Laser Hair Removal -
Give your razor a rest!
Many people are worried by lasers (think James Bond or Star Wars) but there’s no need. Laser is just light that is of a specific wavelength. IPL (intense pulsed light) is similar but contains a range of wavelengths.
So how does it actually get rid of hair?
Dark hair contains pigment that gives it its colour. Laser uses this to its advantage.... the pigment absorbs the light energy and turns it into heat. This singes the hair and kills the cells that make the hair grow.
So what’s the catch?
At any one time, around 40-50% of hairs are actively growing – the rest are dormant. Unfortunately, the dormant hairs escape the treatment and live to grow another day. This means that a course of treatment is necessary. After 4-6 weeks, the dormant hairs start to grow again which makes it a perfect time to repeat the treatment. After each treatment, you should see a significant reduction in the number of hairs and the remaining hair often becomes thinner too.
How many treatments will I need?
This really depends on the colour of your skin and the type of hair. If you have pale skin and dark thick hair, you can expect excellent clearance in 6-8 treatments. If you have darker skin and/or thin, light hair, more treatments may be required as this is more difficult to treat. As there needs to be pigment in hair to suck up the light energy, it is not possible to treat white, grey or downy blond hair.
If you are looking for a reduction in hair but not necessarily clearance (e.g. wanting to shave your underarms every couple of weeks not days, this could be achieved in just 3 treatments.
Is it safe?
Yes. Modern technology means that today’s lasers are safer than ever. The main risk if that of mild burns if too much energy is used. It is important to ensure that you have a test patch before undergoing full treatment, especially if you have non-white skin. Do not go for treatment is you have a recent tan as the laser can disrupt the colour and the small chance of burns is increased. It is also important to ensure that you use a good quality SPF cream on any exposed treated areas.
Can I shave between treatments?
Yes but you must not wax, pluck or thread the area to be treated. The root of the hair must be intact to spread the heat to surrounding cells for effective treatment.
The Townshend Skin Clinic is within easy reach of the whole of Northamptonshire as well as neighbouring counties. We have a large client base including those living in:
Milton Keynes, Buckingham, Daventry, Rugby, Market Harborough, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Huntingdon, Bedford and many more!
