You and me, baby, ain’t nothin’ but mammals… so that means we have body hair. Yup — we’re all a little furry and while that’s totally OK and natural, some folks aren’t really about that life. See, humans are a very special kind of mammal: While others may freely bask in what mother nature gave them, some of us would prefer if she wasn’t so generous with some of her gifts.
So, we come up with solutions. And in the case of body hair, we’ve invented technology that can help us keep all that extra fuzz to a minimum. Enter: laser hair removal. How does it work? Science, baby. “Lasers target the hair at the bulb. It is the pigment in the hair that works as the ‘target,'” explains Long Island, New York-based board-certified dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla. The process, as Hamptons-based board-certified dermatologist Kenneth Mark explains, happens through a process called selective photothermolysis. “The energy from the laser is selectively absorbed by various pigments, depending on the wavelength of the laser.” In short, the laser light searches for the darker pigment of the hair follicle, locks onto it, and eliminates it.
It’s important to remember, due to the nature of lasers, that it’s best to get this type of hair removal from a dermatologist’s office. Each of the experts we asked stress this. But before you make an appointment, it’s important you get the full tea on how lasers work, and, importantly, who they work best for.
Let our dermatologist buddies guide you. Here are a few things you need to know before going under the light.