Laser has taken the pain out of the tedious process of hair removal

Dr Vikas Sharma

A clear, smooth skin is on the wish list of most women and unwanted facial or body hair the bane of their life. From Cleopatra (maybe even before that) to the present times, women have resorted to many methods to get rid of these — shaving, waxing, threading, using epilators and electrolysis. However, most of these methods are quite painful.

In recent times, laser hair reduction has emerged as a comparatively painless non-surgical cosmetic treatment that has gained popularity.

Laser hair-reduction techniques work on the principle of using light to generate heat inside hair follicles, destroying their ability to grow from the follicle, which the other methods or techniques are not able to achieve. However, as with other methods, it too has limitations so the patients need to be aware and have realistic expectations about the results, time and sessions involved and safety measures.

Hair reduction using laser can be done anywhere on the body, and the machine can cover large places fast. In the hands of a trained and experienced practitioner, laser treatment is quite safe. Legs, back, underarms, bikini line, stomach, face… hair from any area of the body can be removed safely and conveniently using laser.

At least five to 10 sessions are needed at varying intervals depending upon the site to be treated. The reason for this is that hair passes through different phases in its life cycle and only the hair in growing phase (anagen phase) can be targeted by the laser light. At any point in time only about 20 per cent of hair on the face are in growing phase, and can be destroyed in a single sitting. Body hair needs less number of sessions and longer time intervals in between per session than facial hair. Some people can get a satisfactory hair reduction on the body after just three to five sessions. The time gap in various sessions may vary from three to eight weeks depending upon the patient’s skin type.

People with hormonal disorders, thyroid and polycystic ovarian disorder can also have unwanted hair growth on face and other body parts. Such patients, when opting for laser hair reduction, need to be on regular medication for the underlying disorder. Diabetic patients wanting to go for laser hair removal, too, need to have disease under control with medication. Such patients may require larger number of sessions and the results may be delayed in many such cases. They may also require continuous annual maintenance sessions after the completion of regular reduction regimen.

Women with fair skin and dark hair are ideal candidates; longer-wavelength lasers are preferred for darker or tanned skin types. Among the various laser systems such as Diode; Nd-Yag; Alexandrite, IPL, etc. Diode lasers give the best results for dark, thick and coarse hair.

The average cost of single laser session for facial hair may vary from Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500.

Following a laser regimen, annual follow-up sessions and treatments are needed to maintain hair reduction. The hair reduction can be up to 80 per cent in most cases though it can vary in various cases. If there is hair re-growth after treatment, it will be finer and lighter in texture as compared to before. Laser hair removal is currently not effective for blond, white, grey or red hair. Pain, tingling, and numbness in some around the treated area by the laser are probably the most common side effects that can be considered normal.

Laser treatment can lead to crusting and formation of scab around the area treated in few cases. A mild bruising may also occur on sensitive skin. These side effects appear within the first few days of the treatment and disappear shortly afterward.

— The writer is a dermatologist and dermato-laser surgeon, National Skin Hospital, Panchkula

Things to keep in mind

• Avoid bleaching, plucking, waxing the area for 30 days before the treatment.
• Those with history of herpes, opt for anti-viral therapy before and after the treatment.
• Do not take any photosensitive drugs or herbals for 24 hours before the treatment.
• Avoid cosmetics and creams with fragrance over the treated skin immediately after laser as this can lead to dermatitis.
• Avoid scratching or picking the treated area.
• Avoid internal or external heat i.e. sauna, hot tub, hot oven, steam or heavy exercises that may cause perspiration, uptil two days after a laser session as they may stimulate melanocytes leading to hype-rpigmentation.

Before a person opts for laser hair removal, his/her dermatologist should know if the person has any of the following:

• A tendency to scar.
• A recent tan.
• A keloid (type of raised scar).
• A tendency to get outbreaks of cold sores or genital herpes.
• Taking any over-the-counter drugs like aspirin or isotretinoin (a medicine used to treat severe acne).