Unwanted or excessive hair is a problem that affects many men and women. Newer laser technology allows permanent hair reduction to be performed in all skin types and colors in a safe, virtually painless and very effective way.  The laser treatment works by delivering a very short and very well controlled pulse of intense light or laser beam to the skin. This pulse of light or laser targets the melanin (which is the pigment that gives color to hair and skin) located in the hair follicle. Quickly, the energy of the light is transformed into heat that will damage the structures in the follicle responsible for hair growth. Since the pulse is so short, the surrounding tissue is not affected. Due to a special cooling tip that contacts the skin during laser delivery, the surface of the skin is also spared.  

Hairs are in different phases of growth at any specific time, and only the hairs that are in a certain phase of growth are susceptible to being treated by laser. Between 20 and 25% of hairs are in the right phase of growth and will respond to that specific treatment session. 75 to 80 % of hairs will not – that’s why the treatments have to be scheduled 6 weeks apart, and you will need from 4 to 6 treatments to achieve the best results.

Areas that are most commonly treated are the armpits, chest, back, bikini area and legs, but virtually any area can be treated.

Tanned skin can be treated safely, but always inform us if you have been tanning, using tanning products, or exposed to the sun within the last three weeks. We will adjust your treatment regimen accordingly to give you the safest, most effective experience.

1064nm Nd: YAG Clear Scan™ for all skin types and hair colors

This is a true laser with a very specific wavelength (1064nm). It is the best option for treating darker and coarser hairs, and it is safe for all skin types, including darker colored skin. This is the type we use in the first few sessions for treating individuals with brown and black colored hair. This is also an excellent treatment for “shaving bumps”, a very common problem in darker-skinned men.

Broad Band Light (BBL™) for lighter color hair

This machine uses intense pulsed light technology and, even though it does not use true laser light, it is the best option for light-colored hair and lighter skin individuals. This machine cannot be used in darker skin types such as seen in many of the ethnic skin types. Often this is the equipment used to finish a series of treatment sessions when the hair is lighter and finer.

Please be aware that permanent hair reduction does not work at all in grey or silver colored hairs.

For more information or evaluation, we recommend that you schedule a consultation by calling (410) 532-7546.