6 Areas of Your Body That Laser Hair Removal Can Target
Are you tired of losing hours of your life to shaving, tweezing, and plucking? If so, laser hair removal can provide a quick, comfortable, stress-free option for removing unwanted hair, giving you a new lease on life. State-of-the-art laser hair removal has become a staple at medspas worldwide, thanks to its ability to safely and effectively revitalize your look, save you time, and maximize your self-confidence. Below we will explore more details about the procedure and find out what areas of the body can be successfully treated.
How Does Hair Grow?
If you want to understand laser hair removal, it’s important to first grasp the mechanism by which hair grows. You may already suspect there is a cycle at work when you find hairs falling out in the sink and then witness new hairs take their place. From a scientific standpoint, there are three distinct phases of hair growth:
- Anagen — During this active stage, new hairs are forming and emerging from the follicles. This lasts around 2-6 years for scalp hairs and about 30 days for body hairs. At any given time, around 90% of your hairs are going through the anagen phase.
- Catagen — This is a transitional phase during which the hair stops growing, and the blood supply to the follicle is curtailed. Around 3% of hairs are in this phase at any given moment, and it lasts for 2-3 weeks.
- Telogen — The final phase of hair growth is a resting stage. Here, a firm bulb of keratin is created at the hair’s root, holding it in place. At any given time, around 6-8% of hairs are traversing the telogen phase. It lasts 100 days for head hairs and longer for body hairs. The entire body sheds about 100 hairs every day.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
During laser hair removal, tiny pulses of light energy at specific wavelengths are beamed at the hair follicles. When the light hits the melanin in the hair, it turns to heat, triggering microdamage that prevents the hair follicle from releasing any new hairs. Just the right amount of heat is administered, so there is no burning or scarring, just destruction of the hair follicle.
Because laser hair removal only works on hairs in the first anagen growth phase, multiple treatment sessions spaced out several months apart are required to achieve patient goals. After all the laser hair removal appointments have been completed, however, the hair will gradually stop growing permanently.
What Areas of the Body Can Be Treated With Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a versatile procedure that can be used safely on many different areas of the body. The benefits are far-reaching in terms of saving you time, discomfort, and stress. The six most common areas addressed include:
- Limbs (arms and legs)
- Hands and feet
- Torso (back, chest, and abdomen)
- Underarms
- Bikini line
- Face
What is the Takeaway?
If excess, unwanted hair is an issue for you, laser hair removal may be the ideal solution. Gone are the days of painful razor burns, shaving creams, tweezers, and electrolysis. Laser hair removal presents a cutting-edge approach to beautification that will leave your skin smooth, soft, and silky. Contact Dr. Heil today to find out if you are a good candidate!
