St Marks Hospitals

Laser Hair Removal And IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

IPL Hair Removal and Laser Hair Removal
For many men and women, unwanted hair can be a nightmare. Until now the only options for removing unwanted hair were smelly hair removal creams, sharp razors, stinging wax or painful electrolysis needles. IPL, an advanced approach to beautiful skin, provides the ultimate solution. Now, men and women alike will be pleased with the results made possible by the IPL Laser Hair Removal process.
What is the IPL Laser Hair Removal process?

The IPL process uses intense pulsed light to gently remove unwanted hair, putting an end to routine shaving and waxing. IPL treatments leave your skin looking and feeling smoother and silkier. This patented technology transcends the older, painful hair removal treatments to deliver long lasting results. IPL’s wide beam treats larger areas such as the back, shoulders, arms, legs and face rather than treating one hair at a time. Best of all, IPL treatments are a safe, fast, gentle and effective alternative method for hair removal.

What are the benefits of IPL hair removal and Laser Hair Removal?

• Larger areas may be treated at one time.
• It works equally well with light or dark hair and skin.
• There is less chance for scarring and pigmentation change.
• Less pain and discomfort compared to other hair removal treatments.
• Combines the speed of shaving with the lasting results promised by electrolysis.
• IPL is effective on almost any area of the body where smoother, younger-looking hair-free skin is desired.

How many treatments will I need?
The number of treatments you may require for optimal long-term benefits depends on the area you wish to have treated, the hair density and your hair’s growth cycle. Your hair grows in cycles and many factors influence it’s growth. Age, ethnicity, weight, hormones, diet, medication and metabolism all play a part in your hair’s location, thickness and resilience.

IPL slows the growing capacity of follicles in the growth cycle at the time of the treatment. Since some hair follicles may enter their growth cycle after your treatment, three or four treatments may be required to deliver optimal results. The opposite is usually the case. IPL treatments may cause hair to come back slower and thinner. Note: Removing hair does not make it grow back thicker, darker or quicker.

How does the IPL process differ from electrolysis and Laser Hair Removal?
Electrolysis is a much slower process. With electrolysis, a needle is actually inserted into each hair follicle, one at a time. Once inserted, an electric shock burns the follicle to retard growth. IPL hair removal treatments only use intense pulsed light energy. This is unique because it is relatively painless and unlike the laser hair removal process, IPL works equally well on most skin pigmentations without removing any of the pigment. IPL hair removal can also safely and effectively eliminate hair of all colors: blond, red, brown, black and even white. With the IPL process, your doctor can gently treat hair in sensitive areas such as the lip or nipples while maintaining a healthy, normal appearance of the surrounding tissue. Treatments can last from a few minutes to a few hours depending on the size of the area being treated. IPL hair removal treatments are relatively painless, yet effective.

Following Laser Hair Removal Treatments
After your treatment, the area is cleansed and you can return to your normal activities immediately. Your physician may recommend that you use a specially formulated skin care product line or prescribe a skin care regime especially formulated for your skin type. The use of sun screen is recommended on any treated areas exposed to the sun.

What Is IPL Intense Pulsed Light Hair Removal?
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), is most commonly employed by medical practitioners and aestheticians working under the guidance of a physician, is a method of hair removal from the body involving the use of a specially constructed xenon flash lamp and focusing optics.

The Intense Pulsed Light hair removal process has become very popular due to its cheaper and faster procedure compared to laser hair removal, which is often more costly and time consuming. The comparison of effectiveness between Intense Pulsed Light and Laser Epilation is debated by scientists, equipment manufacturers and practitioners, but results are generally accepted to be roughly equivalent. IPL is generally advertised as “permanent hair reduction” as opposed to “permanent hair removal” (these phrases are misnomers when applied to laser or IPL hair removal). It is also used for the treatment of the skin in a process known as photorejuvenation.

Hair removal mechanics: The focused, broad-spectrum light is applied to the surface of the skin by way of either a hand-held wand, or by an articulated arm. The intense light travels through the tissue of the skin until it strikes the hair shafts or the bulb (root) of the hair. The bulb is usually where the highest concentration of melanin is located, as opposed to the rest of the hair shaft. The light is converted to heat energy. The bulb and most of the hair shaft are instantly vaporized. The intense heat radiated by the hair also destroys the hair-producing papilla or the entire hair follicle. It is also claimed that direct light-heat conversion occurs directly in the darker colored capilaries that bring nourishing blood to the follicle.

IPL technology is also employed in the treatment of medical disorders of the skin including sun damage induced dyspigmentation and vascular changes; poikiloderma of Civatte; acne Rosacea; broken capillaries/telangiectases; vascular and pigmented birth marks. In terms of rosacea, IPL offers one of the few effective treatments to relieve the facial redness associated with the disorder. Such treatment is best administered by a specialist dermatologist. This new technology incorporates ‘dual mode filtering’ and other important advances which result in safer and more effective treatment than the older systems; which were initially designed for simple processes such as hair removal.

The pulses of light produced by IPL equipment are very short in duration, so discomfort and damage to non-target tissues is minor. Most people who undergo IPL epilation only experience slight irritation similar to that of a minor sunburn though under certain circumstances, blisters may occur. Men undergoing the procedure experience greater discomfort as male body hair is generally thicker than women’s. Depending on the instrument settings and intensity, treating sensitive areas such as the chest and face can result in pain comparable to waxing the same areas; however this pain dissipates immediately. The light that emanates from the IPL wand is filtered to remove any ultraviolet components, eliminating the possibility of UV skin damage.

Background on IPL and Laser Hair Removal Treatment
Using light as a medical treatment has grown significantly in recent years. Now, there are a number of devices which use light for a variety of medical treatments.

Ultra - Violet light, for example, has been used to treat psoriasis (a chronic skin disease) for a number of years, and many people use light boxes during the winter to reduce the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Simply, regular exposure to such light is said to make people feel better.

The use of laser light for medical procedures began in the 1960s when lasers were first used in operations as cutting tools by some surgeons. Laser technology has developed over the last few decades to treat patients with a variety of different skin problems including the effects of sun damage, hair removal, thread and varicose veins and, recently, the treatment of psoriasis and acne. In fact, laser treatment for hair removal was developed after they had been used to treat skin problems. Scientific studies in the early 1990s proved that lasers were an effective method of removing unwanted hair, and the first machine approved for use in America was in 1996. Since then, many different types of laser and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) machines or Light Heat Energy (LHE) devices have been developed and improved to remove hair in all areas of the body (including beards).

This hair removal procedure has proved very popular in a short space of time in the U.S., where figures from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (A.S.A.P.S.) indicate that laser hair removal was the third most common cosmetic treatment in 2007 with 1.41 million treatments, down 4% on 2006. There has been similar rapid adoption of this technology by many clinics in the United Kingdom. For those interested in laser hair removal treatment, it is important to note that no manufacturer has been given permission to claim that they can cause “permanent removal” of hair, as this has not yet been proven. However, they are allowed to claim “permanent reduction” of hair when advertising this option for hair removal. That means that whilst hair may not be removed entirely, it will certainly be removed to a significant degree. If you are considering hair removal using light the following information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure. It can’t answer all your questions, since a lot depends on the individual and the practitioner. Please ask a practitioner about anything you don’t understand.

What are lasers/ IPL/LHE machines and how do they work for Laser Hair Removal
A laser is a high-energy beam of light that can transfer its energy through the skin to a specific part of the body. These beams of light can vary in terms of their strength and the type of tissue that they can target. In the case of hair removal, pigment contained in the hair shaft can be targeted as can the hair follicle or root with a single specific wavelength (or colour) or light generated by the laser.

This energy heats up the base of the hair follicle, which causes damage to the cells that produce hair growth. If enough damage is done, this will prevent the hair from growing any further (please see diagram below).

The effect is most obvious during what is known as the anagen phase of hair growth. That is when new hairs start to grow. During this period of growth, the hair follicle has increased pigmentation and growth of new cells that makes it more open to damage from light treatment.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Intense Pulsed Light systems are different from lasers in that they can deliver hundreds of wavelengths (or colours) in each burst of light. Certain filters are used that target these flashes of light so that they can work in as precise a way as lasers. Simply, the burst of light to the hair causes damage to the follicle in the same way as a laser.

Light, Heat Energy (LHE)
LHE is a variation on the above, this time delivering both controlled levels of low level light and heat that can be used for hair removal.

Home Use Lasers for Laser Hair Removal
In December 2006, Palomar Medical Technologies announced that it had become the first company to receive US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval for an over-the-counter, home use, light-based hair removal device, allowing the device to be sold directly to consumers in the United States upon launch. The device, registered with the FDA as the ‘ABC Hair Removal System’ is composed of a base unit, umbilical cord, hand piece, chiller system with chiller coolant, cleaning wipes, ABC lubricant, power supply and safety components. It is rumoured to be a diode laser which will cost in the region of $1,200 (approx. £600) and is being developed by Palomar and commercialised in conjunction with The Gillette Company, already famous as the leading manufacturer of razors. So far, no device has actually been launched but is anticipated sometime in 2008.

Tria - at home laser hair removal - available from www.consultingroomshop.comIn 2003, a team of American dermatologists, engineers, and executives, who were previously behind the development of the Lumenis diode laser LightSheer™ back in the early 1990s, went on to found SpectraGenics. They then began the development of its flagship diode laser device for home use, TRIA™, which was subsequently launched in the UK in early 2007. TRIA™ also received FDA approval as an over-the-counter, home use, light-based hair removal device in February 2008. The device which is compact, hand-held and rechargeable offers 3 settings (high, medium and low) for the level of energy delivered, which can be chosen by the user based on their own comfort levels, although the higher setting is likely to produce the better results. There is no requirement for gels or chilling components.

So far TRIA™ is only available in the European countries of Italy, Spain and the UK, plus in Japan where it has sold over 12,000 units in the last year under the brand name i-epi™. The TRIA™ currently retails in the UK for $1500.00. A recent clinical trial showed that the device was not only safe and effective for home use, but that users experienced both excellent short-term, single-treatment hair removal and excellent sustained hair removal with periodic treatments. The only observed side effect was mild-to-moderate redness, which typically resolved in less than 30 minutes, and slight pain during treatment.

What happens during Laser and IPL Hair Removal treatment and how long will it take to recover?
Your first discussion with a practitioner should clearly set out your expectations of laser or intense pulsed light, IPL treatment and the practitioner should tell you whether or not these results are achievable using this method of hair removal. Your medical history should be taken, to ensure that there are no reasons why you shouldn’t have the treatment. At this time, you would also normally be asked to read detailed informastion and sign a consent form which means that you have understood the potential benefits and risks associated with this treatment. Photographs may also be taken by the practitioner for a “before and after” comparison at a later date.

The Laser Hair Removal Procedure
During this treatment, safety eyewear must be worn to protect your eyes from the light generated by the machine for all lasers and IPL machines. This is not required for those using LHE systems. The practitioner will use a small hand piece to touch your skin with flashes of light. Some machines may also spray your skin with a cooling agent before the treatment begins. A gel may also be applied to the treated area. Most patients describe the procedure as a little uncomfortable, with a tingling or stinging sensation during treatment. The discomfort varies with each person, depending on your individual pain threshold and the type of machine used. If you are having this treatment in a sensitive area, you may require an anaesthetic cream to make the treatment more comfortable. Be sure to discuss this with your practitioner before the treatment.

Repeat Laser Hair Removal Procedures
Several treatments are required at the start of hair removal therapy because of the natural growth cycle of hair. This is because each hair follicle goes through growing and resting phases, and the hair follicle is most successfully treated by light early in the growing phase. The number of active follicles and the length of the growth phase varies, and the first treatment will only damage some of the follicles. After a few weeks, previously resting hair follicles break into growth, which then need to be treated. The procedure can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the area being treated. Treatments can be repeated at approximately monthly intervals. In this way, after 2 - 7 treatments, most of the hair follicles in any particular site can be successfully treated. After this series of treatments, any further hair growth can be treated as and when it’s necessary.

Recovery Time From Laser Hair Removal
Most people find that they can return to work immediately after treatment.

Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt and What Could Go Wrong?
Problems after Laser or Intense Pulsed Light, IPL treatment for hair removal vary according to your skin type and the type of hair removal machine used, but here are some of the potential complications. Immediately after the procedure, you may notice some swelling, and the skin may become pink or red and a little sore. Patients have described it as feeling like mild sunburn, but this is a reaction that usually disappears within a day or so.

Skin pigment may be darkened by bright light. It has the same effect as a light suntan, but because it is only visible at the points at which the laser has landed on your skin, it can look quite peculiar! If it occurs at all, (which is quite rare) it will gradually fade but may take many months to do so. If the skin pigment absorbs too much laser energy, the pigment can be damaged leaving pale patches on the skin. Again these usually slowly recover. The same process can cause the skin to overheat, resulting in blistering and possibly scarring. These effects are unlikely on pale skin, but care must be taken with darker skin. Individuals vary in their sensitivity to light treatment so your practitioner should test a patch of your skin before going ahead. This is particularly necessary with some types of machines. Recently tanned skin can be more vulnerable to the side effects or risks described above, and for many types of machine used, clinics will advise you to be as pale as possible before considering hair removal using light treatment. There is some evidence that the use of light based systems for hair removal can cause hair to grow in areas adjacent to the treated area in a small proportion of patients.

What should you do after this procedure?
It is very important that you follow the advice of your practitioner carefully following light treatment for hair removal to reduce the risk of complications.

Post-treatment advice may include:

• Applying an antiseptic cream after treatment;
• Not exposing yourself to the sun without applying a high factor sun block to the treated area;
• Contacting your practitioner immediately if you notice any signs of blistering, infection, persistent pain or pigment changes in the treated area.

Who should not have laser/IPL/LHE hair removal?
This really depends upon the type of machine used by a clinic and your skin and hair colour. There is a wide variety of equipment promoted by around thirty manufacturers and distributors in the U.K..

Some of the newer machines available claim that they can treat all skin types and hair colour, however other pieces of equipment may be more limited. As a result, some clinics may not be able to treat you for the following reasons:
if you have ginger hair which may respond poorly to the treatment. Blonde or white hairs sometimes hardly respond at all;
Mediterranean, Middle and Far Eastern skin types may need to be treated with care;
Darker skin types than the groups listed above. They may not suitable for the stronger lasers because the skin pigment absorbs too much energy causing unwanted damage. Similarly, patients who have recent sun tans should wait until their tan fades.

General reasons of unsuitability not related to skin and hair type include:

• Any history of sensitivity to light based treatments;
• An active infection at the site to be treated;
• Patients who have used the drug isotretinoin in the last year.
• Pregnancy

What sort of practitioner can perform laser/IPL/LHE hair removal?
Laser and Intense Pulsed Light, IPL systems used for hair removal, are used by trained doctors, surgeons or nurses.Some manufacturers have also produced machines that can be used safely by trained beauticians or aestheticians. Please check that a properly qualified practitioner is treating you. Please also note that all clinics offering laser treatments should be registered with the Healthcare Commission. Clinics need to follow certain standards for the safe operation and maintenance of these machines, and receive regular inspections to ensure that national minimum standards are followed. We will not feature any clinics in our sponsored listings who offer laser/IPL treatment and are not currently registered with their local Healthcare Commission. For more information about practitioner training, qualifications and relevant medical organisations please view the information contained within the Legislation section of the Consulting Room.

Hair removal using light is a new cosmetic treatment and therefore long-term studies of the permanency and effectiveness of this method do not yet exist. To the general public permanent means forever. Be aware that in the world of laser/IPL/LHE treatments, permanent means for longer than the normal hair growth cycle on that part of the body. Remember that a process such as radiotherapy can cause hair loss for longer than the hair growth cycle, yet the hair can recover completely after a period of time. Hair follicles are not completely destroyed by light treatment, and they have great powers of re-growth. It is therefore difficult to claim that the hair removal is permanent; indeed most people will experience some regrowth within a year. To give you a more reasonable idea of what to expect, a recent study published in the British Journal of Dermatology found that “3 months after 4 treatments, 95% of patients rated their response as considerably or moderately improved.” They also found that “this degree of patient satisfaction is reflected in the high proportion who requested continued treatment at other sites after the treatment phase of the study was completed.” To put it simply, most people who are currently undergoing hair removal, are satisfied with the results: so much so, that they are going back to their clinics for similar treatment on different areas of their bodies.

Cost of Laser Hair Removal Treatment
It is highly unlikely that anyone considering hair removal using laser or intense pulsed light, IPL, would be able to access this free of charge on the National Health Service. However certain regions do make special cases, especially if you have excess hair as a result of certain medical conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome. We would recommend that you visit your General Practitioner before embarking upon hair removal if you have abnormally excessive hair growth. Prices for private hair removal using light can range from around $85/treatment session for small areas such as the upper lip, bikini line, and under arms to $850/treatment session for the front and back of the legs. The number of treatment sessions that you require for this cosmetic procedure depends on your hair colour and skin type aswell as the type of machine used. In general, a minumum number of sessions would be 3 in order to achieve a good initial result.