Laser hair removal Unwanted facial and body hair can affect the way we feel, our social interactions, what we wear and what we do. Shaving, plucking, waxing ... all of these take time, but for people who prefer to have smooth, hairless skin, they may seem like the only options available is laser hair removal. How does laser treatment work? Laser hair removal is a high-tech method uses light to actually destroy the follicle, leaving you with fuzz-free skin. Lasers emit a wavelength of light with a specific single colour. When targeted to the skin, the energy from the light is transferred to the skin and hair pigment melanin. This heats up and damages the surrounding tissue. But to remove hair permanently and to minimise damage to the surrounding tissue, the laser needs to be targeted to specific cells. How to Prepare for Laser Hair Removal? Laser hair removal is more than just ''zapping'' unwanted hair. It is a medical procedure that requires training to perform and carries potential risks. Before getting laser hair removal, you should thoroughly check the credentials of the doctor or technician performing the procedure. If you are planning on undergoing laser hair removal, you should limit plucking, waxing, and electrolysis for six weeks before treatment. That's because the laser targets the hairs' roots, which are temporarily removed by waxing or plucking. You should also avoid sun exposure for six weeks before and after treatment. Sun exposure makes laser hair removal less effective and makes complications after treatment more likely. Lightening your skin. Avoid any sunless skin creams that darken your skin. Your doctor might also prescribe a skin bleaching cream if you have a recent tan or darker skin. Any medications that are photosensitive need to be stopped at least one week prior to treatment, most antibiotics can be photosensitive, so if you have an infection, it could be a good idea to push your treatment back a few weeks. Patients should not be using skincare with strong actives such as retinoids and alfa hydroxyl acids, These ingredients can increase skin cell turnover, making skin more vulnerable to the sun and irritation during the treatment period. If you're not sure whether your medication could negatively affect your laser hair removal treatment, consult with your doctor beforehand. Benefits of laser hair removal: Lasers are useful for removing unwanted hair from the face, leg, chin, back, arm, underarm, bikini line, and other areas. This makes the procedure versatile in its uses. There is also little-to-no recovery time involved, You can resume your normal activities after each procedure. Lasers can selectively target dark, coarse hairs while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged. New hairs may still grow, you’ll notice that they grow in finer and lighter in color than before. This means that when there is regrowth it won’t look as heavy as before. It a speed method. Most patients have permanent hair loss after an average of three to seven sessions. This procedure tends to work best if you have both fair skin and dark hair. Side effects and risks: Side effects of laser hair removal may include: blister and inflammation swelling and irritation pigmentation changes (usually light patches on darker skin) You will be advised to wear goggles during the treatment to prevent eye injury. You will also experience some pain during treatment, especially the first few. Your skin will feel hot for 15-30 minutes after laser treatment. There may be redness and swelling for up to 24 hours. Scars and changes to skin texture are rare side effects. You can minimize the risk of side effects and permanent skin damage by making sure you seek treatment from a board-certified dermatologist only. Is it really permanent? Hairs do not fall out immediately, but you will shed them over a period of days to weeks. This may look like continued hair growth. The repeated treatments are usually necessary because hair growth and loss naturally occur in a cycle, and laser treatment works best with hair follicles in the new-growth stage. Most people experience hair removal that lasts several months, and it might last for years. Laser treatment can either permanently reduce the density of the hair or permanently remove unwanted hair. Whether hair is removed permanently or just reduced in density is influenced by: the colour and thickness of the hairs being treated the colour of the patient’s skin the type and quality of the laser used, and the competence and training of the person operating the laser. However, if you have grey hairs, which have no melanin pigmentation, currently available lasers don’t work. How many treatments will I need? The number of treatments you’ll need depends on your skin type. This classifies your skin by colour, its sun sensitivity and its likelihood to tan. 1) Pale or white skin, burns easily, rarely tans: People with dark hair can usually achieve permanent hair removal with 4-6 treatments every 4-6 weeks. People with fair hair will generally only achieve permanent hair reduction and after an initial course of treatment may need 6-12 treatments a month apart. 2) Light brown skin, sometimes burns, slowly tans to light brown:People with dark hair can usually achieve permanent hair removal with 6-10 treatments every 4-6 weeks. People with fair hair will generally only achieve permanent hair reduction and after an initial course of treatment may require 3-6 repeat treatments a month apart. 3) Moderate brown to dark brown skin, rarely burns, tans well or to moderate brown: People with dark hair can usually achieve permanent hair reduction with 6-10 treatments every 4-6 weeks. Maintenance will usually be required with 3-6 monthly repeat treatments. People with fair hair are unlikely to respond. Re-treatments must be long enough apart to allow new hair growth to reach the level of the bulge. What about home lasers? Lasers that can be used at home for hair removal are available. These devices might cause modest hair reduction. But there are no large studies comparing how effective these devices are compared with laser hair removal done at a doctor's office. Writing by Dr: Gehad Yasser