients are generally turned away from getting laser hair removal.A remarkable technology that is used in the Comet laser is called ELOS. This adds bipolar radiofrequency energy to the diode laser. Although how this works is difficult to explain in a brief blog entry, the radiofrequency works on a current that runs at the level of the laser head. The current generates a magnetic field through the skin. This field becomes most concentrated around hair shafts. As the field rapidly reverses polarity back and forth, it generates heat that augments what the laser is already doing. By itself, radiofrequency is not sufficient for hair removal, but it certainly boosts the ability of the laser. Another benefit is that it is color-blind. It therefore extends the range of the laser into darker skin types without compromising safety.

With each treatment, additional hair follicles are completely killed or reduced in size. With sufficient treatments, most dark hairs will be eliminated, to be replaced with fine, barely-visible hairs or with nothing at all. It takes a number of treatments to cycle through the currently visible follicles, as well as the ones that are dormant within the skin.

In the proper hands with appropriate patients, laser hair removal has reached a state of technology that provides fast, affordable and satisfying permanent hair reduction results. Come to Tattoo MD Medispa for a free consultation!