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Effects Laser Hair Removal
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How does laser hair removal work?
Lasers have been used for many years for a
variety of medical cosmetic procedures including treatment of facial and leg
veins, age spots and smoothing fine lines on the face. The laser energy is
transformed into heat, which can disable the follicle leaving the
surrounding skin unchanged.
Why is laser preferred for hair removal?
Traditional hair removal techniques, such as
shaving, plucking and waxing, provide only temporary relief. Until now, the
only long-lasting hair removal solution has been by electrolysis - which can
be time-consuming and is usually limited to small areas, because each hair
is treated individually. Laser hair removal is non-invasive, and safely
removes unwanted body hair without damaging the delicate pores and
structures of the skin. Facial and bikini areas are usually completed in
under 45 minutes; legs and larger areas can take longer.
 What
does the treatment include?
Depending on the amount of hair and area
treated, the procedure varies from patient to patient. Generally, the
treatment will include: Safety eyewear to protect the patient's eyes
during the procedure from the laser light. A small handpiece will be used to
deliver the laser light. Most experience little discomfort at the treatment
site. The sensation and the degree of discomfort varies with each person. In
some cases, topical anesthesia is an option. Your laser specialist will
discuss this before laser treatment. Depending on the size or number of
areas treated, the time will vary in length from minutes to hours. Patients
can return to work or resume their normal activities immediately following
treatment. The area may become slightly red and may last from a few minutes
to several days depending on the area and skin sensitivity.
What precautions should be taken before and after treatment?
If you are tan or have a darker skin
type, a bleaching cream should be started 4-6 weeks before treatment for our
melanin absorption lasers.
How many treatments will I need?
Hair grows in cycles. The laser is only
effective on hair in its actively growing cycle. At any one time there will
only be certain hairs in that growing phase. This means that consistent
treatments at appropriate intervals are absolutely necessary for the best
possible results. The number of treatments required depends upon your skin,
hair coloring, coarseness of the hair and density per treated area. Everyone
will require at least 2-3 treatments as the process is only effective on
hairs during their growing cycle. Additional treatment will be necessary to
treat other follicles when they re-enter the growth phase and produce new
growth.
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Power,
Wavelength and Tissue Penetration
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 The
most efficient wavelength required to achieve results by laser is in
the 670 to 890 nm (nanometer) range. This particular frequency allows for the
greatest tissue penetration without loss of photon intensity through the
dermis(2). This range is also highly selective (as well as reactive)
with follicle melanin
and carbon dye.
The amount of
power required for this range to reach the papilla
matrix varies with the
depth of the follicle pore. There are generally 3 types of hair growth:
terminal (deep), secondary (medium) and vellus (shallow). Terminal hairs
usually extend 7-8 mm into the dermis and require around 10 Joules per CM2 of
photon intensity at the surface of the skin to create adequate thermolysis in
the papilla matrix to destroy the tissue(3). Secondary hairs grow to
about 5-6 mm in depth and require ≈5 JCM2. The lightest hairs need
roughly 2 JCM2. These vellus hairs are most common on upper lips of adult women
and normally respond very well laser epilation.
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Faster Than Regular Electrolysis
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The
advent of this new technology has created enormous excitement in the field of
epilation cosmetology, and with good reason. Laser hair removal is simply the fastest
way to remove unwanted hair currently available. It is very easy and highly
effective. The laser can completely clear the leg hair growth on an average
woman in under one hour. The same area would require more than 40 hours
of needle electrolysis.
Discussion
In this study the laser treatments given
every six weeks yielded better long-term clinical results than the treatments
given every two weeks. Previous studies [1-5] have demonstrated good to
excellent results for treatment intervals between four and eight weeks. An
earlier study done by the investigators [6] demonstrated excellent long-term
hair reduction using three-week treatment intervals. Mathematical modeling
showed that better laser penetration was achievable at the hair bulb and bulge
in the absence of terminal hair shafts extending to the skin surface. It was
recognized that the success of a hair removal treatment at a shortened treatment
interval was dependent on the regeneration of melanized target structures for
the follow-up treatments [6]
The poor long-term results seen with the
shortened treatment interval would suggest that the laser treatment given only
two weeks following the initial treatment did not yet have an adequate target to
absorb the laser's energy. It is hypothesized that the hair bulb has not yet
regenerated at two weeks and hence the laser treatment was ineffective. The
six-week interval allowed adequate time for the hair bulb and follicle to
regenerate therefore providing an adequate target for the laser and hence, a
more effective long-term result.
Conclusions
The treatment intervals chosen for laser hair removal strongly affect
the efficacy of long-term results. This study demonstrates better efficacy at
the six-week treatment interval compared with the two-week treatment interval.
References
1. Bjerring P, Cramers M, Egekvist H, Christiansen K, Troilius A. Hair
reduction using a new intense pulsed light irradiator and a normal mode ruby
laser. J Cutan Laser Ther 2000; 2: 63-71.
2. Kauvar AN. Treatment of pseudofolliculitis with a pulsed infrared laser. Arch
Dermatol 2000; 136:1343-6.
3. Eremia S, Li C, Newman N. Laser hair removal with alexandrite versus diode
laser using four treatment sessions: 1-year results. Dermatol Surg 2001; 27:
925-9.
4. Gorgu M, Aslan G, Akoz T, Erdogan B. Comparison of alexandrite laser and
electrolysis for hair removal. Dermatol Surg 2000; 26:37-41.
5. Bencini PL, Luci A, Galimberti M, Ferranti G. Long-term epilation with
long-pulsed neodimium:YAG laser. Dermatol Surg 1999; 25:175-8.
6. Lloyd JR, Mirkov M. Long-term evaluation of the long-pulsed alexandrite laser
for the removal of bikini hair at shortened treatment intervals. Dermatol Surg
2000; 26:633-7
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Patient # |
hair counts |
6 week
clearance |
| 2
females, 3 males |
pre |
post |
percent |
| 1 |
274 |
9 |
97% |
| 2 |
331 |
63 |
81% |
| 3 |
327 |
19 |
94% |
| 4 |
187 |
2 |
99% |
| 5 |
411 |
54 |
87% |
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median |
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91.6% |
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HIGH-TECH, LIGHT-BASED
HAIR REMOVAL IS EXCEPTIONALLY SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES, CORNELL
RESEARCHER REPORTS
January 3, 2003 - New York, NY. High-tech hair removal using
intense pulsed light (IPL) technology is exceptionally safe on all skin
types, even among patients with dark or ethnic skin, according to a
clinical study commissioned by Cornell University and published in the
December 2002 issue of Cosmetic Dermatology. The study, conducted by
Harvey Jay, M.D. of New York City, tracked the safety of IPL hair
removal experiences in 250 consecutive new patients. All skin types were
included in the study group with 77% having dark complexions.
Researchers reported a less than 3% incidence of minor, temporary side
effects, including pigment changes and acne-like rashes.
"This is one of the largest and most comprehensive clinical studies to
focus on the safety of laser or pulsed light," says Dr. Jay, Clinical
Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical School, New
York City. "Unlike previously published studies, we did not pre-screen
our participants to exclude those with darker skin types who are
typically more prone to side effects. We also treated entire body areas
instead of test patches. Our findings show that in the right setting,
with the right tools, with an expert dermatologist, successful and safe
laser or pulsed light hair removal can be the norm for patients of
virtually any skin color."
Dr. Jay notes many people are interested in long-lasting hair removal
but are concerned about the risk of adverse side effects. He went on to
say that his patients' worries have been exacerbated by media reports
about the rise of patient complications from non-medical inexperienced
practitioners who claim to safely perform hair removal on all skin types
with one laser or light device in spas, salons and walk-in clinics.
With conventional laser hair removal, a single wavelength of coherent
light penetrates the pigment in the hair shaft and disables the hair
follicle. Introduced six years ago, IPL hair removal uses hundreds of
wavelengths of incoherent light to accomplish the same goal but without
the high levels of power or energy fluence required by lasers and
associated with such side effects as skin discoloration and crusting.
According to Dr. Jay, this mode of operation makes the IPL hair removal
approach more suitable for patients who in the past were advised against
laser hair removal.
"When performed correctly, pulsed light hair removal is virtually
painless and does not require numbing of the skin. Significant pain
should be viewed as a signal that the device settings are not customized
to the patient's clinical needs," says Dr. Jay
Results of this milestone study are based on a retrospective analysis of
250 consecutive new patients who received a total of 498 IPL hair
removal treatment sessions performed by Dr. Jay in his private office
setting. More than two-thirds of the study participants (192) were
classified as Fitzpatrick skin types IV through VI, that is, dark to
very dark skin tones. Seventy-one per cent (71%) of the patients had
black hair treated. Each patient underwent a complete dermatologic
intake history and was evaluated by the physician to determine the
optimal IPL power fluence and filter setting. Popular treatment sites
included the face, underarm, bikini line, and back, among other body
locations.
Patients were advised to use cold water compresses if any post-treatment
discomfort developed and were instructed to contact the office the next
day to report their results, adverse or otherwise. Eleven patients
reported adverse side effects, namely: temporary skin lightening or
darkening (3 patients); acne-like breakouts (6 patients); and slight
tingling sensations or sensitivity (2 patients). All symptoms responded
to medical treatment and cleared within weeks.
"While complications from laser or light-based hair removal have been
documented in the literature, our study data reinforces the safety
claims of office-based IPL hair removal procedure. Using therapeutic
levels for treatment on a significant number of patients with all skin
types, we have achieved high patient satisfaction and keep side effects
minimal and transient," adds Dr. Jay.
Safety Tips When considering light-based hair removal, Dr. Jay
recommends the following tips:
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Seek out
a physician with appropriate training, preferably a board-certified
dermatologist
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Ask about
the number of hair removal cases he/she has performed
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Request
to see before and after photographs of treated patients
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Ensure a
physician is performing the procedure and available for follow-up care
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Make sure
treatment is administered in an appropriate medical setting
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Check
that the device is safe and effective for your skin type
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