There are several factors which are considered when making the determination whether someone is a good candidate for laser hair removal. The first consideration is how the laser will affect the patient during the hair removal treatments. Laser hair removal uses laser light to treat hair follicles, which can only be treated during their active phase of growth, called Anogen. Hair follicles which are not in the active phase of growth will not be affected by the treatment; usually more than one treatment is required for effective hair removal. Subsequent treatments are generally administered 6-8 weeks apart, when hair follicles not previously in their active growth stage have entered the Anogen phase of growth and are susceptible to the treatment.
The main target of laser hair removal treatment is the melanin, or colored pigment, in the hair shaft. This is the substance in the hair shaft that will actually absorb and be affected by the laser light. Because melanin is the pigment which darkens hair, lightly colored hair, such as blonde or gray hair, will not respond as well as black hair. Because of the higher concentration of melanin in the hair shaft, thick dark hairs will respond the best to laser light treatment. Another important factor to weigh when considering laser hair removal treatment is skin color. Darker toned skin does not respond as well as light colored skin, which will generally require fewer treatments. Even multiple treatments for those patients with darker skin may not be able to receive enough benefit to achieve permanent hair removal.
There are preparations a patient can make prior to laser hair removal treatments which can make the treatments as effective as possible. The skin must be prepared for the treatment by being shaved of hair growth. Although the area to be treated should be shaved, the hair should not be plucked or waxed. This type of preparation removes the hair shaft entirely and makes the laser hair removal ineffective. Patients should also avoid tanning lotions and tanning salons, with the consideration lighter skin is more effectively treated with the hair removal laser. The patients who tend to respond best to laser hair removal treatment are those with lighter skin and darker hair.
