Laser hair removal is the use of light to target pigments in the hair, to damage and destroy the hair follicle. Done over a number of treatments, it is an effective, FDA-approved way to reduce the amount of hair in a given area.

My patients frequently ask me to explain the differences and methods of hair removal techniques, and this is what I tell them:

First, there are really only 6 ways of removing unwanted hair-

1. Shaving

2. Plucking

3. Waxing

4. Threading

5. Electrolysis

6. Laser

Shaving is the shortest lasting, but the least expensive. Laser is the most effective, but also the most expensive. All the others are in-between for both effectiveness and expense. For some individuals, shaving, waxing, or plucking may cause ingrown hairs. Shaving and waxing can also cause irritation. Remember, the coarser and curlier your hair, the greater the chance for ingrown hairs. If you are prone to ingrown hairs, laser would be the best choice for you. Ultimately, the final decision will depend on cost, body location (which determines hair coarseness), and individual preferences.

Is it painful? All types of hair removal are painful to a certain degree. Pain may vary depending on the machine, the location and length of hair being removed, and your own pain threshold. The Sciton laser for instance, feels like the repeated snap of rubber bands on your skin.

If the hair being removed is kept short, the pain will be less. I recommend my patients to trim the hair to a “5 o’clock shadow” for the day of the procedure. Also, there are ways to anesthetize the area, either with creams or numbing injections, which can be done in a doctor’s office.

Until recently, laser only worked on dark hair, and could not be used on olive or black skin because it could lighten the skin. This has now changed. The newest medical grade lasers, such as the Sciton, can be used for all ethnic types and skin colors, including Asian, Black, and Hispanic. Blonde hair can now be treated as well.

I have successfully removed hair from every single area on the body, including the face, the neck and jaw (especially in men who get ingrown hairs after shaving), genital areas, the areola of the nipple in women, all parts of the trunk, underarms, bellybuttons, and toes. Basically, anywhere you have hair, hair can be removed.

For more information on Laser Hair Removal, visit Dr. Kaplan’s website at SkinDoc.net.