The Ideal and Non-Ideal
Laser Hair Removal Candidate

Toronto laser hair removal requires a specific type of patient in order to provide proper results. If you're unsure of whether or not you're an ideal candidate it can be frustrating to enter into a procedure that may or may not work. Knowing who constitutes an ideal or non-ideal laser hair removal patient can help to save you both time and money.

 

The Ideal Laser Hair Removal Candidate

The ideal laser hair removal candidate possesses certain physical attributes that are able to ensure great results. Since lasers work through the attraction of light, skin pigmentation makes a big difference in the level of success possible in a procedure. Skin tones and hair colour are, for this reason, very important. Ideal patients have very light skin but medium skin tones can, in some cases, also make for an eligible candidate. This is because having dark hair is just as important as having lighter skin. Hair colours with less pigmentation (light brown, red, blonde or grey) cannot as easily attract the laser's light, leading to less satisfactory results. An ideal candidate will also have coarser hair. To put it simply, the most ideal laser hair removal candidate has dark hair and light (not tanned) skin. These people will require the fewest number of treatments to achieve the results they desire most efficiently.

 

Other types of patients can still benefit from laser therapy but they must be willing to be more patient, ready to undergo several procedures that may not have immediately visible results. Realistic expectations are key toward being an ideal laser hair removal candidate and knowing how well current technology works with your hair and skin colour is important.

 

The Non-Ideal Laser Hair Removal Candidate

The least ideal physical attributes for laser hair removal include dark skin with light hair (typically grey or white) and light skin with fair hair. Combinations of hair colour and skin tone, where the hair is difficult to make out against the flesh, are extremely difficult to treat with laser hair systems. Very fine hair is also problematic. Only extremely skilled practitioners are able to work with these tones/colours/textures and, even with the best possible physician, many follow-up procedures (using specialized, longer wavelength lasers) may still be required. In a similar vein, excessive sun exposure or tanning can cause complications as well and should be avoided for anyone considering treatment.

 

Other factors that may make for a non-ideal patient are active skin infections, skin conditions (like vitiligo or psoriasis), a history of aggressive scarring or keloid formation and current Accutane use. Impatience is a large factor as well. A non-ideal candidate is unwilling to undergo several sessions to achieve the results they want from laser hair removal.