Hair Removal Laser Procedures Flashcards
7 cards from real CLT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Hair Removal Laser Procedures flashcards as text
Which laser wavelength is considered the gold standard for hair removal in patients with darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick IV-VI)?
Answer: 1064 nm Nd:YAG
The 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser is preferred for darker skin types because its longer wavelength penetrates deeper and is less absorbed by epidermal melanin, reducing burn risk.
A patient reports that their treated hair is still shedding two weeks after a laser hair removal session. What is the correct response?
Answer: This is a normal post-treatment process called exfoliation of treated follicles
Shedding of treated hairs 1–3 weeks post-treatment is a normal and expected sign that the follicles were successfully targeted.
What is the primary reason treatment intervals for laser hair removal are spaced 4–8 weeks apart for the face and 8–12 weeks for the body?
Answer: To match the anagen (active growth) phase cycle of hair in different body regions
Laser hair removal is only effective during the anagen phase, and hair cycles vary by location, requiring treatment intervals aligned with regional growth cycles.
Which cooling method is integrated directly into the handpiece tip to protect the epidermis during laser hair removal?
Answer: Contact cooling (sapphire tip)
Contact cooling via a sapphire-tipped handpiece cools the skin surface immediately before and during laser pulse delivery to protect the epidermis.
A patient with a Fitzpatrick skin type III wants laser hair removal on their upper lip. Which parameter adjustment is most appropriate compared to treating the same area on a type I patient?
Answer: Decrease fluence and increase pulse duration
Darker skin types require lower fluence and longer pulse durations to reduce epidermal heating while still targeting the hair follicle safely.
What term describes the concept that laser energy must be delivered faster than the target tissue can cool down to achieve selective destruction?
Answer: Thermal relaxation time
Thermal relaxation time (TRT) is the time it takes a target to lose half its heat; pulse duration must be shorter than the TRT of the follicle for selective damage.
Which condition is an absolute contraindication for laser hair removal?
Answer: Active herpes simplex infection in the treatment area
Active herpes simplex lesions in the treatment area are an absolute contraindication because laser treatment can spread the infection and cause severe outbreaks.