Are you suffering
from stubborn or ingrown hairs, or just want to get rid of having to constantly
shave or depilate? If so, laser treatment might be for you. The treatment is
becoming increasingly popular, but some also have doubts. So how does laser hair
removal work and is it safe? And why does it work better on some people than
others? We explain here.
The hair growth cycle, a three-stage cycle
Before we go into more detail about laser hair removal, it is important
to know that hairs go through three phases when growing and that not all hairs
grow at the same rate. So every hair on your body is at a different 'life
stage'.
Since all hairs are at a different stage, it sometimes seems like they
grow back just a week after hair removal. However, these are just different
hairs. Only they are hairs in a different phase of the hair growth cycle.
In the hair growth cycle, we talk about three phases:
- The anagenic phase,
or growing phase is the first part of the
cycle. On average, this phase lasts about three to five years. 80% to 90% of hair follicles are in this
phase.
- In the catagen or transitional phase, the hair follicle retracts and detaches from
the hair root (dermal papilla). On average, this phase lasts 2-3 weeks. About
1% of all our hair is in this phase.
- The telogenic phase or resting phase is the last phase where the hair on our body is. In
this phase, which lasts an average of four months, we experience hair loss.
Less than 10% of your hair is in the telogen phase.
After the telogen phase, another anagenic phase starts.
What is that, laser hair removal?
'Laser' is the acronym for 'Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission
of Radiation'. This is quite a mouthful, but lasers are strong and highly
focused beams of light that can be used in many applications. Ranging from
communication to navigation and, yes, even hair removal.
Laser treatment entails the use
of medical-grade lasers. Those lasers convert the light from the laser
beam, which is attracted and absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair,
into heat. This is how the hair follicle and root are affected and destroyed.
In order to destroy a hair follicle, the nutritional supply and stem
cells responsible for hair regeneration must also be destroyed. A temperature
of about 70 degrees Celsius is needed for this.
Why is my hair still growing back after a laser treatment?
So many of us opt for laser hair removal so we never have to shave or
trim again. However, hairs may still grow back over time. There are three
reasons for this:
- Only the hair in the anagen or growth
phase can be successfully destroyed. Hence, a sequence of
treatments is needed to remove all hair.
- Also, only
hair with sufficient pigment can be treated. The darker and heavier the hair, the easier it will be to destroy.
But the lighter and finer the hair, the more difficult it is to remove.
- Last but not
least, skin color also plays a role. Do you have light skin? Then you can
be treated with high intensity. Have you got darker skin? Then there is a
risk of burns. A laser does not recognize the difference between the
pigment in the skin and the pigment in the hair. Therefore, it is up to
the specialist to adjust the laser intensity individually.
Is laser hair removal safe?
Generally, laser hair removal is
believed to be a safe treatment. A large majority of researchers see no
long-term health risks and serious short-term side effects are rare.
Although the right precautions can go a long way in curbing this, using
powerful laser beams comes with some risks. Therefore, be sure to protect your
eyes, work with quality machines and use the right and, above all, mild
products.
In addition, many specialists recommend good air circulation and
purification and wearing a laser mask (special glasses) during the treatment.
This will protect you from the numerous minute particles released into the air
during the treatment.
What are the contraindications of laser hair removal?
Before any treatment, conditions are thoroughly checked and the possible
effects of treatment on certain conditions are considered. For example, there
are some effects concerning a laser treatment:
- We've mentioned it
before, but laser hair removal is not recommended for tanned skin or darker
natural skin tones. Therefore, staying out of the sun as much as possible is
important before treatment. So, scheduling your laser treatment in less warm
and not-so-sunny periods is best.
- Ensure that you are
not taking any photosensitising medication (such as roaccutane for acne) at the
time of treatment.
- Steer clear of
laser treatments if you suffer from a skin condition or injury such as ulcers,
herpes and the like;
- The treatment does
not work well on tattoos either;
- Pregnancy is a
relative contraindication to laser treatment. While laser hair removal is safe for the growing fetus, the mother's
skin can react unpredictably to the treatment. Therefore, laser hair
removal in pregnant women is not indicated.
Suffering from irritation after laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal involves destroying hair follicles and roots. But
considering your hair is also directly connected to your skin, a treatment can
also cause mild symptoms such as irritation, itching, or discomfort in the
treated areas. It is mainly people with light or fine hair, or dark skin who
tend to experience more discomfort.
To avoid and relieve ailments, use Shinn's Intimate Oil Spray. This
softens the skin between and after each laser session. Our formula safely
nourishes, restores, and protects intimate skin. The Intimate Oil Spray is
unique, natural, and vegan.
For more information click here.
