Laser Hair Removal For Men?

Permanent hair removal has been available in some form for 125years; the first electrolysis machine was invented in the late1800s by an ophthalmologist who used the device to treat ingrowneyelashes (trichiasis). Since then, numerous electrolysismachines have been patented, but no new hair removal technologyappeared until lasers entered the consumer market in the 1960s.While electrolysis is undeniably effective, it can only targetone hair at a time. The holy grail of permanent hair removal hasalways been the bulk treatment of many hair follicles at once.This reduces the time needed to treat an area of skin by afactor of several hundred.The first lasers used in dermatology in the mid to late 1960semitted a continuous wave, an impractical feature for hairremoval since the beam also damaged adjacent tissue. Thedevelopment of the Q-switch, similar to a camera shutter,allowed the beam to be emitted in timed pulses.In the late 60s, early laser hair removal devices targettedindividual follicles through a wire-thin fiberoptic probe, latermodified into a penlight-type device. These devices weredifficult to use, just as electrolysis probes are, and inaddition were ineffective at destroying the hair follicle. TheFDA forced the removal of these devices from the marketplace dueto false advertising.In a repeat of history, the late 70's saw the introduction of alaser device to treat ingrown eyelashes. This led to theintroduction of argon laser equipment to treat unwanted hairelsewhere on the body, but this device also proved to be uselessfor body hair. Other dermatologists noticed that lasers used to treat tatoosand vascular lesions produced hair loss in the adjacent tissue,which led to more experiments. 1995 the first FDA-approved laser hair removal device wasintroduced, the SoftLight by ThermoLase. However, FDA approvaldoes not mean that a device is effective; it just means thataccording to the FDA's inspectors, it is not acutely dangerousand makes no medicinal claims that have not been substantiatedby research.The SoftLight used a carbon-based lotion which was rubbed intothe skin immediately following hair removal by waxing.Theoretically, the lotion would penetrate into the open hairfollicle, and then the laser would be applied to heat theaccumulated carbon and destroy the follicle. However, thisdevice proved less effective than light devices that targetedthe hair follicle pigments naturally present in skin.The company which produced SoftLight initially made an excellentprofit by offering what they claimed was permanent hair removalthrough a chain of proprietary clinics called Spa Thira.However, by 1997, a medical study which followed treatedpatients found full hair regrowth, and in 1998 and 1999successful lawsuits against the company forced it to ceasemanufacturing the devices.In 1997, the FDA approved several more devices which target themelanin in the hair follicle. These devices have better resultsthan the earlier versions; however, some are still so new it isdifficult to tell if the hair removal is permanent. Of the 9laser or light-based systems currently being used, 2 of theseuse non-laser light. The non-laser technologies use columnatedlight of many wavelengths which the system operator filters toselect the wavelength most likely to be absorbed by the melaninin the patient's follicles.Some consumers claim they have experienced long-lasting hairremoval with the newer lasers. The treatments are safe ifperformed properly, and are useful for large areas such as theback or legs, where electrolysis would be a tedious, painstakingprocess. Even when hair is not completely removed, it grows backfiner and lighter. Light-skinned patients with dark hair havethe best results. The treatments are said to be more comfortablethan electrolysis, and patients can usually tolerate themwithout analgesics.3-4 year results are available for some systems such as pulsedlight, but most of the newer machines have not been around longenough for long-term data to be available. Also, light-baseddevices do not work well on blondes or redheads, or people withdark skin. Untrained technicians can cause burns, lesions, skindiscolorations and in some cases scars.It is important to remember that any permanent hair removaltreatment must be repeated several times, over a period of atleast 1-2 years. At any given time, most hair follicles are inthe dormant stage, not producing any hairs, and if there is nodark hair in a follicle, laser/light systems will not have anyeffect. However, after a year or two, most follicles will haverestarted their growth cycle.