Laser hair removal with Intense Pulse Light (IPL) is an alternative option for more permanent hair reduction and far less painful than electrolysis. Intense Pulse Light works by damaging the hair follicle to minimize hair growth. By focusing on the hair color (melanin) in the follicle, the light energy from the laser heats the hair and attempts to destroy the root.
The reason that hair can grow back is because the follicle root can be damaged and not destroyed altogether. The practitioner performing your treatment has no way of knowing which hairs are in which necessary stage of the growth cycle to effectively destroy the root. This is the reason that a series of IPL treatments are required to get as many hairs as possible during each individual session that are in the first stage of hair growth (anagen phase). It is important to have an experienced medical skin care specialist, esthetician or practitioner administer the IPL treatment with the appropriate energy level based on their skin type and area being treated. IPL treatment is an effective, relatively painless procedure to safely and effectively rid of unwanted hair anywhere on the body.