Home laser hair removal units were first approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in late 2008. For the first time, consumers had the option of purchasing these do-it-yourself devices to use in the privacy of their own homes at a fraction of the cost of professional treatments offered at spas, salons and clinics. However, home laser removal units do have limitations; and just like laser hair removal offered by the pros, they might not be the best choice for everyone.
History
The first two home laser hair removal devices approved by the FDA were the Silk'n SensEpil and the Tria Beauty System. These home laser devices employ technology based on the devices used to provide professional laser hair removal treatments, but at reduced intensities. A December 2008 ABC News report stated that after five treatments, consumers may note between a 50 and 70 percent reduction in hair density. Professional services may offer up to 80 percent reduction in hair growth after four to seven treatment sessions, notes the medical professionals who maintain the Hair Removal Journal consumer website.
How They Work
Home laser hair removal units reduce hair by targeting the hair's melanin (dark pigment). The heat from the laser places the hair follicle in the resting stage of growth. The FDA notes that laser hair removal of any kind should not be confused with permanent hair removal--the only way to eliminate hair entirely is through electrolysis. For that reason, the FDA says that laser hair removal devices cannot make the claim of permanent hair removal, only permanent hair reduction. Regardless, if you use at-home laser hair removal or seek professional services, overall results depend on how well you respond to the treatment. And the Mayo Clinic notes that not everyone makes a good candidate for laser hair removal.
Who Can Use Them
The Mayo Clinic states that your success from using laser hair removal depends on two factors: your skin tone and the color of your body hair. Home laser hair removal units yield the most promising results to fair-skinned women with dark body hair. If your body hair is unpigmented (gray or white), blond or light brown or red, Mayo Clinic experts say that laser hair removal won't work. The consumer website Hair Facts stresses using a device that is cleared by the FDA, as many home laser units available to consumers don't live up to their marketing claims.
Limitations
Home laser hair removal units come with certain limitations that professional services don't. The Silk'n and Tria Beauty devices are not approved by the FDA for use above the neck, notes ABC News. Additionally, according to the manufacturers' websites, these devices should not be used by people with dark brown or black skin. The Hair Removal Journal notes that treating tanned and dark skin tones requires use of specific laser types to prevent blistering and changes in skin tone.
Cost
Aside from the flexibility offered by do-it-yourself treatments, the primary appeal of home laser hair removal units is that they ultimately cost far less than the sum cost of professional services. According to the Hair Removal Journal, a single professional treatment averaged $353 in January 2010. In the same month, the Silk'n SensEpil sold for $499 and the Tria Beauty System for $595. Home laser hair removal devices can be purchased online through the manufacturers' websites (see Resources) or at department and specialty stores such as Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.
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