Laser Hair Removal

Tired of plucking/waxing/shaving unwanted hair? There is still time to take advantage of our seasonal promotion for laser hair removal - 50% off all laser hair removal packages - going on until the end of August. Please call 239-561-3376 for more information.

At Florida Skin Center, we use the Nd:Yag laser, which is safe for treating all skin types. Laser hair removal works on dark hairs only. The laser emits highly concentrated light energy into the hair follicles. The pigment found in the root of the hair follicles absorbs the light, which then destroys the hair. It is advised to minimize plucking or waxing hair for several weeks before the laser treatment, as doing so temporarily removes the roots of the hairs. It is also important to avoid the sun and to wear sunscreen, to minimize the chance of adverse effects. Most patients will require several treatments for optimal results. Treatments are done every 4-6 weeks. There is no downtime with the procedure. There may be some redness and swelling, but patients can return to work after their treatment.

Hair will grow less frequently, and when it does grow, the hair will be finer and lighter in color.

Laser Treatments Offered at Florida Skin Center

Here at Florida Skin Center we have 5 different types of laser in use that allow us to treat a wide variety of conditions.

• Acne- Helps to reduce number of current lesions, and prevent future breakout. A series of 5-6 treatments scheduled 1-2 weeks apart are needed for best results. Maintenance treatment may be needed.
• Hair removal- At Florida Skin Center we have 2 different lasers for hair removal to serve skin tones of all color. These treatments are scheduled 4 weeks apart.
• Telangiectasia’s (or red veins on the face)-Helps to reduce the amount of veins and overall redness of the face or area being treated. 1-3 treatments are generally recommended 4 weeks apart.
• Scars- Helps to reduce the redness of scar, and can help to reduce the bumpiness if scar is hypertrophic or thickened. 1-3 treatments are usually recommend about 4 weeks apart.
• Tattoo- Causes tattoo pigment to break up into smaller particles that the body’s immune system can remove. Number of treatments can vary, but on average a person will need 9-11 treatments, spaced 1-3 months apart.
• Warts- Uses heat to help destroy wart. Treatments are scheduled 3 weeks apart.
• Nail Fungus- Uses heat to help kill fungus. An average of 3 treatments are required, and are spaced 1 week apart.
• Vascular Birthmarks- A variety of vascular birthmarks can be treated by laser. Number of treatments will depend on size of lesion as well as other factors. Treatments are recommended every 4 weeks.
• Excimer- Uses narrowband UVB to help treat a variety of conditions including vitiligo, eczema, and psoriasis. Number of treatments will depend on the condition being treated. To start, treatments are usually scheduled 1-3 times a week.

Laser Hair Removal: Ethnic Skin Types

Unfortunately for many women and some men, unwanted facial hair is a common problem.  It is even more unfortunate for those of us with ethnic skin because not only do we have to deal with unwanted hair, we also have to deal with the dark marks and scarring it can leave behind.
This young female came to our office for just that concern: unwanted facial hair.  We treated this patient with four laser hair removal treatments.  As you can see from the above picture, the laser hair removal treatment not only helped her facial hair, but it also minimized her discoloration and scarring.

Beware however.  Not all lasers are created equal.  The laser we used for this patient was one specific for ethnic skin.  If you are shopping around for laser hair removal treatments be sure to ask who will be performing the treatment, what type of laser is being used and the side effects involved.  If you have any questions about laser hair removal treatments for any skin type please feel free to give us a call.