Utah Master Esthetician Practice Exam

Which phase do multiple laser treatments target for hair removal?

1. Telogen

2. Catagen

3. Anagen

4. Exogen

The correct answer is: Anagen

The phase that multiple laser treatments target for hair removal is the Anagen phase. This is the active growth phase of hair follicles, during which hair is being produced and is firmly anchored in the follicle. Laser hair removal works by emitting concentrated light energy that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. During the Anagen phase, the hair is rich in melanin, making it more susceptible to the laser's energy, which then leads to thermal destruction of the hair follicle. By effectively targeting hair in this phase, practitioners can achieve optimal results in terms of long-term hair reduction. In contrast, the other phases—Telogen, Catagen, and Exogen—represent different stages of the hair growth cycle. During the Telogen phase, the hair is in a resting state and is not actively growing, which makes it less effective for laser treatment. The Catagen phase is a transitional stage where the hair stops growing but is not yet shed, and similarly, the Exogen phase involves the shedding of hair. Since these phases do not involve actively growing hair, they do not typically respond as well to laser hair removal compared to the Anagen phase.