Laser hair removal can't be designated as permanent, because the technology hasn't been in use long enough for scientists to evaluate its effects over time. However, the FDA (F-D-A) has allowed certain laser treatments to claim permanent hair reduction, meaning that some of the treated hairs are either converted to a fine, almost invisible hair known as vellus (VEHL-uhs) hair or doesn't come back at all. One theory is that longer pulses and/or longer wavelengths of light may be more successful in permanently destroying the follicle. As laser technology is refined and its uses better understood, it's possible that doctors will learn how to produce permanent hair removal in fewer treatments. The procedure is considered safe when performed properly on suitable candidates. The most common side effect is red skin, blistering, or minor swelling for the first 24 hours after treatment. Typically, this can be managed with ice packs and over-the-counter pain relievers. The pigment may temporarily darken or lighten in the treated areas, especially in those with darker skin. Infection and scarring are rare, but can happen if the skin blisters and becomes infected. Patients with herpes should use caution in those areas, as the laser often triggers an outbreak of blisters.
