Lasers have come a long way since the light shows of the 60’s. There
are laser applications for almost every field from surgery to carpentry. Many
women are benefiting from laser treatments for unwanted hair. Dr.
Lawrence Tarrant in Parkersburg says the procedure is especially well
suited for women’s sensitive skin. His office uses a system
called LightSheer Diode Laser. He says,” It is especially designed
to remove unwanted hair faster, with less discomfort and more reliably
than many other methods.”
Women may be surprised to learn that just about all of their body
is covered with hair, but because it’s fine and pale, it isn’t
visible to the naked eye. The largest number of hair follicles are
found on the forehead. But, for most women, it is hair in other places
that causes all the attention.
Hair that is not so pale is actually more desirable for laser treatment. Dr.
Tarrant says, “A laser produces a beam of highly concentrated
light. The light is absorbed by the pigment in hair follicles. Hair
follicles that are in a growth phase contain the most pigment. The
laser pulses for a fraction of a second, just long enough to vaporize
the pigment. That disables numerous follicles at a time to eliminate
or significantly impede the hair’s regrowth.”
The length of a laser session can range from a few minutes to an
hour or more, depending on the size of the area being treated. Because
the laser tends to treat hair follicles that are in active growth
phase, more than one treatment is usually required to disable the
hair follicles entering growth phases at different times. The
appearance of the treated area immediately afterwards varies, but
the after effects are usually minor. They may include redness
or swelling which disappear in a short time.
Dr. Tarrant says the laser treatments can be used on the legs, face,
bikini line and even underarms. Although he says it is not painful,
“It can cause a tingling sensation.” For those with
especially sensitive skin, topical anesthesia is always an option.
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