Pain-Free Laser Hair Removal: You'll Wonder Why You Waited So Long

Inbloom Health + Medispa Blog

Whoever said, “Beauty is pain,” must have been talking about hair removal. The daily rituals we go through to get rid of unwanted hair is nothing short of barbaric. We pluck tweeze, wax, and shave, putting our skin in danger and causing self-inflicted pain. If you’re thinking: In this day and age, there must be a better way — you’re right.

There have been dramatic advances in hair removal technology since the invention of the razor, and today’s most effective method is painless, safe, and permanent. We’re talking about laser hair removal — Cutera® Xeo® Nd:YAG laser hair removal to be specific.

At Inbloom Heath + Medispa, Dr. Tanya Lawson and our team offer this cutting-edge technology to those looking to ditch their outdated hair-removal routines. If you’re still stuck in the dark ages with your razor blade and other painful tools and methods, here’s what’s awaiting you in the light of laser hair removal.

Comparison of hair removal methods

When you want to get rid of hair on your body, you have several different options. Here’s a look at a few of them.

Shaving

One of the easiest ways to get rid of unwanted hair is to shave it off with a razor blade. It also used to be one of the cheapest methods, but these days, razor prices have skyrocketed, and merchants even keep them under lock and key to prevent theft. 

That’s not the only downside. Razors, by nature, are dangerous implements prone to cutting the skin, which can lead to infection. Shaving also leaves behind rashes, red bumps, and ingrown hairs — and the hair grows back quickly.

Tweezing

In small areas, you may tweeze your hairs one by one. This is a tedious process that takes time, patience, and precision. Although the goal is to pull the entire hair out, this method often breaks the shaft and leaves the root beneath your skin, which can fester — and the hair grows back.

Waxing

Similar to tweezing, this method also pulls your hair out, but in much larger sections. You pour hot or cold wax on the treatment area, wait for it to stick to your hairs, then peel away the wax and hair all at once. It’s extremely painful — and the hair grows back.

Depilatory creams

You can dissolve any hair above the surface of your skin with a depilatory cream that uses chemicals to disintegrate the hair shaft. The problem is these chemicals can irritate sensitive skin and cause allergic reactions. It’s also stinky — and the hair grows back.

Through the years, hair removal techniques have evolved with a series of technological advances, including epilation (electronic tweezing) and electrolysis (electrocution of the hair follicle). But none compares to the results of laser hair removal. 

Laser hair removal

Laser hair removal stands out among its predecessors because it’s painless, effective, safe, and permanent.

What is a laser?

The term “laser” stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” That simply means that the laser device creates a coherent beam of light and heat. It can be used to destroy targeted cells or tissues. 

There are many different types of lasers, and they each use different mechanisms to produce a beam and different wavelengths of energy.

What is Nd:YAG?

The Cutera Xeo Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) laser hair removal system uses a specialized crystal to generate the laser activity. The device creates long pulses of light that can penetrate into the deeper layers of your skin. The melanin in those layers absorbs the light, and the subsequent heat destroys the cells.

That’s why this technology is so effective at hair removal: The pigment in your hair follicle is an easy target. The laser zeros in on the hair and leaves all the surrounding tissue untouched and unharmed.

Will Xeo work for me?

Because the Xeo laser seeks and destroys melanin, it works best on hair that actually contains pigment. That means that very light hairs may not absorb the laser energy and can easily escape the treatment. Black and brown hairs are excellent targets, especially if there’s a lot of contrast between your skin and hair color.

But that doesn’t mean dark skin can’t benefit from Xeo, too. 

Because Xeo uses very long wavelengths, it has a low melanin absorption rate, so it bypasses the melanin in your skin and goes straight to the hair follicle. Unlike other types of lasers that can leave dark-skinned people with light or dark marks on their skin after treatment, Xeo is safe for most skin tones.

If you’re still using old-school hair removal techniques, but have been thinking about laser hair removal — what are you waiting for? Call or click to request an appointment at our Londonderry, New Hampshire office today.