Hair Removal

HOW DOES HAIR GROW? AND WHY TO REMOVE HAIR?

Hair is made of a protein called keratin, which is produced by cells in the hair follicle. The hair follicle is like a tiny factory that makes hair. As new cells are made, they push the old ones out of the follicle and form the hair shaft. The hair shaft is the part of the hair that you see and touch. The hair shaft has no living cells, so it can’t grow by itself. The growth of hair depends on the activity of the hair follicle, which is influenced by many factors, such as hormones, genetics, nutrition, and stress. Hair grows in cycles, which means it has phases of growth, rest, and shedding. The length of each phase varies depending on the type and location of the hair. On average, scalp hair grows about half an inch per month, but this can vary from person to person.

Some people may want to remove unwanted hair from different parts of their body, such as the face, legs, arms, or bikini line. There are different methods of hair removal, such as shaving, waxing, threading, or plucking, but these are temporary and may cause irritation, ingrown hairs, or infections. Laser and IPL (intense pulsed light) are two types of light-based hair removal that can offer longer-lasting results by damaging or destroying the hair follicles.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Laser and IPL both work by targeting the pigment (melanin) in the hair and heating it up until it damages the follicle. The main difference between them is the type of light they use. Laser uses a single wavelength of light that is more direct and focused, while IPL uses a broad spectrum of light that can be filtered to target different structures in the skin, such as melanin or blood vessels.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT DURING THE TREATMENT?

During a treatment, you may feel a sensation of heat, tingling, or snapping on your skin. This is normal and usually tolerable. Some people may experience more discomfort than others, depending on their skin type, hair color, and pain threshold. You can ask your technician to adjust the settings or apply a numbing cream if needed.

AFTER THE TREATMENT

After a hair removal treatment with IPL or laser, you may experience some temporary side effects such as redness, swelling, itching, or sensitivity in the treated area. These are normal reactions and usually subside within a few hours or days. You should avoid sun exposure, hot showers, saunas, swimming pools, and harsh chemicals for at least 24 hours after the treatment. You should also apply a soothing moisturizer and sunscreen to protect your skin. You may notice some hair shedding in the following weeks, which is part of the process of hair reduction. You should not wax, pluck, or bleach the treated hair, as this can interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment. You should follow the recommended schedule of sessions to achieve optimal results.

HOW MANY SESSIONS

The number of sessions needed for hair removal with laser or IPL depends on several factors, such as the area being treated, the skin type, the hair color, the hair density, and the hair growth cycle. Generally, most people need 4 to 6 sessions spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart to achieve optimal results. However, some people may need more sessions depending on their individual response to the treatment.

WE HAVE A COOLING SYSTEM

A cooling system is a device or a method that lowers the temperature of the skin before, during, or after the laser hair removal treatment. Cooling systems can help reduce the pain and discomfort caused by the laser heat, as well as protect the skin from thermal damage and inflammation. Cooling systems can also improve the effectiveness of the laser hair removal treatment by increasing the contrast between the dark hair and the light skin, making it easier for the laser to target the hair follicles.

What is FRAC3® hair removal?

The 1064 nm Nd:YAG FRAC3® method is optimized to deliver high intensity laser pulses in extremely short times of less than 2 ms, sufficiently short to destroy most hair types while avoiding unnecessary damage to the epidermis. Due to the relativelly low absorbtion in melanin, Nd:YAG laser treatments can be used safely and effectively even with darker skin types.

How does FRAC3® hair removal work?

Fotona’s Nd:YAG laser energy is absorbed selectively by the hair bulb and hair matrix, thus destroying the hair follicle. The FRAC3® pulse produces a three dimensional fractional pattern within the epidermis and dermis, with energy being absorbed predominantly at the sites of small skin imperfections before heat is transferred to the surrounding non-target structures. Laser parameters can be adjusted quickly and easily according to your patient’s skin type, hair thickness, hair color as well as depth of hair follicles. Nd:YAG FRAC3 ® pulses should be administered with a slight overlap covering the entire treatment surface. Apply cooling to maximize comfort during the treatment. Special post-treatment care is not required. Follicles treated in the anagen phase should fall out in approximately 2-3 weeks. Observe if new growth is present and repeat the treatment if needed. The treatment schedule will depend on each individual’s hair growth cycle.

How Does IPL Laser Differ From Laser?

The major difference between IPL and laser treatments is in the kind of light employed. IPL does not use laser light energy. Instead, laser light is monochromatic, non-divergent, and is intended to cover a fairly limited area. On the other hand, IPL emits a broad spectrum of white light that is absorbed by colored hairs. The wavelengths that IPL devices produce do not go into the skin as deeply as a laser. 

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a form of light that is delivered in one or more rapid bursts. This method is very useful for hair removal, vascular treatment, and the removal of skin discoloration since the IPL device selectively heats and destroys these chromophores, resulting in a flawless, airbrushed appearance.

As a result, IPL is more versatile than certain lasers, and with medical-grade IPL, you may receive a wide range of treatments with fantastic results comparable to those produced with a high-power laser. Both technologies are excellent at targeting specific chromophores (such as melanin and hemoglobin), and when combined, laser and radiofrequency are very effective.

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