Male & Female Laser Hair Removal
What is laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal is a process that helps to reduce hair growth and increase the manageability of excess hair in the long-term. Laser energy is used to selectively target and disrupt hair follicles whilst leaving the skin unaffected. It has been used since the 1990's for this reason, and can help reduce unwanted hair that is usually removed by plucking, shaving or waxing, and make hair management an easier task.
How does it work?
Laser hair removal works by using a laser or light source to target and selectively heat the hair follicle. The laser is attracted to the melanin in the hair follicle where it is converted to heat energy that can destroy the stem cell in the hair follicle and prevent its future growth. The skin also takes up part of the laser energy, but it has the ability to lose heat quicker than the hair follicle, and is left intact. Hair also has a larger amount of melanin than skin, therefore it attracts the laser energy more readily than skin. Therefore, as a rule, people with darker hair and lighter skin are easier to treat as there is a greater differential between the amount of melanin in the skin and hair. The hair follicle also dissipates heat slower than the skin, and therefore tends to heat more than the skin with laser treatments.
Laser hair removal works best on the hairs that are in their anagen or active growth phase.
The laser head is placed on the skin, and systematically fired over the areas to be treated. A small 'prick' is felt with each laser shot, and this discomfort is usually tolerated well. We also use a cooler to reduce the heat and discomfort of the laser on the skin, and this can be built into the laser head, or be a separate cooling unit that blows cold air onto the skin.
What is the difference between the lasers/IPL for hair removal?
IPL or intense pulsed light is the most common machine used for hair removal. It is technically not a laser as it emits a broad-band of light frequencies rather than a single wavelength. IPL systems are effective for hair removal, but as there is a broad-band of light frequencies emitted, it tends to be less selectively attracted to the hair follicle in relation to the skin. Therefore, the probability of blistering and skin pigmentation problems after treatment is higher than some other laser systems.
True lasers only emit one single frequency at a time, which allows them to target a particular hair type on a particular skin type. This means that, if you have chosen the correct laser and wavelength, you will have a safer and more effective result for your skin type and hair type. IPL is akin to a pocket knife, with lots of different functions, but none that it truly does well, and lasers are akin to a set of chef knives, each one made for an individual purpose and is highly specialised to that task.
What is a variable pulse width?
The pulse width of a laser is the time in which the laser energy is delivered. It can range from 5 milliseconds to 300 milliseconds. Coarser hairs will disperse heat slower than fine hairs, and therefore, finer hairs require treatment with a shorter pulse width. This ensures that the energy entering the hair follicle is absorbed quicker than it is dissipated, causing the hair follicle to heat. However, the shorter the pulse width, the greater the chance of affecting/heating the skin. The Apogee laser has a variable pulse width to target both finer and coarser hairs. laser, and the safety and efficacy by which it can remove hair.
What is the 755nm Alexandrite laser used for?
The Alexandrite laser is used to remove hairs from fairer skin types. The 755nm wavelength is highly attracted to the melanin (pigment) in the hair follicle over the melanin in the skin. This causes selective destruction of the stem cell in the hair follicle and this can lead to its permanent destruction.
The 755nm wavelength is more highly attracted to the melanin (pigment) than the 1064nm wavelength. It therefore cannot be used in darker skins, as the high affinity to melanin in skin may lead to skin damage.
The advantage of this higher attraction to melanin is that it is more highly attracted to melanin in the hair than the 1064nm wavelength. Therefore, in fairer skins, it is a more effective hair removal laser than the 1064nm wavelength . It is also able to target thinner or finer hairs as a result of this higher attraction to melanin.
Overall, the 755nm wavelength is the ideal laser for Laser Hair removal on fairer skin types and can also remove finer hairs than the 1064nm wavelength .
What is the 1064nm Nd:YAG wavelength used for?
The 1064nm wavelength is also used for hair removal treatments, but is used in darker skin types as it has less attraction to melanin than the 755nm wavelength.
The 1064nm wavelength is the safest wavelength for the treatment of olive to dark skin types. However , due to its lesser affinity to melanin than the 755nm wavelength, the 1064nm wavelength requires the hairs to be reasonably coarse in order for the treatment to be successful.
The advantages of the 1064nm wavelength are its ability to penetrate the skin deeply to reach deeper hairs, and its ability to treat hair on darker skin types. Hair on fairer skin types can be treated, but not as effectively as the 755nm wavelength laser.
For olive to dark skin with coarse hair we use the 1064nm wavelength on the Apogee laser
The Apogee have a wavelength of 1064 nm (Nd:YAG) that is not attracted much to the melanin in skin, and is the safest and most effective laser for people with darker or olive skin types, including Asian, European, Mediterranean, Indian, African, and other darker skin types. A cooling system is used during treatment and this reduces the likelihood of skin damage. The Apogee laser cools the skin with a Smart cooler (a machine that blows very cool air onto the skin). Cooling the skin allows for safer treatment - especially for darker skins. Having a variable spot sizes, these two lasers can treat larger areas like the back, chest and legs, or finer areas like the eyebrows for long-lasting eyebrow shaping.
For olive to dark skin with very fine to fine hair we use the 1064nm wavelength on the q-switched laser
Another laser that is at the Frodsham Laser Clinic for the removal of hair is the Cynosure q-switch laser This also has a wavelength of 1064nm, but has very short pulses that literally shatter the hair follicle instead of heating it. This is particularly useful for very thin hairs that Apogee laser may not be attracted to. There are no clinical studies showing long term hair reduction beyond 6 months with this machine, however, anecdotal evidence shows patients are generally happy with the results.
For fair to olive skins with fine to coarse hair we use the 755nm wavelength on the Apogee laser
The 755nm wavelength on the Apogee Laser- also known as the alexandrite (alex) laser, is an intermediate wavelength that can treat most skin types, except for dark, and works particularly well on hair of any thickness. This wavelength is a very versatile wavelength and will be suitable for the majority of patients. The exceptions are those with dark skin (best to use 1064nm on dark skin) or very fine hair (best to use 694nm).
How does the Apogee Elite laser protect the skin whilst treating the hairs?
The Apogee laser has a cooling machine called a Smart cooler that is used in conjunction with the laser. It cools the surface layer of the skin,, making the treatment feel more comfortable for the patient , allowing the laser to penetrate through this layer to the hair follicle and minimise the chance of any injury/damage to the skin.
How many treatments and how often?
Generally, 3 to 8 sessions are required at 4 to 8 weekly intervals (depending on the area treated) in order to achieve a 60 to 85% reduction in hair growth. The reason why 3 to 8 treatments are required is that laser hair removal works best on the hairs that are in their anagen or active growth phase. Therefore, in order to reduce the amount of hair growth, multiple treatments are required to capture more hair follicles in their anagen phase of growth. The interval between each session is decreased in areas such as the face which has a shorter hair cycle.
The permanence of laser hair removal has always been a debatable topic. In many cases, hair reduction can be achieved for a significant period of time, sometimes years. Although laser hair removal is able to permanently remove existing hairs, this does not prevent the growth of new hairs - this is the case with any laser or IPL system used. Instead laser hair removal allows for easier management of hair.
Is my patient a suitable candidate for laser hair removal?
Most people are able to have laser hair removal. Unsuitable candidates include those who are currently pregnant (breast-feeding does not preclude you from treatment), patients prone to skin discolouration or keloid scarring, and patients who want grey, white, red, or very fine hairs removed as these hair colours do not work particularly well although clinical trails using squid ink have produced some excellent results.
Patients who have recently taken Roaccutane for acne need to wait at least 6 months after finishing their course of treatment to commence laser hair removal.
Can lasers be used to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome / pseudofolliculitis barbae?
Lasers can be used for the treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae, or ingrown hairs in the face and neck. This can be a problem that is extremely aggravating on the skin, causing acne and marks on the skin, whilst also making it difficult to shave. Furthermore, lasers can be used for unwanted hair growth on the face and neck in females. This is a very distressing problem for many females, and can be difficult to manage. Often, there is a hormonal cause for this. It may be due to polycystic ovarian syndrome for example. Also, as you get older, the balance between the male and female hormones becomes unbalanced, and this can lead to facial or neck hair growth. Laser hair removal can be used to help manage this problem, and reduce the frequency for other forms of hair removal. It needs to be performed every 4 weeks on the face and neck.
For those with excessive facial hairs, our doctors may decide to perform some blood tests to determine if you have any hormonal imbalances or underlying causes for the excessive facial hair. This may also be applicable to sudden onset of excessive hair growth in other areas that usually don't grow hair.
Adjunctive treatments to help reduce hair growth can be used in conjunction with laser hair removal. Vaniqa is a cream with the ingredient eflornithine hydrochloride. It blocks an enzyme which is required for hair growth. In some cases, we would also suggest a home care cream for Pseudofolliculitis barbae.
What does the patient need to do before treatment?
Hair should not be plucked or waxed at least 4 weeks before treatment. It can be plucked or shaved
The principle behind this is to leave just the follicle of the hair intact. Plucking/waxing will remove the follicle, whereas shaving will not
The area to be treated should be shaved on the day of the procedure.
The area treated should not be exposed top the sun 4 weeks for lighter skins 2 weeks for darker. This means avoidance of solariums, direct sun exposure, spray tans, and use of sunscreen daily on the areas to be treated.
Cosmetics or creams should not be applied to the treatment area on the day of treatment.
If they have a history of cold sores and the treated area is on the upper lip or chin, you will need to inform the clinic at time of consultation so that appropriate anti-viral therapy can be prescribed before the treatment.
What does laser hair removal feel like?
Generally, there is a small amount of discomfort associated with laser hair removal. It feels like a rubber band snapping on the skin associated with the feeling of heat, or a dull pin prick. Any discomfort is reduced by the contact cooling tip of the laser, but will increase with an increase in the size and density of the hair follicle, the darkness of the skin, and the laser energy used.
What are the risks of laser hair removal?
Sun avoidance is important after laser treatments, and sunscreen should be used on the treated area (if exposed to sunlight) on a daily basis. This is important to reduce pigmentation problems after the treatment (either gain or loss of pigmentation of the treated area).
Although uncommon, any blisters or scabs resulting from laser hair removal should not be scratched or picked at. This can result in permanent scarring (very rare) if these blisters or scabs become irritated or infected.
The skin may appear mildly red and swollen after treatment and aloe vera gel / Sudocreme can also be used for any skin irritation from laser treatment.
Uncommonly, laser hair removal on the upper lip may also re-activate cold sores, and if this occurs the patient should inform the clinic as soon as possible.
There is no relationship between laser hair removal and skin cancers. It is the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum that causes skin cancers and the laser wavelengths used for hair removal are not close to the UV spectrum.
Why choose Frodsham Laser Clinic as a provider of laser hair removal for your patients?
The clinic is Health Care registered with easy access to either of its locations in Frodsham and Liverpool, we work in partnership with domiciliary services in Cheshire and the North West and have and have working knowledge of the NHS.
We use the latest laser technology to perform your patients treatment. Having access to four different lasers, our clinics can treat most skin types and body areas with the exception of the eyes.
We offer free assessment / treatment reports and for the NHS we can be flexible towards any other requirement. Our staff are highly experienced in laser treatments, all patients must be referred for a consultation and skin test prior to treatment.
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