Family Encyclopedia >> Beauty & Style

9 truths about permanent hair removal #2

4/ It is above all a medical procedure

The decree of January 6, 1962 stipulates that “any method of hair removal, except hair removal with tweezers or wax” falls within the medical field. In theory, and for safety reasons, laser or pulsed light hair removal can only be performed by the doctor or his assistant. But, in fact, aesthetic centers offer pulsed light hair removal. The reason:many doctors believe that a properly trained beautician is quite capable of handling a pulsed light device, whose polychromatic light spectrum is considered less precise, and therefore less dangerous. In terms of efficiency, beauticians' devices are often less expensive and less powerful:we may need more sessions (you can go from simple to double), but if the device is well adjusted, in the long term, the result will be the same.

5/ The risks are minimal

We've heard everything about the laser:it could make you sterile, create cancers... The fact is that the main

risks are pigment spots (which go away in a few days) or superficial burns (which also disappear in a few days), if the machine is incorrectly adjusted and it "hits" too hard on the melanin or if you take photosensitizing drugs during hair removal. On the other hand, as the flash penetrates only at the level of the dermis, there is absolutely no risk that it touches the organs, in particular at the level of the jersey. It is recommended to wear glasses during the session (the retina can be sensitive to flashes) and not to use the device on large moles (even if no change in the mole following exposure to a flash of pulsed light or laser was observed). And, according to the precautionary principle, permanent hair removal is not recommended for pregnant women.

6/ It's not final

This is why it is called "permanent hair removal" and not "permanent hair removal". Two reasons for that:

1/ There is always a risk of regrowth:since hair growth is subject to hormones, a hormonal imbalance can lead to the return of hair in certain places or on all the depilated areas. But, rest assured, it's rare.

2/ It is considered that with laser or pulsed light, “only” 80 to 90% of the hairs are eliminated. What about the remaining 10 to 20%? Either they are in the state of down, or they are devoid of melanin (=invisible to the machine).