Candidates for Laser Hair Removal : Laser Hair Removal
The success of laser hair removal treatment relies on the convergence of a number of positive variables. Not all people make ideal candidates for the treatment, and by looking at the factors involved you can begin to come to a more informed decision. There are four ways of determining your suitability:
The four determining factors
1. Skin type: Skin tones are arranged into six types for easiness of identification, with type 1 being the lightest and type 6 being the darkest. The lighter the skin type, the better the chances of very favourable laser hair removal results. Darker skin types are also likely to require more treatment sessions to achieve the desired effect. Certain lasers are better suited to darker skin types than others, but most methods struggle with very dark skin. Some combinations of lighter skin types and hair colors can also prove hard to treat.
2. Hair color and texture: In addition to skin type, the color of the hair to be removed is a key factor in determining the difficulty of treatment. In contrast with skin type requirements, much better results can be achieved when treating dark hair (brown, black) as opposed to lighter (white, blond) hair. This is due to the high pigmentation in darker hair which allows better absorption of the light. Grey or white hair is the hardest to treat. Fine or thin hair texture also complicates the hair removal process, as thicker hair is generally far easier to remove.
3. Skin tan: If you have recently acquired a tan and also have light hair, this is a poor combination for laser hair removal. It is recommended to postpone treatment until the tan has faded.
4. Skin discoloration: Laser treatments can occasionally have adverse effects on skin pigmentation. Although these are hoped to be temporary, a history of skin discoloration in the patient can put them at greater risk of unwanted results and thus they do not make good candidates. History of conditions including psoriasis, hypertrophic scarring, vitiligo, keloid formation, or a current viral or bacterial infection affecting skin color can rule you out for effective treatment.
Final thoughts
If you are unsure about your suitability, it is always beneficial to talk to a specialist in the field who can further explain the expected outcome for your skin and hair color, and who can discuss any concerns that you have. Aside from the determining factors above, the most important combination required for productive laser hair removal is for the hair to be darker than the surrounding skin. Pale skin with thick, dark hair produces the most favourable results. There are other treatments to consider if laser hair removal is not right for you.