Bay Area Laser Hair Removal doctors

A: Light colored hair may be permanently removed by electrolysis

Permanent hair reduction can be done with laser light energy, or with electrolysis.  Laser reacts with the pigments in the hair follicle, so the hair must have color to be sensitive to the laser.  If hair is blond or grey, electrolysis is the best way to remove the hair permanently

A: Waxing while getting laser hair removal can increase the number of treatments needed Waxing pulls hair out at the root. This modifies that hair's growth/rest cycle. Hair follicles are sensitive to the laser when they are actively growing hair and the follicles are all in different phases of growth. This is why multiple treatments are necessary; each treatment catches the next group of active follicles. If you tweeze or wax, you artificially put the follicles to rest, making it insensitive to the laser. Let the bleached hair grow out and shave for hair control during the period of your laser treatment.

A: Preparing for Laser Hair Removal

Thank you for your question.

Prior to laser hair removal in our San Francsico Bay Area practice we instruct all patients on the following:

Shave the day before or the day of treatment. Shaving does not affect the follicle therefore does not decrease the effectiveness of laser treatment.

Do not wax or pluck the hair for two weeks prior to treatment. Waxing and plucking remove the hair from the follicle and make laser treatments less effective.

Keep your skin protected from the sun for at least two weeks prior (and two weeks after) to treatment, including avoiding tanning beds. Sunburned skin is not safe to be treated and sun exposure after treatment can lead to increased skin damage.

Additionally it is recommended that your provider be experienced at safely treating your skin type as the risk of permanent discoloration is greater the darker your skin is.

I hope this helps.