Laser hair removal, also known as photoepilation, is a practice of removing unwanted hair using concentrated light beams to destroy hair follicles. This innovative technique has become increasingly popular due to its effectiveness in providing progressively permanent results.
How does laser hair removal work?
Photoepilation acts directly on the hair bulbs to destroy them, preventing new growth. The technology is based on selective photothermolysis: the energy released by the laser light is absorbed by the melanin in the hair and is transformed into heat, heating the hair itself and denaturing its constituent structures, destroying the bulb from which it grows.
The benefits of photoepilation
Laser hair removal offers numerous advantages over traditional hair removal methods such as waxing, shaving and depilatory creams.
- Permanent results: one of the main draws of laser hair removal – when carried out at centres using state-of-the-art technology and effective treatment protocols proven over many years of experience and tens of thousands of cases treated – is its ability to provide definitive results at the end of a proper treatment cycle.
- High precision: the laser can selectively target hairs while leaving the surrounding skin intact, making laser hair removal suitable for even the most delicate areas of the body.
- Speed: each laser pulse takes a fraction of a second and can treat several hairs simultaneously, so each session only lasts few minutes (although they do vary depending on the size of the area treated).
- Reduced irritation: unlike waxing or shaving, laser hair removal reduces the risk of folliculitis and other skin irritations, as well as ingrown hairs and other issues, making it an ideal solution for people with sensitive skin.
- Long-term savings: laser hair removal saves many thousands of euros over the years in waxing appointments and/or tools for hair removal at home (wax, razors, electric epilators). Effective permanent laser hair removal treatment is therefore a very worthwhile investment.
Who is laser hair removal suitable for?
Laser hair removal is a practical solution for many people, but there are some factors to consider before starting treatment.
Hair and skin types
The treatment is more effective on dark, thick hair, as it contains more melanin to absorb the laser energy. Very light or white hairs cannot always be effectively treated with laser hair removal. In any case, the best choice is to request a consultation at a hair removal centre so that an experienced practitioner can analyse your skin and hair and provide their professional opinion during the consultation, creating a personalised plan if treatment is possible.
Medical conditions
People with certain medical conditions, such as active skin infections, herpes simplex or dermatological conditions, should avoid laser hair removal until the conditions have been treated. Additionally, pregnant women may undergo laser hair removal after a consultation to assess their specific condition and the area they are interested in treating.
Delicate areas
Laser hair removal can be used on almost any part of the body, but it is particularly popular for areas that require very frequent hair removal, such as the arms, legs and armpits, and for very sensitive areas where other hair removal techniques (such as waxing or shaving) may be painful or irritating, such as the pubic area, chest and some facial areas.
How is photoepilation carried out?
The laser hair removal process is fairly simple and made up of several steps:
- Before starting treatment, customers must attend a consultation with a specialist. This step is essential to determine how the service will be carried out based on the customer’s needs, expectations and physical characteristics. At this stage, the hair removal centre practitioner analyses their hair and skin type to assess its suitability for treatment.
- The number of sessions each customer must undergo varies according to the area to be treated, as well as their skin type and hair structure; there is no one-size-fits-all solution, only personalised plans. Sessions should be spaced about 6–8 weeks apart to allow the hairs to enter the anagen growth phase, in which they are most vulnerable to laser energy.
- The duration of each session depends on the area of the treated zone and can range from a few minutes to a maximum of 15 minutes.
- During the session, the patient must wear protective goggles to avoid eye damage. The skin is cleaned and, if necessary, a cooling gel is applied to minimise discomfort. The laser is then passed over the area to be treated, emitting pulses that destroy the hair follicles.
Where should you go for laser hair removal
There are many centres offering photoepilation services throughout Italy, but it is always important to rely only on professionals that can guarantee the highest level of skill and safety, using the best laser technologies available and treatment protocols tested over many years of experience and tens of thousands of cases. Incorrect application protocols, incorrectly trained personnel and/or low-quality equipment will not lead to the desired results.
Rely on the professionalism and quality of epíLate: the largest network of centres specialising in permanent hair removal, found in over 35 Italian cities (plus Lugano, Switzerland) with over 80 centres, active in Italy for 15 years, with over 50,000 customers treated. All epíLate practitioners are highly specialised and trained thanks to the epíLate Academy, a theoretical and practical training course that teaches them how to use laser equipment for permanent hair removal safely and effectively.
Furthermore, the laser hair removal technology used by epíLate is the best available in the world, and is used with the exclusive protocols developed by epíLate over 15 years of experience and more than 50,000 customers treated, guaranteeing precise and truly definitive results, including personalised advice and tailor-made treatment for each customer. As a result, epìLate is also the only company in Italy to offer contractually guaranteed results for the customer’s lifetime.
