Laser hair removal

When a tissue absorbs laser light, the energy is converted to heat. It is this heating that produces the laser's physiological effect. Most laser hair removal systems are designed to remove unwanted hair through selective absorption of an intense light pulse at wavelengths that are preferentially absorbed by the desired targets (hair follicles) but not by the surrounding tissue.
The only technicians entitled to stake a claim to Permanent Hair Removal are electrologists, as no laser has yet demonstrated Permanency of results. However, a long lasting reduction of hair coverage is easily achievable using various forms of laser treatment.

Several different laser sources are used in commercially available systems. They include Ruby lasers, Alexandrite lasers, Nd:YAG lasers, and Diode lasers. In addition, filtered light systems,and infrared coagulators, while not technically lasers, compete in this market.

The Ruby laser (Epilaser) was the first laser hair removal system and has been extensively tested in Dermatology. It has an output wavelength of 694nm which is very selectively absorbed by melanin (the pigment in the hair and skin). It causes selective damage to hair follicles, minimising injury to the skin.

The Epilaser has an exclusively patented actively cooled sapphire handpiece which conducts heat away from the skin before, during and after each laser pulse. The compression of the skin with the handpiece is important in focussing the laser energy on the hair follicle and this chilled handpiece reduces injury to the skin.

The specific 2 second period between each laser pulse is set to take the heat away from the skin and therefore cause less pain. The faster the pulse is, the more painful. Hence the pulse timing of the Ruby laser has been designed to be advantageous to the patient. Documented studies have shown significant long term hair reduction through the use of Epilaser, which is safe, and relatively painless.

ALEXANDRITE LASER

The Alexandrite laser produces laser energy at 755nm, in the red to near infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Like ruby laser energy, alexandrite energy is preferentially absorbed by melanin in skin and hair follicles. This laser works in a similar fashion to the Ruby Laser.

NEODYMIUM

YTTRIUM ALUMINIUM GARNET (Nd:YAG) LASERS Nd:YAG lasers are solid state lasers that produce invisible light energy at 1064nm, in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. They can also be operated in frequency doubled mode to produce green light of 532nm.Usually used on tatoos and pigmented lesions, the Nd:YAG laser is not specific for hair removal.

Therefore to effect epilation, the laser must be used in conjunction with a carbon lotion which is spread on the skin and designed to penetrate to the hair follicle and then selectively absorb the wavelength of the Nd:YAG laser.

The difficulty of getting the carbon to penetrate deeply enough into the hair follicle to damage the generative cells is the major problem in the effective use of this laser. There is significant potential for epidermal injury with this laser, and if the carbon particles used in the lotion are exploded by the laser there is the risk of a tatooing effect.

DIODE LASERS

Semiconductor diode lasers are another type of solid state laser. One of the advantages of diode lasers is that their wavelength can be tuned by altering certain parameters such as the current applied to the semiconductor.

Clinical data on the use of the diode laser for epilation suggest that the diode has specific advantages when treating specific hair colours and skin types. However, research is still in progress as to the Diode laser's efficacy.

INTENSE PULSED LIGHT SYSTEMS

The intense pulsed light technology is non coherent laser. The wavelength, exposure duration, and energy level are that chosen to selectively damage targeted hair follicles with minimum damage to the surrounding tissue. The intense pulsed light is absorbed by the hair follicles, resulting in their heating.

The follicles are damaged and these damaged follicles result in epilation. There are many parameters of the energy emitted from the intense pulsed light machine that can be adjusted by the operator, which allows significant flexibilty of treatment, thereby personalising the therapy and minimising side effects.

Treatment is not compatible with concurrent sun exposure and certain hair or skin colours may result in differing results. Some patients feel mild discomfort during treatment. Multiple treatments are required, given over several months, with progressive clearing over time.

This is thought to be long term, rather than permanent. The size of the handpiece of the machine has been designed so as to cover larger areas in less time, increasing efficiency of hair removal.