• Question: Do lasers permanently remove hair?

    Asked by farzana to Mike, Tim, Tom on 5 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Tom Lister

      Tom Lister answered on 5 Jul 2012:

      I get asked this all of the time. We say that they reduce hair growth.

      According to the American Food and Drug Administration, it has to be shown to stop hair growing for 2 years to be called ‘permanent hair removal’. I think this is misleading, but it’s based on the fact that you could either stun hair growth for about 18 months or get rid of it completely for any one hair using a laser.

      Because different hair are at different stages of growth at any one time, and only the hair follicles that have an actual hair in can be damaged with the laser – you will struggle to get rid of all of the hairs in one go.

      So a slightly confuddled answer, but it is possible to stop hair growth permanently, just not guaranteed.

    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 5 Jul 2012:

      Thanks Tom!
      So the laser will remove hair from an active follicle, but since not all follicles have a hair in them at the same time, you have to repeat the treatment a few times?

      Can you kill the follicles with your laser treatment?

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