How the New LightSheer Diode Laser for Hair Removal Works
The new, specially designed
LightSheer Diode Laser
effectively removes unwanted, excess hair much faster, more
reliably, and more comfortably than standard long-term methods like
electrolysis and electrothermolysis. To understand how the
LightSheer diode laser works, it helps to know a little more about
how hair grows and how laser light vaporizes unwanted tissue.
How does hair grow?
Hair forms in a pouchlike structure
below the skin called a hair follicle. What we see as hair is
actually the hair shaft, which is the keratinized, hardened tissue
that grows from this follicle.
Humans have more hair follicles per
square inch of skin than most higher primates, including chimpanzees
and gorillas. Because most of this hair is fine and pale (called
vellus hair), it usually isn’t visible to the naked eye. Consider
this: the forehead has more hair follicles than any other part of
the body. The thicker, fully pigmented hair most people consider
“real hair” is called terminal hair. This hair is found on scalp,
eyebrows, legs, backs, underarms, and genital areas. This is the
hair the LightSheer diode laser treats.
Everyone’s hair grows differently,
depending on age, weight, metabolism, hormones, ethnicity,
medications, and other factors. But all hair goes through three
distinct growth phases:
-
Active growth phase (called the
anagen phase), which lasts up to several years. At any given time,
the majority (85%) of our body hair is in this phase. During
anagen, the hair has an abundance of melanin.
-
Regressive phase (catagen phase),
which lasts about two weeks, during which the hair stops growing
but is not yet shed. About 3 - 4% of our body hair is in this
phase at any given time.
-
Resting phase (telogen phase),
which lasts 5 - 6 weeks, at the end of which the hair falls out
and a new hair begins to form. Approximately 10-13% of our body
hair is in this phase at any one time.
Best results are obtained when
spacing appointments approximately six weeks apart giving the hair
follicles enough time to reach the anagen (active growth) phase
cycle. The length of time the procedure will take will depend on
the size of the area to be treated. Before any laser procedure is
performed, the area will be tested to insure a safe and effective
reaction will be obtained. You may contact us with any questions
you may have regarding Laser Hair Removal at (516) 541-6965.
