Laser hair removal consultations in Houston

What laser hair removal involves

Laser hair removal uses a device that sends pulses of light into the skin, aimed at hair follicles. It is usually done as a series of sessions spaced weeks apart, because hair grows in cycles. The number of sessions varies from person to person and area to area.

Skin tone and hair color both affect which device and settings fit. Common device types include diode, alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers, and some providers use intense pulsed light. A licensed provider looks at your skin, hair and health history and decides what is suitable.

What a provider looks at first

Before laser hair removal, a licensed provider usually checks:

• your skin tone, often using a skin type scale
• your hair color and thickness in the area
• recent sun exposure, tanning or self-tanner
• medicines that raise light sensitivity, including some antibiotics and acne medicine by mouth
• pregnancy or breastfeeding
• a history of cold sores, if the face is involved
• tattoos or moles in the area
• hormone-related conditions that affect hair growth

These answers guide device choice, settings and timing.

If you have very light hair or deeper skin

If your hair is blond, gray, white or red, or your skin tone is deeper, preparation matters a little more. Write down your hair color in each area and whether it varies. Note your skin's history with sun, dark marks or scarring.

Then prepare specific questions: Which device do you use for skin like mine? Have you worked with hair like mine? Would you do a test patch? A licensed provider looks at your skin and hair and decides whether laser hair removal is suitable, and which device fits.

Questions about laser hair removal

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