Laser Hair Removal for Salt and Pepper Facial Hair?

asked 3 years ago by Leslie Hamilton
Latest answer by Bruce Katz, MD
Question viewed 4,201 times
Tags: face

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?

5 answers to Laser Hair Removal for Salt and Pepper Facial Hair?

Laser Hair Removal best for dark hair

Laser hair removal is your best bet but unfortunately the laser is most attracted to dark hairs. Once you complete the series of laser treatments we can then determine what would be best to try and disable the grey hairs.

Bruce Katz, MD
New York Dermatologic Surgeon

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.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

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... more

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

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

William Groff, DO
San Diego Dermatologist

Dark hair good grey hair bad

The lasers that are avialbale for hair removal work best on dark hairs. The grey hair will not respond well if at all to the hair removal lasers.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question

Get Free Email Updates