Laser techniques are gaining popularity with people looking for permanent hair removal options. But how effective is it and what permanent really mean?

Zap Away Unwanted Hair
Laser hair removal treatment doesn’t assure permanent hair removal, but it does mean that a man can be hair-free or nearly hair-free anywhere from several months to several years. Most men have laser hair removal on backs, chests and beards, but laser removal makes it possible to reduce hair in almost any area of the body. After several treatments, razor stubble and ingrown hairs won’t bother you.

Although laser hair removal is considered less painful than other hair-removal methods, you may feel discomfort. Since shaved hair sits inside the hair follicle, the laser finds the pigment in your hair, targeting the follicle and killing the hair at the source. First, your body is cleaned in the region where the unwanted hairs will be removed, and a numbing cream may be applied to reduce pain. Goggles cover the eyes during the treatment to avoid exposure to the laser.

Next, the laser scans your body. The light energy travels through the skin and the pigment in the follicle absorbs the light, causing the hairs to die from evaporation. You might feel a sting at this point.

The process usually requires a total of five laser treatments, scheduled eight weeks apart. The length of the treatment varies depending on the area being treated. A small area, such as the face, could take a few minutes, but, if you’re ridding yourself of a hairy back, plan on spending several hours in the office. Different hairs are in different stages of growth, so the scheduled treatments zap hair at the root. Likewise, since you’ll be going back several times, the costs of laser hair removal can grow quickly.

Find the Right Doctor
To avoid complications, you should always consult with a qualified dermatologist. Laser hair removal is popular, and many laser hair removal centers and medical spas are offering the procedure, but you want anyone who is operating a laser on your skin to be a professional. The price may be higher, but affordable laser hair removal isn’t good laser hair removal unless a doctor is involved.

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