subject: History Of Laser Hair Removal [print this page] As a society, we're always excited to try something new and see how far we can get science and technology to go. If we weren't, would things like the iPod or GPS systems even exist? One of the great things about science is that you can find scientists who are interested in learning how they can use what they know to enhance or change almost every aspect of someone's life. Who would ever have thought that one day a scientist would figure out how to take a laser, something that has always been seen as a dangerous item, and transform it into a way to get rid of hair?
How Did It All Start?
For a very long time, there were only a few ways to get rid of unwanted hair. You could bleach it, you could pluck it, you could shave it, or you could remove it with wax. Now, however, you can use laser hair removal to get rid of those annoying, frustrating pieces of hair, even if you're dealing with a large area of hairy skin. But how did laser hair removal start? Things actually were set into motion back in the 1960s. Back then, lasers that are now known as Wave 1 lasers were created. These lasers had a single wave of light and were very powerful. Scientists experimented with these lasers and learned how to make them do a great variety of tasks. They were only able to make one stream of light, however, and that was not good for laser hair removal, as the beam of light was unable to be controlled.
A decade later, scientists came up with Wave 2 lasers. This type of laser was actually able to target hair follicles with a beam of light that was shot through a small probe created from fiber-optics. At the time, scientists believed that it was a great solution for people looking to get rid of unwanted hair and they began using this method of laser hair removal. Unfortunately, they did so a bit prematurely, as the procedure posed risks that could damage skin. The product that had been created was eventually removed from the market for being too difficult to use and for not doing what the manufacturer claimed that it would.
It was in the 1980s when Wave 3 lasers were created. These lasers got even better at targeting hair follicles, but they were still extremely tedious for technicians to use and they weren't very effective at destroying the hair follicle, so this product was also pulled from the market. Wave 4 lasers were created in the middle of the 1990s, and this is the first type of laser that the FDA bestowed with their seal of approval. This form of laser actually uses a lotion that is carbon-based. When the laser is shot into the lotion, the shock wave that results actually destroys the hair follicle.
Nearby skin was also, however, affected, which is why, in 1997, the Wave 5 laser was introduced. This laser is what is currently used today and is much better at performing laser hair removal than any of the previous versions. It has very few side effects, and it is safe and effective to use.
