Laser hair removal operates by targeting melanin in hair follicles, which absorbs specific wavelengths of laser light, converting it to heat and effectively destroying the hair root while minimizing damage to surrounding skin. The effectiveness of this treatment is contingent on the contrast between hair color and skin tone; darker hair absorbs more laser light than lighter hair. In New York State, practitioners do not require a license or certification for laser hair removal, raising concerns about treatment quality. Research indicates that laser hair removal is less effective on gray or white hairs due to the lack of melanin.
PREREQUISITESIndividuals considering laser hair removal, dermatologists, cosmetic practitioners, and anyone researching effective hair removal techniques.
Just YouTube videos mostly. Also I am currently getting laser hair removal but I don't honestly think the practitioner fully understands it. As it turns out in New York State you don't need a license or certification to do laser hair removal or electrolysis. So that was a surprise. I intend to ask my dermatologist next time I see them, but in the mean time am trying to get an idea outside of time that can be billed to my insurance. Lol.phinds said:What research have you done on this so far? What have you found out?
And what did you find out? Why are you asking us when the answer is SO readily available on the Internet? See post #3 and follow up.LightningInAJar said:Just YouTube videos mostly
The problem with that link (while humorous) is that it vectors to google.gprivate.com, and clicking on the search results sends me off into the advertisement weeds. Probably better just to admonish the OP to do the search themself.DaveC426913 said:Here is your answer:
https://tinyurl.com/wa8cdh5s
TIL.berkeman said:...it vectors to google.gprivate.com, and clicking on the search results sends me off into the advertisement weeds...
Melanin, which is found at the root, is dark. It absorbs more laser light than the surrounding tissue. It is converted to heat.LightningInAJar said:Just YouTube videos mostly. Also I am currently getting laser hair removal but I don't honestly think the practitioner fully understands it. As it turns out in New York State you don't need a license or certification to do laser hair removal or electrolysis. So that was a surprise. I intend to ask my dermatologist next time I see them, but in the mean time am trying to get an idea outside of time that can be billed to my insurance. Lol.
Here is the Mayo Clinic link that I was trying to get to via that link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/laser-hair-removal/about/pac-20394555berkeman said:it vectors to google.gprivate.com
Yes that essentially what I know. But why would the laser effect only the hair colorant in the root area and not anywhere along its length?DaveC426913 said:Here is your answer:
https://tinyurl.com/wa8cdh5s
What makes you think it doesn't?LightningInAJar said:... why would the laser effect only the hair colorant in the root area and not anywhere along its length?
Can in theory light color be targeted against darker background? Maybe a different wavelength can get that effect?DaveC426913 said:What makes you think it doesn't?
The point of the laser is to get sufficient light to be absorbed at the root (through the relatively transparent dermal layers), where it can do its damage.
Who cares what it does to the shaft of the hair?
"Darker background"? What do you mean?LightningInAJar said:Can in theory light color be targeted against darker background? Maybe a different wavelength can get that effect?
I mean if my skin is darker than my white hairs?DaveC426913 said:"Darker background"? What do you mean?
Maybe white hairs absorb more in the invisible spectrum than skin does?Tom.G said:@LightningInAJar, I think you are missing a piece of background information on this.
Things that are light in color appear that way because they reflect much of the incoming light.
Things that are dark appear that way because they absorb much of the incoming light, not reflecting it to the surrounding environment and to our eyes.
LASERs are readily available with power outputs from less than 1 milliWatt, to a few thousand Watts.
It was mentioned that the hair root is darker than the hair itself and darkerthatthan the skin.
Putting all of this together, the hair root absorbs more LASER light - therefore gets hotter than the surrounding tissue - and is burned to death - with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Tom
It's the root, where all the melanin is, that counts. It doesn't matter what happens to your hair shaft.LightningInAJar said:I mean if my skin is darker than my white hairs?
That's possible in principle. The idea behind laser hair removal is to use the wavelength that damages the hair the most effectively while leaving the surrounding tissue unharmed. Other wavelengths could have the opposite effect, damaging the skin while leaving the hair unscathed. That's why a laser is used, since lasers produce light in a narrow range of wavelengths.LightningInAJar said:Maybe white hairs absorb more in the invisible spectrum than skin does?