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Laser Hair Removal
The term "laser" stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
In laser hair removal, a laser destroys hair follicles with heat. Lasers are prescription devices that should be used only under the direction of a licensed practitioner.
If a topical anesthetic product is recommended before a laser hair removal procedure to minimize pain, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that consumers discuss the circumstances under which the cream should be used with a medical professional, and whether the use is appropriate. Those who decide to use a skin-numbing product should follow the directions of a health care provider and consider using a product that contains the lowest amount of anesthetic drugs possible.
The FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research has received reports of serious and life-threatening side effects after use of large amounts of skin-numbing products for laser hair removal.
- A Must Read
By Michelle Meadows
Shiri Berg was a 22 year old college student who wanted to have hair removed from her legs without too much pain. According to Food and Drug Administration records, a spa gave her a topical anesthetic product and instructed her to spread it over her legs before coming in for a laser hair removal procedure. Berg also was advised to wrap her legs in cellophane to intensify the numbing effect. While driving to her appointment in December 2004, she felt ill and pulled over. She then had seizures in her car and went into a coma. Berg, who attended North Carolina State University, never regained consciousness. She died several days later in January 2005...
To read more go to Warnings for Makers of Compounded Pain Products
Side Effects
Side Effects of laser hair removal can include:
- Blistering
- Discoloration after treatment
- Swelling
- Redness
- Scarring
Sunlight should be avoided during healing after the procedure.
Most common areas of laser hair removal treatment are the face, upper lip, neck, chest, breast region, underarms, back, abdomen, bikini line and legs. Multiple laser treatments are necessary for best results.
Laser hair removal works best for light skin, dark haired people, although laser treatments for darker skinned people have improved. Black or brown hair is easier to treat, blonde or red hair does not respond to treatment. Tanned skin must wait until the tan fades.
Skin is sensitive to the sun after treatment, so avoid the sun and use a sunscreen of 30.
Pain Factor: Without the application of a skin-numbing product, it can be painful, a sting, such as a rubber band snapping against the skin for a quick second.
Cost: Laser Hair Removal is extremely costly, as multiple treatments are needed. Hair grows in stages and not all hair growth is in the same stage at the same time. Figure between approximately $2000 and $4000 for an area like your back or chest. Approximately $150 to $250 for 15 to 20 minutes. Prices vary from one doctor to the next, also location is a factor. Example: Chin or upper lip may take 10 minutes, larger area such as the legs may take an hour.
Warning: Side effects of laser hair removal can include blistering, discoloration after treatment, swelling, redness, and scarring. Sunlight should be avoided during healing after the procedure.
From the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The popularity of laser hair removal has increasingly grown, prompting many laser manufacturers to conduct research and seek (FDA) clearance for their lasers for this indication. The market is growing so quickly that FDA cannot maintain an up-to-date list of all laser manufacturers whose devices have been cleared for hair removal, as this list continues to change. To learn if a specific manufacturer has received FDA clearance, you can check FDA's Website at www.fda.gov/cdrh/databases.html under the 510(k) database. You will need to know the manufacturer or device name of the laser. You can also call FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Consumer Staff, at 240-276-3103, fax your request to 240-276-3151 or send an e-mail to: DSMICA@cdrh.fda.gov.
Manufacturers may not claim that laser hair removal is either painless or permanent unless the FDA determines that there are sufficient data to demonstrate such results. Several manufacturers received FDA permission to claim, "permanent reduction," NOT "permanent removal" for their lasers. This means that although laser treatments with these devices will permanently reduce the total number of body hairs, they will not result in a permanent removal of all hair. The specific claim granted is "intended to effect stable, long-term, or permanent reduction" through selective targeting of melanin in hair follicles. Permanent hair reduction is defined as the long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs re-growing after a treatment regime, which may include several sessions. The number of hairs regrowing must be stable over time greater than the duration of the complete growth cycle of hair follicles, which varies from four to twelve months according to body location. Permanent hair reduction does not necessarily imply the elimination of all hairs in the treatment area.
FDA does not make comparisons between systems or how well or safely they work compared to another company's system. FDA does not recommend one laser system over another. Lasers cleared for body hair removal are also cleared for facial hair removal.
References:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
www.fda.gov