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Laser Hair Removal for Salt and Pepper Facial Hair?
I am 58 years old and have partially gray hair. The hair on my face is quite dense and mixed dark and white waxing is not for me and at this point I am forced to shave every day. Is there a laser hair removal treatment that would be effective? If not, would electrolysis work?
Asked 38 months ago by
Leslie Hamilton
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Laser Hair Removal for salt and pepper beard
Although it is not an ideal solution, we recommend a mix of laser treatments and electrolysis for those patients in your situation. We start the patient on laser hair removal and when all the dark hair has been removed, we refer the patient out to complete the removal of gray hair with electrolysis.
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Laser Hair Removal for grey hair, blonde hair, red hair.
Laser hair removal is very effective if certain criteria are met. The process works by photothermolysis wherein laser light heats up and burns pigment in the hair follicle. Unfortunately, there is usually not enough pigment in a blonde, white, gray, or red hair follicle to generate enough heat to damage the follicle.
Patients with these hair colors should consider performing a spot test to evaluate their candidacy for treatment. Most professional medical offices should perform these at...
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Lasers are not effective for gray or white hair
There is still no reliable laser treatment that can predictably remove gray, white or blonde hair. Using a dye to change the hair color to black doesn't work either. Lasers would be an excellent choice for treating your darker "pepper" hair.
Electrolysis is going to be your best alternative for the "salt" colored hair, but it is uncomfortable, requires many treatments, and can be costly.
Take care, Dr. Groff
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