Hi
Laser works by passing energy into the dark follicle are of the hair. Dark hair has a dye called melanin. This absorbs the energy from the laser and the hair follicle is destroyed. In a few days the remaining hair grows out of the skin and is not replaced. We have hair follicles growing at different times, it is a cycle. So laser has to be repeated every 6 weeks or so to hit the follicles that become active, hence the repetition we have to have. Now dark hair on light coloured skin absorbs the energy 'best' so people with that combination often have a good outcome. Too fair skin can burn from the laser power and that is a danger, too dark a skin can also burn because the skin contains melanin as well, which is the dye that make a colour difference in human racial groups. So a dark skinned person is not a good candidate for laser hair removal. Also blonde, grey and light coloured hair do not contain much melanin so they are not destroyed. So no matter your skin pigmentation, light coloured hairs are generally not affected.
Given all of that you need to shave before laser treatment, anywhere on your body, as you want to kill the follicle, a dark hair will also 'burn' with the laser but it just destroys the hair and not the follicle, it also smells like burning hair
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I have two Indian girl friends (Continental Indian) who are dark skinned, they have had laser on their face and other body parts quite successfully. But Continental Indians tend to have very black hair so a good technician can work on them.
Laser treatment can be expensive and dangerous. I went to a place that specialises on poly ovarian cystotic patients, who are woman who develop body hair due to a hormonal problem. My laser techs were all enrolled nurses and used high power lasers. They were very careful and did lots of spot checks. They were fantastic. I felt total confidence and was very happy with my outcomes. They also gave me heaps of advice on skin care in general, and were totally accepting of my TG, even though I was the first they had worked on.
It can be painful, some people describe it as firing a rubber band into your skin. My upper lip was very painful and is the one I have to get retreated. My last retreatment for my upper lip was 5 months after the previous. It took ten minutes.
I think I have spent in the region of $AUD2-3,000 maybe less. I don't shave my face anymore and I can get away with minimal foundation.
I was kissed on my cheek by a girl colleague who knew I was having laser, her comment was you skin is so smooth.
Loved it.
You get what you pay for. There are cowboys out there.
Hugs and good luck
Cindy
