How does the laser work in laser hair removal?

The laser can distinguish between the skin and the hair, and goes for the dark color. That's why the ideal candidate is a fair skinned person with dark (brown/black) hair. The area being treated should be shaved prior to treatment, so the laser can hit the hair in the follicle and not the outside hair. When the heat travels down the hair to the follicle the follicle is destroyed and unable to grow new hair. The hair grows in 3 cycles, not all hairs are growing at one time, therefore it takes multiple treatments for full hair removal.
None of the above is not intended as medical advice. If you have a medical concern, please consult your doctor.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

The laser light is attracted to the darkness of the hair. This is why the best candidate is a light skinned dark haired patient.
It takes several treatments but gradually thins the hair with each treatment. The light goes down the hair shaft to destroy the hair bulb. The hair needs to be treated in a certain stage of the growing cycle. This is why it takes several treatments.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Laser hair removal works when the bulb (base) of the hair follicle is heated up to the point where it damages the blood vessel (the vein) that brings blood to the hair. Once this vein is damaged and no longer feeds blood to the hair, it will not regrow.

The heat from the laser light is concentrated at the base of the hair follicle because this is the darkest color within the skin. Laser (light) energy absorbs into dark colors very easily (similar to a black t-shirt on a sunny day). Because the base of the hair follicle is the
darkest area of the body, it absorbs most of the light and heat from the laser. The heat avoids the rest of the skin because it is lighter in color. This phenomenon is called "selective photothermolysis" or more simply selective heating.

Published on Jul 11, 2012