Laser Hair Removal Treatment

A laser hair removal treatment involves having a part of your anatomy being subjected to a special type of laser which actually damages hair follicles, which makes the hair fall out. But the laser process doesn't cause the hair to fall right out, rather, it impairs the ability of the hair to grow, and usually after a few weeks the hair will just fade and fall out.

A single treatment may not be enough to result in permanent hair removal, because hair grows in stages, and if don't 'laser' the hair during the first stage of it's life, then chances are a new hair will come through. For a better understanding of this, read on.

The hair growth cycle comprises three stages

1. Active: Anagen
2. Regressive: Catagen
3. Resting: Telogen.

Laser hair removal treatments are best suited to the Anagen stage where the hair shaft and follicle contain the most pigment, and is most sensitive to the laser light. In the Catagen stage, the hair has stopped growing but isn't yet shed. The laser will work in this stage, but if it is late in this part of the cycle, a new hair might already be coming through and will not be affected. Which leads us to the Telogen stage. In the Telogen stage the hair falls out and a new one begins to form. The new one might not be affected by the laser because it will not have pigment in it yet.

So, unless you want temporary hair removal, a number of treatments will most likely be necessary.