Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal at UPMC Endocrinology is effective in reducing excessive hair growth, or hirsutism, caused by a variety of hormonal disorders.
Hirsutism is a condition where women have excess facial and body hair that is dark and coarse. The abnormal hair growth is usually seen on the chest, face, back, legs and underarms.
Most patients with hirsutism suffer from high levels of certain sex hormones called androgens. High levels of these hormones can be caused by:
UPMC Endocrinology offers permanent hair reduction with the Lightsheer laser hair removal system. This advanced hair removal treatment option, for both men and women, eliminates the need for topical anesthetics and provides improved comfort, treatment speed, and effectiveness as compared to other laser hair removal treatments. Treatment times for large areas such as legs, back or chest are reduced up to 75 percent due to the laser's ability to treat hundreds of hair follicles at a time.
How Laser Hair Removal Works
During laser hair removal, a beam of highly concentrated light is generated and focused onto the skin. The concentrated light is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicles (melanin).
Throughout the procedure, the laser pulses for a fraction of a second, allowing the hair to absorb the light and heat up. This significantly reduces the hair’s ability to re-grow, and results in permanent hair reduction over time.
Because hair grows in phases, you will need a series of treatments to remove the hair that subsequently enters the growth phase. Treatments are generally spaced six to eight weeks apart to allow for this.
Following laser hair removal, the treated area may appear slightly red. This is usually minimal and gone within a few hours.
Before Treatment
The treated area must be shaved close to the skin immediately before treatments. This can be done at home, but staff will assist in shaving hard-to-reach areas in the office.
If you have tanned skin or have been exposed to a lot of sunlight, you may be asked to wait until the tan has subsided to begin treatment.