Here are some frequently asked questions:

Q What about ingrown hairs?

A The laser can actually cure ingrown hairs! Often just one or two applications and even without taking the area bald (such as a man's neck) there are no ingrown problems anymore! This is excellent for the severe cases of folliculitis (where all or most hairs want to ingrow).

Q How do you remove the hairs?

A To remove a hair permanently whether with laser or electrolysis you have to kill the papilla--the nourishment source from the bloodstream to the bulb of a hair. With electrolysis this can be accomplished by sliding a tiny metal probe into the hair follicle and then applying a slight electrical current (of course, the operator and method have to be proficient for the particular case to work). With laser, a focused beam of light treats up to hundreds of hairs at a time. The laser is attracted to a chromophore, or color target which is the hair's pigment or melanin. When the laser reaches that target, heat energy is released.

Q Why are more than one treatment necessary to get rid of my hairs?

A Hairs grow in different stages. Only a portion of your hairs are present at any given time. Of what is present, only some are in their early growth stage. At the early growth stage, or anagen stage the hair is rooted right into the papilla and has its most abundant supply of melanin. As it goes into its shedding and resting phases, catagen and telegen, it is no longer rooted right at the papilla and no longer has the rich supply of pigment. While heat energy is still being released at targeted hair cites, it may not be close enough or intense enough to properly damage the papilla.

Q How many treatments will it take?

Most people get the bulk of their hair removed within the first three treatments, especially if they keep their scheduled appointments. The next crop of hair always comes in five weeks later. All treatments on the face are scheduled five weeks apart. For body work, it may continue to come in at five week intervals or it may start staying dormant longer. Five to nine treatments are normal for the average person to achieve permanency in an area--again, if the treatments are timely. There are certain hormonal situations which are making the hair more aggressive, such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Richness of melanin in the hair is a factor as well. Graying, white, some blond or red hairs may be unresponsive since the laser may not have a rich enough chromophore at the papilla. For most cases, electrolysis is still a viable alternative for these.