Unwanted hair can cause embarrassment for women and they have always found ways to remove them. Earlier, plucking, shaving, tweezing, waxing, and bleaching were the methods used for hair removal, but the modern method of laser hair removal brings with it many benefits that the other methods largely lacked.

Laser hair removal will not be able to get rid of unwanted hair permanently, but when this treatment is undertaken regularly, there will be a fair amount of reduction in permanent hair. Laser hair removal was a technique that developed in the 1990s when scientists discovered that lasers allowed for very specific targeting of parts of the human body. In the laser treatment involved in hair removal, the target is the dark matter present in hair follicles, called melanin, which is responsible for the growth of hair. The precise targeting that is a feature of lasers allows the follicle to be damaged, without in any way affecting the surrounding skin and this is one of its major benefits. As a result of the heat from the laser, the follicle gets heated and then inflamed. This results in them choosing to stop growing or taking a rest from growth.

Laser hair removal requires very skilled operatives and is a procedure that becomes more difficult in darker skin. Poor skill in using lasers can lead to burning, white spots, discoloration of the skin, and even build up of acne. Laser uses light beams that are highly concentrated and this light gets absorbed by the pigments in the follicles which in turn destroys the hair growing in the follicle. In effect, this slows the growth of hair, though it is never a guarantee for permanent hair removal.

A laser is used to removing hair from the chin, upper lip, underarms legs, face, and the bikini line, It has an ability to very precisely target hair without in any way damaging the surrounding skin. Lasers work in pulses that operate for fractions of a second and are able to treat many hairs simultaneously. It is not recommended for any hair surrounding the eyelids, as the result can be injuries to the eye.

Hair color and skin type do affect the efficiency of hair removal and are most effective for light skin and dark hair. A review of the medical history is important before going in for any treatment for laser hair removal. A tan can lead to side effects in laser removal, like lightening of the skin, and you are required to keep out of the sun for at least six weeks prior to any treatment with lasers. You also need to suspend all other hair removal methods like plucking, waxing or others.

Before the use of lasers, the hair that is to be removed is trimmed. Eye protection is a must during this treatment. Lasers press against the skin, and many of these have a cooling device on the tip, to prevent overheating of the skin. Cool gels or topical anaesthetics may also be used to reduce any sense of discomfort that some people do feel during this treatment.