The quick answer is YES.
BUT let’s talk about the kinds of hair our body produces and how laser can be effective.
With the exception of just a couple of places on our bodies, such as palms of hands and soles of feet, the rest of the surface of our bodies grow hairs. We grow two main types of hair: “Terminal” and “Vellus”. Terminal hairs are thicker and longer and grow in places like the scalp, underarm, chest, pubic area, and abdomen. In contrast, Vellus hairs are thinner and shorter and often present as “peach fuzz” and can be found all over the body. The overall quantity of hairs and types of hairs varies from person to person and by age and sex as well.
Hair is often a significant component in how we express ourselves and there’s no one way nor any wrong way to do so. We express and project personality by cutting, dyeing, shaving, curling, straightening, and customizing in a myriad of ways at different times and life stages. It’s less talked about, but customizing our body hair to our liking and in ways that offer convenience of maintenance is also a piece of the way we care for ourselves. At Mill City Laser, we support you rocking all, some, or no hairs as you see fit!
For people looking for an effective means of customizing and reducing hair, whether terminal or vellus, laser hair reduction can be a really great option. We cannot say enough that YOU ARE ALREADY GREAT and in that same breath, we love helping folks feel at home in their bodies and love helping streamline some of the maintenance and customization for those that want it. During a laser hair reduction treatment the laser targets the melanin of a hair and creates a heat damage so that each follicle producing a hair at the time of a treatment is unable to produce another hair. In terms of efficacy, most people can see up to 80% - 100% reduction after completing an average of 8-10 sessions on a consistent schedule. You can learn more and receive customized information here.
While both unwanted terminal and vellus hairs can be treated with laser hair reduction, there are a few things to keep in mind to manage expectations. Laser hair reduction works by targeting pigment, or melanin, in the hairs. Thicker terminal hairs provide a bigger target for lasers and are easier for the laser to “see” and thereby treat.
Terminal hair growth is affected by hormones, which means that, following a full series of an average of 8 - 10 treatments of hair growth cycles about 80% or more overall reduction is achieved. It is normal that hormones may trigger hair growth over time in follicles that were not producing hair during a laser series and more follow up sessions may be desired. In contrast, vellus hairs are often harder for the laser to “see” and will still only be effectively treated if there is some pigment in the hair and follicle and once treated, the need for maintenance is significantly less as vellus hairs are not deeply impacted by hormones in the same way as terminal hair. Vellus hairs are also typically lighter in color, thinner in texture, and slower to regrow and are frequently treated thoroughly in a series of 8 laser treatments and need less if any maintenance.
If you’re interested in chatting about the outcomes of laser hair reduction for more long term results, we’d be glad to connect with you about any specific questions you may have.
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546248/#:~:text=The%20two%20main%20types%20of,chest%20hair%20and%20belly%20hair
https://www.millcitylaser.com/mcl-blog/2020/3/2/you-already-beautiful-and-amazing
https://www.millcitylaser.com/faq
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7432488/#:~:text=Androgens%E2%80%94such%20as%20testosterone%20(T,into%20larger%20darker%20terminal%20hairs
https://www.beautybay.com/edited/hair-removal/
https://www.millcitylaser.com/video-consult
Photos:
Cover image by - https://unsplash.com/photos/e5XjqAnVejo?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink
Image of model with curly, dark brown hair by - https://unsplash.com/photos/SKICLmVW_eg
Image of model with straight, blonde hair by - Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash