Electrolysis can permanently end hair growth, but it is time-consuming because each hair must be targeted individually. In this technique, needles are inserted into hair follicles to destroy them. Once the hair follicle has been treated, the hair shaft is easily removed. However, because hair grows in cycles, dormant hairs can be missed when the procedure is done. In 1997, the FDA began to put its stamp of approval on laser hair removal.
Lasers work by emitting light at various wavelengths.
The light is absorbed by melanin, a pigment in hair follicles, and heat is generated. The heat damages the follicle and spares the surrounding skin. A study reported in the January 2000 issue of Dermatologic Surgery compared alexandrite laser hair removal to electrolysis. The researchers used electrolysis to remove unwanted hair from the right side of 12 patients, and used lasers for hair removal on the left. The researchers determined laser hair removal is more expensive than electrolysis, but it was 60 times faster and less painful.