Removing body hair is an important issue with most urban women and they do everything possible to get that perfect silky smooth skin without any unsightly hair. This could mean hair on the face, arms, legs, underarms or the bikini line.

The common practice for removing hair by most people is by shaving it, waxing it or by epilating it off. However, these are all tiresome, temporary methods that you need to keep repeating on a regular basis. It’s better to go with a more permanent solution which advancing technology has provided in the form of laser hair reduction. It is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures and is best done by a professional dermatologist or cosmetologist.

The process of hair reduction with laser beams involves the exposure of the skin to pulses of highly-concentrated laser light which destroys the hair follicles. Laser technology works best with dark-colored hairs as the pigment in the hair follicles absorbs the destructive beams. Considerable research has gone into this technology which became commercially available in 1997. With ongoing researches, the efficacy of laser hair reduction is being improved further year-on-year with better techniques coming up.

However, the efficacy of this method is dependent to a large extent on the experience of the person providing the service and the type of laser technology being used. Since hair grows in three phases – growth, rest and shedding, you might need up to 3 sittings for hair removal to be effective. Some of the benefits of laser hair removal include:

• Speed: Each pulse of the laser beam takes just a fraction of a second, making it possible for many hairs to be treated effectively at the same time. The laser can cover an area the size of a small coin per second which means that areas like the upper lip can be treated within a minute. Larger areas like the leg can take up to an hour.
• Efficacy: This method is efficient for permanent reduction and removal of body hair. However it could take anything from 3 to 7 sittings to achieve this.
• Precision: The best part of laser hair reduction technology is that it’s selective in targeting only the dark-colored hairs, leaving the surrounding skin unaffected.

Before going for laser treatment, avoid epilating or waxing for at least six weeks, as laser therapy focuses on hair roots.

Laser treatment requires a medical professional for best results and if you are located in Bangalore, your best option is the Dr Dixit Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic, run by the renowned Dr Rasya Dixit.

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The information provided in Dr. Dixit's answer is for educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice. The information provided should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultations with a qualified health professional who may be familiar with your individual medical needs.