Interested in getting rid of embarrassing and unsightly hairs on your face or body? If you want to undergo laser hair removal, it is essential you have adequate information about the hair-growth cycle.

The Four Stages of the Hair-Growth Cycle

The hair-growth cycle consists of four main stages:

The Anagen Phase

In this part of the cycle, the cells found in the bulb of the hair follicle start to divide at a quick pace. Approximately 80% to 90% of all the hair follicles in the body are in this phase.

This stage will last anywhere between a couple of months to seven years. Your body’s hair follicles will experience growth for three to four months. The ones on your head can grow for a maximum of five to seven years. Because of this, we don’t grow large strands of hair on our bodies.

The Catagen Phase

In this stage, the hair on your body and head will stop growing, as it is no longer attached to the blood supply. You can expect this period to last anywhere between two and three weeks. During this stage of the growth cycle, your hair becomes club hair (hair with a hard keritinized club at the base).

The Telogen Phase

During the telogen phase, your hair will be in the resting period while new hair in the surrounding areas starts to grow. Over time, new hair will replace the club hair. This phase can last for as long as three months. Approximately 10% to 15% of your hair follicles are in this stage.

The Exogen Phase

The last stage is known as the exogen phase, where your body starts to shed the hair. The resting club hair will detach itself completely before falling out. As a result, the cycle restarts and the growth process repeats itself over and over again.

Laser Hair Removal’s Impact on the Hair-Growth Cycle

Once you have this information about the hair-growth cycle, it becomes easier to understand the whole treatment process. Laser hair removal is most effective during the anagen phase. The laser will target the roots of the hair and destroy them so that they can no longer grow on your body.

However, because not every strand of hair is in the same stage at the same time, you will need several treatments to get the best results. By repeating this procedure, the medical practitioner will be able to target the most anagen-stage hair.

For this reason, Dr. Lam will ask you to undergo anywhere between six to eight sessions for optimal results. It is essential you spread the treatments apart by at least four to six weeks to improve the effectiveness of the procedure. If you miss the treatments, there is a high chance the hair will enter the next stage, making it challenging for the medical practitioner to remove them.

Get Smooth Hair-Free Skin

Opt for laser hair removal and put an end to embarrassing unwanted hairs. Contact our office to schedule an appointment for a laser hair-removal consultation with well-regarded physician Dr. Nicholas Lam.