Laser Hair Removal 101

Dr. Tattoff



All About Laser hair removal



Why lasers?



Laser light = energy



You may have noticed that if you wear a dark colored shirt on a sunny day, the shirt will get uncomfortably hot. That's because the sunlight is absorbed by the dark pigment (color). The pigment in a hair follicle absorbs the light of the laser, gets overheated and is destroyed.



Hair growth stages: Anagen Catagen Telogen



3-5 years 1-3 weeks 5-6 weeks



Laser Hair shaft Follicle Dermal papilla Anagen stage



How does it work?



There are 3 different stages in the life of a hair, the growth phase (Angen), the resting phase (Catagen) and the falling-out phase (Telegen). At any given time, about 85% of your hair is in the Anagen phase. These are the hairs that are affected by the laser. During the Anagen phase, the follicle (dermal papilla) is closest to the skin. The laser can reach the follicle, cause it to heat up and destroy the hair.



How many treatments are needed?



Generally between 5 and 7 treatments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart are necessary for full hair removal. Hair follicles that absorb the laser will never grow back. Some follicles will go dormant and could reactivate with hormonal changes or as we age, but these reactivated hairs will be lighter, finer and less dense.



After initial treatments



After 5-7 treatments



Anagen Catagen Telogen



Why are multiple treatments needed?



5 to 7 treatments are needed because only the hair in the Anagen phase can be affected by the laser. Time is needed for hairs in the Catagen and Telogen phases to move into the Anagen phase.



What should I do for the best results?



For the best results, your hair must be considerably darker than your skin-that way the laser will be absorbed by the dark pigment of your hair follicle and will pass through the lighter pigment of the skin. People with darker skin or very light hair prove to be more difficult candidates for laser hair removal. A person with a suntan must wait the tan fades before beginning treatment.



Good candidate Better Candidate Best Candidate Not treatable



Avoid these things 4 to 6 weeks prior to treatments.

The hair follicle needs to be present for the laser to destroy it!



Hair removal creams hair bleaches Hair waxing Tweezing



These things will darken your skin and or lighten your hair, making the process more difficult.



Excessive sun exposure Tanning beds Mystic tan Tanning creams