7 Healthcast: Laser hair removal

It's the first of it's kind, a hand held laser that you can use at home to zap away unwanted hair. It sounds great but one local dermatologist says you may want to think twice before using it.

We'll rip it out, undergo electrolysis or have laser surgery to get rid of unwanted hair.

But if you'd rather de-fuzz at home, then the Tria hand held laser may be for you.

It works by heating hair quickly

"They have technology in this laser that turns the light from dangerous laser light into safe light that you can use at home and to me it's brilliant," said dermatologist Dr.Eric Bernstein.

Dermatologist Mathew Avram performs laser hair removal. It's a procedure that has been studied and tested for years. Dr. Avram is concerned that the Tria doesn't have enough research behind it.

"With this device the studies are not published in medical journals and have not had the chance to undergo the rigors of peers within the field to determine whether these lasers are truly effective or truly safe," said Dr. Avram from the Mass General Hospital.

The Tria isn't for everyone; it won't work on white, gray, blonde or red hair. It's also not for people with dark skin. A device unlocks the laser and a light turns green if it's safe. If your skin is too dark the light turns red and it will not activate.

While the device is FDA approved Dr. Avram is still cautious about the home laser.

"Sometimes things occur once a device is on the market that wasn't seen in the initial trials. While it does give some assurance, it doesn't give me complete assurance," says Dr.Avram.

The FDA approval is only for hair removal from the neck down. You can expect the Tria on store shelves this spring but it's not cheap, the cost is about a thousand dollars.

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