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Excessive hair in undesired locations is a problem for both men and women. For women, hair virtually anywhere other than the head and bikini area can be embarrassing. Men, although permitted a certain amount of hairiness, are still considered unattractive if they have excessive hair on their backs or chests. Laser Hair Removal is one of the most effective methods for permanent near-total removal of unwanted hair. Many people will see up to six months of hairlessness in treated areas and a permanent reduction of up to 90% in unwanted hair.

If you want to experience laser hair removal for yourself, schedule a cosmetic treatment consultation at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery.
How Laser Hair Removal Works

Laser Hair Removal works by the principles of selective photothermolysis. When laser light hits your skin, it is absorbed more by darker tissues than lighter tissues. Since hair shafts and follicles normally contain more melanin, the chemical that makes skin cells darker, they tend to absorb more light than surrounding tissues. This causes them to heat up more rapidly than the surrounding skin and suffer more thermal damage, which causes the follicles to shut down or even die.
Laser Hair Removal on Different Skin Colors

Laser Hair Removal works best on light-skinned people with dark hairs. But even people with dark skin can have laser hair removal. Your skin will heat up some during treatment. How much it heats up depends on your skin and hair color. Controlling the length and intensity of pulses controls the amount of heating. Although dark-skinned individuals can be treated, people with blonde or grey hairs that lack melanin can be very hard to treat. These hairs may need to be removed with an alternate method.
Laser Hair Removal Procedure and Results

Laser Hair Removal is performed by performing a series of laser pulses over the area to be treated.  Each pulse treats an area about one-quarter inch square, and is accompanied by a slight tingling or burning sensation. A common description is that a pulse feels like a rubber-band snap. If you have sensitive skin or are concerned about pain, a topical anesthetic can be used.

The length of treatment depends on the area being treated. Upper lip treatment can be done in five minutes, underarm treatments in less than half an hour, and full legs or back treatment can take up to an hour and a half.

After your treatment, your skin may feel warm and slightly uncomfortable for a few hours–like mild sunburn. After a few days, your skin will begin to shed hairs affected by the treatment. These can be removed by gentle washing with a gentle, moisturizing soap. Avoid sun exposure of the treated area for several days after a hair removal session.

Typically, three to five treatments are necessary to experience optimal results. Depending on your skin color, hair color, and area treated, you should see between 50-80% reductions in hair in the treated area, with darker hairs responding more often to treatment. The areas that respond best to treatment are the bikini and the underarm, while the chin and back respond less well.
At Home Hair Removal Device Now Available

Silk’n SensEpil™ is a break-through at-home hair removal device that uses a flash of innovative light energy to remove unwanted hair. The device is currently the most effective and cost-efficient home-use hair removal system available. The Silk’n SensEpil™ was studied extensively by the physicians at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery and is often prescribed for patients to use at home in conjunction with in-office laser treatments.

If you want more information, you can read more on our Questions about Laser Hair Removal page, or schedule a laser hair removal consultation at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, D.C. today.