By Dr. Meeta Desai , Dermatology
While the hair on your head is an integral part of your physical appearance, hair on certain parts of the body is mostly unwanted. For women, a condition called ‘hirsutism’ can be especially embarrassing. This is a condition wherein a woman develops excessive hair on her chest, back and face, akin to male pattern body hair. Apart from this, women may want to get hair removed from other areas such as lower abdomen as well as the underarms. Men also opt for hair removal on the back and other areas that may be deemed unsightly.
Laser Hair Removal-
This is one of the most trusted and effective ways of hair removal. Laser hair removal helps to permanently kill the follicles of unwanted hair, which then results in a smoother skin and look. Laser hair removal is painless and quick and usually doesn’t take too many sessions to complete. Although much of the hair is removed in the first session, you may have to do follow up sessions for the complete treatment.
Types of Laser Hair Removal-
There are two types of laser hair removal which are very popular due to their effectiveness. These are mentioned below in detail:-
- Soprano Hair Removal Technique: This method of laser hair removal is unique as it heats up the hair follicle to destroy it without actually heating up the skin around it. The melanin in the hair absorbs the heat and then transfers the heat into the germ or the root of the follicle and deactivates them.
- NDYAG Long Pulse: NDYAG or Neodymium Yttrium Aluminium Garnet is a type of laser which uses a very small wavelength of light and can thus penetrate deep within the skin. This is also similar to soprano removal where it heats up the germ of the follicle to stop hair growth but differs in the methods used to generate the laser beam used to carry out the procedure.
In Which Part Of The Body Is Laser Hair Removal Effective?
Laser hair removal is effective on all parts of the body for both the sexes. These include:
- Underarms
- Face
- Chest
- Neck
- Bikini line
- Back
How Is The Procedure Carried Out?
A protective cream or layer is put on the skin to prevent it from heating up due to contact with the laser. These creams work as a coolant on the skin, while the melanin in the hair is targeted. A laser probe is held to your skin in the area where the hair needs to be removed. Although a lot of hair is removed in the first session, you may need to do multiple sessions depending on the size of the area and the amount of hair growth in the region.
