Getting rid of unwanted hair has always been a problem and getting rid of it permanently has been close to impossible. But thanks to one of the latest methods of removing unwanted hair, laser, the impossible is a thing of the past. "Laser hair removal guarantees hair reduction up to 80 per cent," says Dr Amee Daxini, a dermatologist at Kaya Skin Clinic. In this method, heat is produced in the hair, which is transferred to the follicle responsible for hair growth. This heat gives the follicle a message to cease hair growth. A very crucial part in laser hair removal is targeting the hair shaft without damaging the melanin pigment which is the primary determinant of skin colour. Therefore the laser has to be on long enough to heat the hair but not for too long. Otherwise, the heat will affect the pigment and damage the skin. In laser hair removal, only hair which are in the active phase can be targeted. Hair which are in the dormant phase and very fine hair cannot be targeted. "For some people who undergo laser hair removal treatment, complete hair regrowth is seen. “

“This is because laser hair removal works only on people who have dark hair colour like black or brown but it does not work on people who have a light hair colour like blond or grey. This is because laser targets the melanin in the hair, and brown and black have more melanin when compared to blond and grey hair. Hence, more the melanin, more effective is the hair removal. The type of skin and hair colour are have to be determined in laser hair removal. This method of hair removal is best suited for people who a have light skin colour and dark hair colour. But it can be utilised by people who have a dark skin colour as well,” she says.

Nearly two decades ago, lasers that were used for the people  in the West were used on the Indian skin. This usage resulted in various problems like irritation and burns. "Indians require milder lasers when compared to people who have lighter skin because we have more melanin in our skin. So a special laser called the Nd-YAG has been designed for the Indian skin,” she adds.

Laser hair removal must be done in various sessions because at any given time, up to 30 per cent of the hair is in the active phase. The remaining are in the dormant phase which take anywhere between three weeks to three months to become active. Therefore to acquire permanent results, a series of sessions are undertaken with a a gap of three to six weeks between each session. "Usually, on an average, around six sessions are required. The time taken for each of the sessions depends upon the area on which the laser is being targeted. The upper lip, for example, may take fifteen to twenty five minutes whereas the legs may take around four hours." says Dr Amee. The results may be visible after four sessions. But this may vary from person to person. During the weeks that follow, hair may be noticed. This is not a sign of growth, it's just the hair shafts being shed.  

"Laser hair removal does not yield 100 per cent results because in some cases, certain hair follicles may be rendered dormant. These hair follicles can sometimes produce new hair due to biological and hormonal changes in the body over a certain period of time, say anywhere between one to six months.” she says. 

Before a patient undergoes the laser treatment , he or she must be examined by a dermatologist to check for hormonal problems and a trial patch test done on the patient to see if there is any discomfort. “During the treatment the patient may experience a stingy feeling and the area where the skin is being treated may turn red. To make the patient feel comfortable a local anaesthetic is administered and the redness may disappear after  half an hour,” Dr Daxini clarifies. Laser hair removal can remove hair from any part of the body except near the eyes because the skin there is very sensitive. This treatment can be used to remove hair from the face, upper-lip, neck, chin, chest, back, hands, legs and armpits. But it must be performed by experienced skin specialists under the supervision of a dermatologist.

 Laser hair removal at Kaya Skin Clinic costs around Rs 7,500 for the upper lip with six sessions and underarms cost around Rs 9,000 with six sessions.

Even though this  treatment may be a little heavy on one's pocket, it's definitely worth it.