LASER HAIR REMOVAL 2026 CORE EXAM TIPS QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Why gray hair does not absorb laser energy? - ✔✔Grey hair lacks pigment, or they
do not have enough pigment granule, so therefore they cannot absorb enough energy
from the laser, even with a higher fluence, the hair and the follicle is not destroyed. An
alternate method for permanent hair removal must be advised such as electrolysis or
ultrasound hair removal.
✔✔How is the skin nourished? - ✔✔Through blood and lymph
✔✔3 types of pigment seen in skin - ✔✔Melanin (brown, red, yellow and black pigment)
Hemoglobin (red or bluish undertones of the skin)
Carotene (gives yellow undertone)
✔✔Hormone definition and their function - ✔✔-Hormones are chemical substances that
pass from their glands directly into the bloodstream.
-Act somewhat as catalysts, which can speed up or slow down the metabolic processes
of the body. They travel throughout the body usually targeting certain organs like a key
fitting into a certain lock so the role of specific hormones go to specific organs to carry
out specialized functions.
✔✔Why is shaving between treatments ideal for laser hair removal? - ✔✔Because hair
grows in different stages, the best way to eliminate hair is to get it treated when it is
actively growing. Shave until the hair has finally stopped growing back.
After treatment, completely shave all the hairs away. Anything left will cause irritation or
surface burns
✔✔Hirsutism - ✔✔-Excessive and increased hair growth in women's in locations where
the occurrence of terminal hair normally is minimal or absent.
-It is a male pattern of body hair (androgenic hair)
✔✔Explain the difference between IPL and Laser, at least 3 points for each - ✔✔IPL
-Non-coherent
-Unfocused
-Intense pulse light devices are non-laser high-intensity light sources that make use of
high-output flash lamps to produce a broad wavelength output of non-coherent light
usually in the 1200 nm range.
-Light pulses are produced by bursts of electrical current passing through a xenon gas-
filled chamber.
The advantage of the IPL platform is they have a bigger spot size. So the tech can finish
the treatment a lot faster
lASER
, -Monochromatic
-Coherent
-Focused
A direct beam of light. The light is energy. All true lasers emit resonant or highly
coherent wavelengths.
Because photons are travelling side by side, in parallel, the light can travel for very long
distances before terminating. The laser light can fire across the room, reflect off tiny
surfaces, go through an open door into the clinic, or pass out through an uncovered
window.
✔✔Contraindications for laser treatment (9) - ✔✔-Eyebrows
-Mucous membrane areas
-Sensitive, reactive skin, heat sensitive skin, miliaria rubra
-Pregnancy
-Skin cancer
-Abnormal growths
-Herpes simplex 1 and 2
-Tattoos
-Permanent makeup
-Photosensitizing medications
✔✔List main information about the hair and skin that need to be analyzed before
treatment - ✔✔Analyzing hair- diameter (size), colour, density and depth. The colour will
determine which fluence level you should use.
Analyzing skin- colour, Fitzpatrick type, sensitivity and condition. Check the skin for any
abnormalities.
✔✔What causes side effects (6) - ✔✔-The hair is too long
-Pulses are overlapping
-Rows are overlapping
-Poor cooling technique
-Incorrect assessment of sun type
-Incorrect assessment of hair density
-Incorrect assessment of hair colour
✔✔Structures of terminal hair - ✔✔-Deeply situated, coarse hairs
-Have a well-developed root and bulb
-Definite pigmentation
-They grow from a follicle
-They have 3 concentric layers: cuticle, cortex and medulla
✔✔Pilosebaceous system - ✔✔Hair shaft, hair follicle, sebaceous glands.
✔✔Saftey precautions (6) - ✔✔-Goggles and eye shields
-Laser in use warning side outside the door of the room
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Why gray hair does not absorb laser energy? - ✔✔Grey hair lacks pigment, or they
do not have enough pigment granule, so therefore they cannot absorb enough energy
from the laser, even with a higher fluence, the hair and the follicle is not destroyed. An
alternate method for permanent hair removal must be advised such as electrolysis or
ultrasound hair removal.
✔✔How is the skin nourished? - ✔✔Through blood and lymph
✔✔3 types of pigment seen in skin - ✔✔Melanin (brown, red, yellow and black pigment)
Hemoglobin (red or bluish undertones of the skin)
Carotene (gives yellow undertone)
✔✔Hormone definition and their function - ✔✔-Hormones are chemical substances that
pass from their glands directly into the bloodstream.
-Act somewhat as catalysts, which can speed up or slow down the metabolic processes
of the body. They travel throughout the body usually targeting certain organs like a key
fitting into a certain lock so the role of specific hormones go to specific organs to carry
out specialized functions.
✔✔Why is shaving between treatments ideal for laser hair removal? - ✔✔Because hair
grows in different stages, the best way to eliminate hair is to get it treated when it is
actively growing. Shave until the hair has finally stopped growing back.
After treatment, completely shave all the hairs away. Anything left will cause irritation or
surface burns
✔✔Hirsutism - ✔✔-Excessive and increased hair growth in women's in locations where
the occurrence of terminal hair normally is minimal or absent.
-It is a male pattern of body hair (androgenic hair)
✔✔Explain the difference between IPL and Laser, at least 3 points for each - ✔✔IPL
-Non-coherent
-Unfocused
-Intense pulse light devices are non-laser high-intensity light sources that make use of
high-output flash lamps to produce a broad wavelength output of non-coherent light
usually in the 1200 nm range.
-Light pulses are produced by bursts of electrical current passing through a xenon gas-
filled chamber.
The advantage of the IPL platform is they have a bigger spot size. So the tech can finish
the treatment a lot faster
lASER
, -Monochromatic
-Coherent
-Focused
A direct beam of light. The light is energy. All true lasers emit resonant or highly
coherent wavelengths.
Because photons are travelling side by side, in parallel, the light can travel for very long
distances before terminating. The laser light can fire across the room, reflect off tiny
surfaces, go through an open door into the clinic, or pass out through an uncovered
window.
✔✔Contraindications for laser treatment (9) - ✔✔-Eyebrows
-Mucous membrane areas
-Sensitive, reactive skin, heat sensitive skin, miliaria rubra
-Pregnancy
-Skin cancer
-Abnormal growths
-Herpes simplex 1 and 2
-Tattoos
-Permanent makeup
-Photosensitizing medications
✔✔List main information about the hair and skin that need to be analyzed before
treatment - ✔✔Analyzing hair- diameter (size), colour, density and depth. The colour will
determine which fluence level you should use.
Analyzing skin- colour, Fitzpatrick type, sensitivity and condition. Check the skin for any
abnormalities.
✔✔What causes side effects (6) - ✔✔-The hair is too long
-Pulses are overlapping
-Rows are overlapping
-Poor cooling technique
-Incorrect assessment of sun type
-Incorrect assessment of hair density
-Incorrect assessment of hair colour
✔✔Structures of terminal hair - ✔✔-Deeply situated, coarse hairs
-Have a well-developed root and bulb
-Definite pigmentation
-They grow from a follicle
-They have 3 concentric layers: cuticle, cortex and medulla
✔✔Pilosebaceous system - ✔✔Hair shaft, hair follicle, sebaceous glands.
✔✔Saftey precautions (6) - ✔✔-Goggles and eye shields
-Laser in use warning side outside the door of the room
