Why is laser and photoepilation harmful?

Hair follicles represent an important pool of stem cells in the body, and this aspect is often overlooked when discussing cosmetic procedures such as laser or photoepilation.

The hair follicle is structured in such a way that in its area (especially in the so-called «bulge» region — the thickening of the hair sac) there is a population of epithelial stem cells. These cells are capable of:

• Restoring hair after loss or damage;
• Supporting skin regeneration (in injuries, they migrate to the damage zone and participate in the healing of the epidermis);
• Maintaining the structure of sebaceous glands and other auxiliary skin structures.

Thus, the follicle is not just the «root of the hair», but a multifunctional biological niche.

What laser and photoepilation do

The principle of laser hair removal is based on selective photothermolysis:

• The laser pulse heats the melanin in the hair and the surrounding follicle.
• When the temperature reaches ~60–70 °C, proteins denature, and cells die.
• Matrix cells (which promote hair growth) and often stem cells in the bulge area are damaged.

If the procedure is repeated, the follicle is ultimately destroyed, and hair restoration becomes impossible.

This is the goal of the procedure — but along with the hair, a part of the reserve of skin stem cells is also lost.

Why this is potentially bad for the body:

• Decreased regenerative potential of the skin: in cases of injuries or inflammation in the area where follicles have been removed, the skin recovers poorly.
• Changes in local skin biomechanics: follicles contribute to maintaining elasticity and microcirculation; their disappearance can lead to thinning and dryness of the skin.
• Impact on immune processes: stem cells in the follicle interact with skin immune cells (Langerhans, dendritic cells), and their loss can alter local immune reactivity.

On a larger scale, this is not catastrophic, as stem cells are present in other tissues, but locally it does indeed reduce the skin's recovery resource.