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Laser Hair Removal

Anatomy of a hair

To understand how the laser works to remove unwanted hair, we must first look at the anatomy and life cycle of a hair.

The hair shaft is what we see above the skin. Hair is made of keratin, dead hair cells. Melanin determines the hair color. The more melanin that is present, the darker the hair. Every hair has its own follicle, which is a tiny tube-shaped pocket in the skin. The follicle surrounds the hair root. The follicle also encloses one or more tiny oil glands that lubricate the hair.

The hair bulb is found at the bottom of the hair root and is thicker, white, and club-shaped. The papilla is covered and protected by the lower, hollow part of the bulb. The papilla is stimulated by hormones to grow a new hair. If we can destroy the papilla, there will be no new hair growth from that follicle.
Growth cycle of a hair

Under normal circumstances hair growth in each hair follicle occurs in a cycle. There are three main phases of the hair growth cycle: anagen, catagen and telogen.

  • Anagen (active) is the growing phase or when the hair fiber is produced. During anagen, the hair contains an abundance of melanin, the pigment which gives your hair its color. This is the phase during which laser hair removal treatment is most effective.
  • Catagen (club hair) is the period of controlled regression of the hair follicle. This phase is when the lower part of the hair stops growing, but does not shed, and the follicle is reabsorbed. It will be difficult for permanence to be achieved when the hair is in the catagen growth cycle.
  • Telogen (tired) is the last of the hair growth cycle. In this resting phase, the old hair falls out in preparation for the development of a new anagen hair. Permanence cannot be achieved when the hair is in the telogen phase of the growth cycle.
Remember, anagen is followed by catagen, a period of controlled regression of the hair follicle. Ultimately the hair follicle enters telogen, when the follicle is in a so-called resting state.

Treatment Protocol

Unlike other hair removal processes, laser hair reduction is effective, fast, and safe. Areas having hair to be removed are treated at Laser Skin in San Diego with a focused beam of concentrated laser light. This light is absorbed by the melanin (color) in the hair and is converted to heat. The heat burns the papilla which is in active growth. The hair follicle's ability to regenerate is disrupted and permanent hair removal is the result.

You may see growth of some new hair after the laser hair removal treatment when other, dormant hair follicles become active. Because of this cycle, complete hair removal for most patients takes 5 - 7 treatments, each one month apart.

Unlike electrolysis treatments which utilize a needle or probe and treat one hair at a time, the laser at Laser Skin treats ten to twelve hair follicles, or an area the size of a nickel, with each pulse. The laser is pulsed for only a fraction of a second - just long enough to destroy the hair follicles. At the same time, the hand piece cools the skin surrounding the hair follicles to soothe away heat and prevent damage.

Within 10 - 12 days, the hairs affected by the laser will shed. You may use a dry towel to gently rub the affected area and help release the hairs.
To reach the professionals at Laser Skin in San Diego, please call (619) 299-SKIN (7546)
or email lisa@laserskinsd.com to schedule your free, private consultation.

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