Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Laser Hair Removal is a very high-tech method of removing unwanted hair and can be extremely effective in providing permanent hair removal. But the capability of Laser Hair Removal depends on numerous factors, inclusive of (i) the variety of laser being used, (ii) the color of your hair, (iii) the color / variety of your skin and (iv) the stage of the hair in the hair growth cycle.
Today there is at least 5 types of laser that are used for hair removal. The best laser type for you will depend on the combination of you hair color and skin type. And even if you get it all correct, you still mightn't end up with permanent hair removal instantly. You see, the answer is in the hair growth cycle, and more especially, what stage of the cycle your unwanted hair is in.... sounds complex - it is !
Before we come to know the hair growth cycle, it is essential to understand just how Laser Hair Removal really works. That is, to comprehend specifically how you can obtain permanent hair removal, obtaining an appreciation of the laser process is critical.
The Laser Hair Removal process does not physically burn off or remove the unwanted hair. The energy from the laser actually passes through the skin, and is soaked up by the pigment in the hair follicle and shaft. When this energy is drawn into a hair, the follicles are damaged, which then impairs that particular hairs ability to grow. Eventually the hair will fall out, typically within a matter of weeks.
Getting an appreciation of how the laser operates is essential. You need to always remember that the laser does not just make the hair fall out right away. It actually impairs the ableness of a hair to grow, causing it to eventually fall out. Now that we have a brief understanding of how the laser performs, it is time to get an appreciation of how the hair growth cycle relates to the permanent nature of laser hair removal.
If the hair is in the right stage of the growth cycle, then permanent removal is more likely, otherwise further Laser Hair Removal sessions will be necessary. You see, the hair growth cycle encompasses three stages, and the permanency of Laser Hair Removal is more probable when the hair is in one stage specifically - the growth stage.
The growth cycle of hair includes 3 distinct stages : (1) Active/Anagen (2) Regressive/Catagen (3) Resting/Telogen. Laser hair removal is most effectual in the Anagen stage where the hair contains the most pigment, and is most sensitive to the laser light. If the laser treatment is applied when the hair is in either of the 2 other phases, then the likeliness of permanent hair removal is lower.
Everyone's hair grows differently, and factors affecting hair growth include: age, weight, metabolism, hormones, genetics, medications and environmental influences. However, regardless of how these factors affect individual hair growth, hair itself grows through three clear-cut stages:
1. The ACTIVE or ANAGEN growth phase, encompasses approximately 85 % of our body hair at any given point in time and can last up to several years. During this stage, the hair shaft and follicle has an opulence of pigment and is most affected by the laser light.
2. The REGRESSIVE or CATAGEN phase is the phase during which the hair ceases to actively grow but is not yet shed. This phase often lasts several weeks comprising about 3 - 4% of our total body hair at any given point in time. The laser will work in this stage, but if it is late in this part of the cycle, a new hair might already be coming through and the new hair will not be affected by the laser.
3. The RESTING or TELOGEN phase lasts 5 - 6 weeks, at the end of which the hair falls out and the new hair becomes visible. The new hair may not be affected by the laser because it will not have pigment in it yet, remembering that the laser literally relies on the pigment to find the hair. Approximately 10-13% of our body hair is in this phase at any one time.
Getting an appreciation of the hair growth cycle leads to the ultimate question, "Is it possible to get permanent hair removal?" The answer is Yes, Laser Hair Removal can definitely provide a level of permanency. As you can see, if a hair in the Active/Anagen stage is subjected to the laser, then that hair will most likely be killed permanently. If a hair that is in either of the other 2 stages is exposed to the laser, then that hair will most likely be killed, but the new hair coming through will still continue to grow.
So to achieve permanent hair removal, you will more than likely need multiple laser treatments. You could be lucky - your first Laser hair removal session will permanently remove all of your problem hair, but the likelihood is that you will need multiple sessions at set intervals to ensure that you get to the hair when it is in the first stage of growth. And that is all there really is to know, permanent Laser Hair Removal is definitely possible !
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