Shaving, waxing, plucking and even threading are all common methods of removing body hair. Unfortunately, all of them allow the hair to grow back in relatively short periods of time, from within a week to within a month. Laser hair removal involves a sending a heated light beam to the skin which destroys the hair follicle so that your hair will not grow back. Though it is expensive and somewhat painful, many people love laser hair removal because it provides long-lasting results.
Benefits
One benefit of laser hair removal is not having to shave or wax and having no body hair in the area in which laser hair removal was performed for up to several years, according to the Mayo Clinic. Many people believe it saves them time, not having to shave in the shower every morning. Depending on how frequently you go to get waxes or other hair removal services done, laser hair removal may even save you money in the long run.
How it Works
According to the Mayo Clinic, laser hair removal works by sending a light beam through the skin which hits the hair follicle, at the point of original hair growth. The heat from the light beam destroys the hair follicle, which makes it so that the hair will not grow back in that specific spot.The American Academy of Dermatology reports that there are several different types of lasers, such as the ruby laser, the diode laser and the alexandrite laser, which all work differently because of slightly different wavelengths.
Efficiency
Unfortunately, laser hair removal is not 100 percent effective in removing hair forever. The American Academy of Dermatology states that most laser hair removal treatments, when done in a series of multiple treatments, are effective in removing up to 80 percent of hair. Some hair may grow back after treatments due to changes in hormone levels, though the hair should be thinner and finer and there should not be as much of it.
Safety
According to the Mayo Clinic, risks of laser hair removal include bleeding during the treatment and developing an infection after the treatment. Permanent changes in the skin color, whether darker or lighter, may also result from laser hair removal. Crusting and scabbing of the skin can also occur as a side effect of the treatment.
Costs
In general, laser hair removal treatments are very expensive. This is especially true when comparing the up front cost of laser hair removal to the up front cost of other methods like waxing or shaving. The Mayo Clinic states that most health insurance companies do not cover the costs of laser hair removal. According to the website Real Self, which reviews beauty treatments across the United States, found that the average cost of one area of laser hair removal in the United States is $1,500.
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