How does laser hair removal remove hair under the skin?

Question

I understand that laser hair removal is good for eliminating ingrown hairs because the laser will reach the hair follicle even if the hair itself is trapped under the skin. But how does the actual "dead" hair eventually fall out if it is trapped under the skin?

Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thanks for your question. Lasers use an invisible beam of light to destroy hair follicles at the roots. The light given off by the laser hair removal machine is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicles. Pigment is what gives hair its color. When the pigment of the hair follicles absorbs the light delivered by the laser, the hair follicle heats up and gets damaged to the point where it is unable to grow back. As the hair cells are killed they are then shed to the surface of the skin as the cell cycle turns over. This is how ingrown hairs are also brought to the surface of the skin when destroyed by the laser.Understanding how laser hair removal works is important not only when giving laser hair removal treatments, but also when receiving them. If the laser hair removal machine is set incorrectly or used by someone without experience it can result in severe burning and scarring of the skin. Our advanced laser hair removal technology lets us provide you with quick and comfortable removal of hair in both large and small areas. We can get rid of hair on your back or legs in 15 to 20 minutes, without the need for topical numbing creams. Feel free to check out the link below which discusses laser hair removal in detail. If you have any questions feel free to contact our office. Best of luck to you.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi AS.  The skin naturally sheds dead cells over time.  The epidermis, which is the top layer of skin, reproduces and new cells start from the bottom and work their way to the top as they live and die.  In the process the area above the ingrown hair is normally exposed causing the hair to fall out.For examples of ingrown hair removal using laser treatments, click on the link below.

Manjula Jegasothy, MD · Answer

An ingrown hair, as it grows, causes inflammation and swelling in and around the pore it's trapped in, as well as the surrounding skin. When the laser hair removal treatment kills the hair and hopefully scars the hair follicle minorly, but not enough to regrow hair, then the inflammation and swelling subside, allowing the pore to re-open and allow the hair to fall out, or be easily plucked or waxed out.

How does laser hair removal remove hair under the skin?

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