Silk'n light-based hair remover gets FDA approval for home use

Believe it or not, this actually isn't the first FDA approved personal hair remover we've come across, but for those looking for something capable of handling some seriously hairy ordeals, look no further than Silk'n. Created by Home Skinovations (har har), this unit relies on proprietary Home Pulsed Light technology to zap unwanted hair and bring back the smooth. Of course, this thing still has to be used "under the direction of a physician," but after waltzing into his / her office with three inches of sprawling chest hair blossoming from under that halfway buttoned shirt, we'd wager you'll have the requisite signature in no time.

[Via medGadget]

[MissUniverse @ Mar 25th 2008 7:30AM]

This alternative may be worth looking into. The article states - the average reduction was 50% with no adverse side effects.

[E71 @ Mar 25th 2008 7:58AM]

* Except the growth of a third nipple.

[Mike @ Mar 25th 2008 8:37AM]

pretty sure that means 50% reduction of hair, not 50% chance of not having side effects

[Greg @ Mar 25th 2008 9:04AM]

Thqt's good, I don't look forward to being called a silverback in a few years. I'll knit y'all a sweater.

[GreezyG @ Mar 25th 2008 1:30PM]

I wonder how well this would work on my taint. Oh and E71 I already have 3 nips so no big deal for me!

[DSeaver @ Mar 25th 2008 8:00AM]

I wonder how many people will mistake this for a wii nunchuk.

[Magallanes @ Mar 25th 2008 11:12AM]

Or will mistake for a Apple product.

[bob sakamano @ Mar 25th 2008 8:00AM]

how much???

[mymaclife @ Mar 25th 2008 8:14AM]

Should sell well in Brazil! ;)

[Richie @ Mar 25th 2008 9:08AM]

It looks like a Wii nunchuck in a Wii nunchuck holder lol.

[Ellianth @ Mar 25th 2008 11:15AM]

So you mean that's not a wii nunchuck washer/warmer combo device? Dammit!

[Carbonize @ Mar 25th 2008 12:59PM]

How much wood would a Wii nunchuck chuck if a Wii nunchuck could chuck wood?

[A Dancing Hobo @ Mar 25th 2008 9:17AM]

No more hairy hobo shoulders! This hobo is gonna be a stripper!

[roole @ Mar 25th 2008 9:22AM]

HowTF does this work?!

What do you mean "zap"? Singe, burn (can you imagine the smell)? "Pulse" it right out of the roots (can you imagine the agony)? Pull it right out, one at a time (Abu Ghraib anyone)?

Eew..... I think I'll stay hirsute.

[Dani @ Mar 25th 2008 9:31AM]

It's bascially a lower cost version of a laser based system.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) devices like these typically use a Xenon lamp and some fancy optics instead of a laser.

The light is directed onto the skin through that wand (nunchuck) thingy and when the light hits the hair root (the bulb part under the skin), the light energy is converted to heat where it then vaporises the root.

It's worth pointing out that these hurt, if you don't like the idea of waxing, you should probably avoid these even more, and I speak from personal experience :)

The best way to describe the sensation is getting twanged at point blank range by a very thick and well streched elastic band.

[Nate @ Mar 25th 2008 9:34AM]

Ewww, that's graphic.

[landincoldfire @ Mar 25th 2008 10:04AM]

From I read in the above comments.....

Using this to remove the hair from a certain personal area would be less than enjoyable.

[hypereric @ Mar 25th 2008 10:14AM]

Well, there goes any cure for dingleberry collectors. NOT that I have that problem, mind you... just that I heard some men have that problem.

[Ellianth @ Mar 25th 2008 11:19AM]

Problem?!?!? Here in Eugobatamia dingle berry is the national fruit! We can hardly keep up with the demand. Why would anyone wanna rid themselves of dingle berry catchers? On another note, if you wipe properly you won't have dingle berry issues.

dingle berry, dingle berry, dingle berry. Man those words. Always make me laugh. Dingle berry!

[hypereric @ Mar 25th 2008 12:00PM]

@Ellianth:

No, no, no... *I* don't have that kind of problems, some friends do. Would you happen to have a URL that explains proper wiping procedures so that I can help my friends out?

[Ellianth @ Mar 25th 2008 1:03PM]

You just have to experiment until you get it right. A bath every once in a while also helps too :P.

[Viney @ Mar 25th 2008 10:51AM]

Out with the Sharpie, in with the Silk'n.

Drunken shammings just got a lot more interesting.

[Rick @ Mar 25th 2008 2:53PM]

Do you think it could remove the hairs from my shoulders and back and put them on the top of my head?

[ZeroCorpse @ Mar 25th 2008 2:59PM]

>sigh<

So nobody's going to have pubic hair anymore, huh? That's sort of depressing.

[B.C. @ Mar 25th 2008 3:55PM]

The 90's are over man... just let it go in peace.

Now if we could just combine this device with that heat-wave riot control truck DARPA made then we could de-pube swarms of hippies at the next nearest folk festival.

After which a fire truck to hose off all the dead hair, B.O. and patchouli oil to awaiting HAZ-MAT crews.

[Clark H. @ Mar 25th 2008 3:20PM]

Air Nair?

[sky @ Mar 26th 2008 3:42AM]

Kind of ironic that laser-based hair growth systems are being marketed too.

[heyguy @ Apr 1st 2008 2:46AM]

When I see names like Home Skinovations, it makes me think the name came before the product.