TRIA: the home hair zapper

Following The Legologist's recent post about the dangers of having laser depilation at unqualified clinics, here is an innovation which zaps hair at home. Could this be the kind of device Laser Active Clinic founder Gill Leeden was referring to when she commented that, in addition to the problems of having laser treatment at practices that disregard health and safety rules, devices can be bought online (by professionals and consumers) as manufacturers cash in on the demand for excess hair removal. One can only assume not, as this device - TRIA Laser Hair Removal System - is endorsed by three respected professionals: Dr Penelope Tympanidis, a dermatologist with a practice on Harley Street and in Athens, Dr Honey Langcaster-James, a psychologist who focuses on body confidence, and Nathalie Eleni, This Morning's resident beauty expert.  TRIA was developed in the US and claims to deliver permanent hair removal using a system called LightSheer. This is said to be the gold standard for achieving permanent, hair-free results and it works by targeting the dark pigment (melanin) in hair with a pulse of laser light, which is converted to heat, then absorbed by the dark pigment to disable the bulb of the hair follicle and the bulge (so destroying the growth cells), causing hair to gradually fall out and stop growing back. TRIA claim results in six months - sooner if you use the device more regularly. They say it is suitable for those with light to medium skin tones and dark hair (so not dark skin), and each unit comes with a skin chart so you can check the suitability of your skin tone. Rigorously tested (in the US it's the only home laser hair remover to have been approved by the FDA), it has three contact sensors to safeguard against misuse. The Legologist is feeling the love. Has anyone tried it? Click here for details.