Which is better for hair removal – laser or electrolysis?

Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to pluck, tweeze, shave or wax off unwanted hair?  All of us have hair somewhere on our body we would just as soon remove and not have to worry about it coming back.  We want a lasting, long-term solution to avoid embarrassing noticeable hairs we don’t want others to see. 

Two commonly used methods to achieve this goal are laser hair removal and electrolysis.  Each procedure targets hair follicles under the surface of the skin to slow down or prevent their growth.  Of the two methods, only electrolysis is recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for permanent hair removal.  However, laser hair removal is the most popular sought-out option for removing unwanted hair in the U.S.

What is laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is a noninvasive technique using highly concentrated light to penetrate hair follicles.  The laser light is absorbed by the pigment in the hair shaft in the follicle-generating heat which damages the follicle to inhibit future hair growth. 

This treatment will permanently slow down hair growth, but it does not eliminate unwanted hair forever as eventually the hair will grow back.  This is why several, ongoing treatments will be necessary. 

The procedure itself can have some discomfort and some people may be given a topical anesthetic to minimize pain.  Due to the laser process, you will need to wear eye protection during the treatment.

Initially, depending on the size of the area and how dense the hair growth is, laser hair removal treatments can be scheduled every 4 to 6 weeks apart for many treatments.  Once hair growth has been sufficiently slowed down, most people will only need a once-or-twice yearly maintenance session.

The advantages of laser hair removal include the following:

·      Lasers are precise quickly targeting coarse, dark hairs

·      Lasers can treat several hairs at once making it a quick method of reducing hair growth

·      Laser use causes new hair growth to be less dense than before and the new hair is usually a few shades lighter than the original hair

·      Laser use is efficient as most people see long-term results after 3 to 8 sessions

Disadvantages of laser hair removal can be the following:

·      This method is not suited for everyone – it works best on people with light skin and dark hair since the laser targets dark colors

·      Some people may experience side effects of discolored skin, swelling, skin redness, blisters, and scarring

·      Lasers increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity).  Direct exposure to the sun must be avoided immediately after the procedure. 

·      Since this is considered a cosmetic procedure, insurance does not cover it

What is electrolysis?

Electrolysis is a method of removing individual hairs from the face or body.  After a very fine probe is inserted into the hair follicle, an electric current is passed through the probe, killing the hair root. This method damages the follicle and permanently prevents new hair growth from that follicle.  To ensure sanitary and safe practices are being used, only use a board-certified dermatologist or electrologist to perform the procedure. 

Most areas of the body can be treated with electrolysis, including the eyebrows, face, abdomen, thighs, breast, underarms, and legs. 

Several treatments will be necessary for permanent removal with follow-up sessions every week or every other week to eliminate hair on the area you want it removed from. 

Advantages of using electrolysis include:

·      It is the only FDA-approved and recognized method of permanent hair removal

·      Electrolysis is a versatile method for hair removal for people with any skin type, skin color, hair type and hair color. 

·      There is no recovery time – people can resume their daily activities immediately after the procedure

·      There is no need for annual maintenance – once the hair has been removed, no more treatments are necessary

·      Electrolysis uses no harsh chemicals on the skin

Disadvantages of electrolysis include:

·      Depending on the size and area being treated, it can take several sessions to achieve permanent results.  For example, removing coarse hair from the bikini line or from the underarms, requires many sessions of possibly up to 25-30 treatments to completely eliminate the hair

·      There can be some discomfort and pain – many people describe it as a small bee sting.  Taking a pain reliever before treatment can minimize this discomfort

·      There is the potential for side effects which could include scarring, however this is rare

·      This is a cosmetic procedure and most insurance will not cover it

Which treatment is better for hair removal - laser hair removal or electrolysis?

Both procedures do achieve the goal of why people seek them out – a long-term solution to unwanted hair growth.  Both have their advantages and disadvantages that each individual person will need to consider when deciding which method to use. 

But, of the two procedures, electrolysis has the upper-hand.  It is more versatile, has fewer side effects, has no downtime, and permanently removes unwanted hairs. 

To help make the decision between the two procedures, speak with a skincare specialist or dermatologist for their opinions on which method is best for you.