Laser Hair Removal

The Diode laser is the most advanced in the market, it can provide a durable effect and the best it can reduces the likelihood of skin problems such as stains, burns or erythema.

First of all we need to remember that FEW CLINICS HAVE DIODE LASER for its high cost respect to other laser technologies. Most of the clinics and the chains of franchises have lasers more cheaper.

Many manufacturers believe that LightSheer ™ is which produces the best equipment of Diode laser. They think that the equipment of the LightSheer ™ are approved by the FDA for the permanent hair removal from the beard pseudofoliculitis, vascular treatment and pigmented lesions. And also treat all kinds of skins (I-VI), including bronzed skins by a powerful cooling of the skin with long pulses of 100 ms and 400 ms.

“Laser: removes hair permanently and is indicated for people who suffer from folliculitis (enquistamiento hair). The best of all types of laser is Diode although it is still using obsolete technologies but is effective like Alexandrite. This kind of waxing should not apply to blacks, pregnant women or people suffering from recurrent herpes. It should be no sunbathing at least two months before and 15 days after treatment. Two hours before it should apply anesthetic cream to avoid the pain. Between one session and other,  it must wait for about two and a half months using as a single blade waxing. ”

In the world have sold more equipment of Diode LightSheer ™ than any other laser hair removal system. So it would not be a bad idea to ask: “What types of laser you use?” before starting a treatment of laser hair removal.

As you know a woman who is pregnant or breast-feeding can not be treated by laser hair removal. There are many kinds of reasons and in this article we will analyze the most important.

The main reason is because the body of the pregnant women rejects any which occurs abnormal form on his body. And laser hair removal can be defined as “abnormal”. The same thing happens with other techniques such as waxing hair removal with wax. In some cases women become intolerant or even allergic to the wax.

Another reason is because during pregnancy hormonal changes occur fairly drastic. The skin is more sensitive and will notice an increase in the levels of progesterone, which is the main cause of hirsutism. Women who have never noticed the presence of hair in the abdominal area may be surprised to realize that on the line dawn appear some hair. Therefore hair removal is a “useless”.

At the end,  it is not advisable laser hair removal to a pregnant by “fear of the unknown.” According to what we know that there are no conclusive studies on pregnant women who undergo laser hair removal treatments.

A serious clinical and professional should advise pregnant women not to do laser hair removal. And this can to avoid any risk. The international medical regulations tell us clearly that pregnant women should not receive any medication or medical procedure (such as laser hair removal) that is not essential to their health or their baby.

It’s also good to know that the laser used in laser hair removal is not teratogenic, it´s means that it does not cause malformations to the fetus. In fact, the thermal effect of the laser reaches a maximum depth of 4 mm, which is restricted only to the skin.

Laser hair removal can be a little expensive for some people, especially in these times of crisis. What kinds of alternatives we can find in the market?

TECHNIQUE OF SUGAR (SUGARING)
The sugaring is a technique that was born in ancient Egypt and had the double purpose of removing the hair and exfoliate the skin. Today is a technique used in the East and in some aesthetic centers of Europe.
The technique consists in preparing a solution of water (1 cup and a half), sugar (1 cup) and 1 lemon. The solution should be simmering until the sugar dissolves completely and the solution is to become “a hot wax.” Then we must apply it in the dry skin and clean in the direction of hair growth.
This technique is ideal for people with sensitive skin problem. It is completely hypoallergenic for its natural ingredients and leaves the skin very smooth.

WARM WAXING HAIR REMOVAL
The warm wax is produced with different kinds of resins and its use is becoming increasingly popular because it provides very effective: the hair stops growing by about 6 weeks. Moreover is a little painful respect for the traditional wax because it uses less strip and thus cool faster and skin fails to even feel the heat. It was therefore often used in sensitive areas such as English and armpits and leaves the skin soft and smooth.

HAIR REMOVAL CREAM
The use of hair removal cream is very simple: spread the cream to the area to pluck with a spatula, left acting a few minutes, then withdrew the cream with the same spatula.
In the market there are quite a lot of brands of hair removal creams and today we can also find the male line (for example Veet for Man). If we want to know the views of many brands of hair removal cream, you can find it in Ciao! There are many good comparisons of hair removal creams.

Recently there is so much talking about hair removal with sugar (sugaring). Did you know that your skin can be smooth and soft and the hair stops growing for 6 weeks? Let’s look at this in depth ancient technique of hair removal.

According to the history the inventors and the first people to use this technique were Egyptians. Today you can find some people make hair removal with sugar in the Middle East and some countries of eastern Europe and Asia.

Ingredients needed: 1 cup and a half of water, 1 cup sugar, 1 lemon.

Preparation: placed water, sugar and lemon in a skillet and stir it constantly with a little fire until the sugar dissolves. When the mixture reaches the point of ball then withdrew the pan-fire.

How to check the point of ball? you can check it by placing the tip of a knife in syrup (mix) and were immediately immersed in cold water (use a glass). It should form a soft ball. It should be around the 116 º C.

Allow to cool the mixture until it reaches the consistency of a rubber. Now the mixture is ready for use.

Technique: first of all we have to have the skin very clean. Then we make an initial test by putting a little mixture on the skin: the mixture should stick but does not have to be difficult to remove. Besides, it also has to be lukewarm.  Spread the mixture in the area that we want to make hair removal within the meaning of hair growth.

Well, the time has come: with a wrench remove the mixture in the opposite direction to the growth of hair. Does it work? If remaining hairs can repeat the procedure until all hair is removed. In the case that the skin irritation that will let it rest a while. Once finished the hair removal in the area, clean it with water.

According to researchers at the University Suleyman Demirel of Turkey daily consumption from 2 to 5 cups infusion of a variety of mint (Mentha spicata Labiatae, the famous spearmint) diminishes the appearance of female hair and allows combat hirsutism.

This infusion acts by reducing levels of male hormone (testosterone) in women. As is well known that hormone provides women with sexual desire but when it is present in large concentrations also causes the appearance of facial hair in areas, shoulders, belly and breasts.

According to the discoverers, taking daily infusions of mint can then combat hirsutism (which affects 5% of the female population) in the same way as is done with much more expensive treatments and who often bring with them side effects.

Recipe: pouring a quarter of a litre of boiling water into a cup and a bit of dried leaves of mint. Allow infusion for 5-10 minutes.

The article was published in the journal Phytotherapy Research and is entitled “Effect of spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) teas on androgen levels in women with Hirsutism.

Before the discovery turkish infusions of mint used in herbal medicine to cure the slow digestions, inflammation of the liver and gallbladder. The essential oil obtained from the mint combined with stimulants and sedatives are used as a calming of muscle cramps.”

The  union  of two energies improving current technology of the laser is named ELOS (optical instrument of electrical synergy). It combines electrical energy (RF driven) and optical energy (laser). This will get greater and predictable performance since there are fewer required levels of light (up to 60% less) which gives greater safety and increases patient comfort.

Behind this technology we found Syneron which is American company with offices in every continent, technology leader in medical aesthetics with more than 6000 patents in 50 countries.

This technology makes the two energies produce heat that focus on different sides and at different times, collaborating on the work of destruction of hair. First the heat produced by the laser is focused on the sheath of hair (the part of hair that protrudes from the epidermis). This creates a path thermal through which electrical energy travels. This energy in turn produces heat which focuses on the hair follicle and the area of the bulb.

Under this technology, Syneron has developed 2 systems: Aurora system (RF driven + IPL) and Polaris system (RF driven + diode).
The ELOS technology is adapting technology for all skin types, as this energy is not adsorbed by the epidermal melanin.
More information on the books of David Goldberg, one of the best specialist in cosmetic surgery laser in the world.

To achieve optimum results in the treatment of laser hair removal, we must not only choose a clinic with proven experience and great specialists. Nor is it enough teams possessing highly efficient and last generation. If we really want to take advantage of  the full benefits that this method gives us and we want to make laser hair removal with fewer sessions and minimal hassle, it is necessary for us, patients, to prepare good before the session. This will get further minimize the potential risks that any medical procedure entails.

And this is not very difficult: a little common sense in addition to the strict monitoring of the standards that we delivered at the clinic will suffice. However, do a little review of everything that we need to observe so that our  laser hair removal treatment will be a success.

1. First, our skin must be as white as possible. Whatever our natural color of skin, is of great importance not exposed to the sun at least one month before starting treatment. The same can be said of UVA and the cosmetic tanning, whether in cream or spray booth. Any system that darkens our skin or BRONZE hamper the laser hair removal treatment and cause risk of burns. Therefore, if we have seasonal heat, cover our skin with long sleeves and trousers and apply creams with high sun protection factor.

2. Secondly, areas to treat must be completely clean. This is for several reasons: the respect that we must earn our staff will meet and also for our own interest, as an area which is not sanitation can lead, with the action of laser spots on the skin. It is therefore clear the area with soap and water and carefully remove any remaining makeup, deodorants and cosmetics.

3. The shaving. In carrying out treatment, the hair can not be grown. A long hair absorbs the energy of the laser can burn the skin (by reaching burn) and prevents the energy reaches the follicle. Ideally, the hair is grown by 1 or 2 millimeters away from the skin, to serve as “antenna” to capture and transmit energy into the hair follicle causing the destruction of it. That is why we shaved 2 or 3 days before attending the session.

4. The pain. While laser hair removal is generally little annoying for some people more susceptible can become very painful. To this problem there is a solution in the form of anesthetic ointment. The ointment is a drug and not a cosmetic. Therefore, a doctor belonging to the collegiate staffing of the center where we are going to hair removal, shall issue the appropriate recipe for acquiring ointment in the pharmacy.

The ointment has an active anesthetic that can be absorbed through general. Therefore, never apply the anesthetic creams  to large areas of skin, avoidance of possible side effects of it. After applying the cream, put a film transparent and expects between 30 and 60 minutes to take effect. The lack of film or will not wait long enough that the cream does not cause the expected result.

Before treatment

When you start a session of laser hair removal, first of all they will clean the area and then proceeded to shot the laser directly onto the skin without any external cooling system or anesthesia. The higher creep more effectively is achieved.

If the follicle has absorbed enough energy there may be reactions as a small swelling or redness follicular which often disappear at 2 or 3 hours.

After treatment

First of all there is to remember not to sunbathe in 2 or 3 weeks minimum; could produce hiperpigmentation. The results will be from 10-15 days: we will see that the hairs are falling on their own. So do not worry whether these days before the hairs are still emerging and it seems more blacks (that is due to the charring caused by the laser).

In the apparatus of intense pulsed light (IPL) the light is produced in the hand piece (called by some gun or manipulation). The central unit contains the power supply and cooling system. We must provide water to cooling system to prevent damage to equipment. Hand pieces have been intensively cleaned after each use, because the gel that is applied is dry and opacity that will produce less effective treatment.

All appliances need to calibrate daily to ensure that energy is delivered which really marks the apparatus. The lack of calibration can do that is delivered less energy (ineffective treatment) or to be delivered too much (burns).

The laser diode is much simpler in its maintenance, only requires a scrupulous cleaning after each use, very careful not to hit or drop the handling and care deal with the touch screen. However it is necessary to calibrate the laser before each treatment, as in all other systems.

It is crucial to have a maintenance contract with the manufacturer that we ensure a series of periodic reviews and the use of spare parts approved. Some Centers spared in this type of expenditure, leading to more costly breakdowns and possible damage in patients. As always, we recommend going to clinics and prestige with years of experience.

One final point: Can a young girl of 20 years, inexperienced and with little accountability, valuing the importance of good use of this equipment? The franchises generally employ staffs very young and inexperienced that, after a brief training, pass to take over such complex equipment. We call from here so that those responsible for franchises are aware of great importance technical maintenance of such equipment and its proper use.

The laser is an instrument of precision, highly sensitive and requires very careful. As there is no single laser but many different kinds of lasers, each has some requirements and needs of various maintenance. Let´s see any of them.

The Alexandrite Laser is one of the most fragile and unstable.The enormous technical complexity needed to produce laser light with the procedure of alejandrita, makes all the machinery that produces the laser (light, glass, shutter, etc.) within the central unit, transmitting light by an optical fiber to the manipulations that applies on the patient´s skin. These lasers require a room with temperature stable and low (never exceed 23 degrees). Therefore, whatever in winter or summer, it´s obliged to have air conditioning connected in the treatment room which is not always comfortable for the patient. Faced with increases in temperature and prolonged use, the security system that incorporates these devices can make you stop the laser.

The Alexandrite Laser have lenses, separators and other parts to be changed during the session (when they reach a certain temperature) and allow to cool for reuse again. The fiber optic that we have mentioned is extremely fragile and can break before a sudden movement or a stretch (its cost is thousands of euro).