opinion | DereGuLaTion | To be clear, permanent hair removal is
classed as the complete destruction of a hair follicle’s ability to regenerate and grow hair, and has been clinically proven and demonstrated only in methods using electrolysis. The laser hair removal procedure
involves shaving and cleaning, and the application of an anaesthetic cream. a laser is then applied, producing pulsed beams of highly-concentrated light which is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicles, thereby damaging the surrounding follicle. a recent innovation is the facial hair
cream Vaniqa (eflornithine), a product that inhibits a key enzyme involved in hair growth. it is said to suppress hair growth in 70% of women and can be used in combination with a laser. Four wavelengths – 694 nm (ruby laser);
755 nm (alexandrite laser); 800 nm (Diode laser); and 1064 nm (neodymium YaG/nD YaG laser) – have been shown to be effective in the removal of pigmented hair. The following describes briefly some of the main types of lasers and iPL for hair removal.
Depilation is one of the main uses of
cosmetic laser treatment, and is growing in popularity year on year. nHS Tayside says that over a quarter of
normal middle-aged women have unwanted facial hair. Bupa suggests that 10% of uK women overall have some form of hirsutism – increased growth of terminal hair in areas outside the usual female pattern, and where usually only vellous hair grows. The condition can be caused by
excessive production of androgens (male sex hormones) in women, or sometimes by certain drugs (anabolic steroids, corticosteroids and pregnancy pills), or be due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCoS) or it might be inherited. overweight or obese individuals, and those with diabetes, may be more at risk of developing hirsutism, but for most women, the condition is idiopathic. For many women, the recourse to
treatment is driven by the social pressure to have an absence of facial hair and smooth legs and armpits.
Permanent removal among users, laser treatment scores higher than the temporary remedies (waxing, depilatory creams, shaving, plucking and sugaring), as it is perceived
64 ❚ March 2011 |
prime-journal.com
as a longer-term solution. The procedure is indeed becoming more popular among both men and women, who see the alternatives as generally only able to be carried out on relatively small areas of the body. But claims of permanency of hair
removal have sometimes been exaggerated, as seen in certain advertising cases in the uS, where it has been found that
accurate
information on the ‘permanency’ of hair removal after one or several treatments has been lacking, Dr Gault observes.
The sheer The
advertising authorities in the uS, for instance, have taken action recently over distorted claims. in fact, “there is no
variety of laser
types and brands has made the provision and regulation of training of operators a
need to tell fibs”, says Dr Gault as the market for hair removal treatment is large and growing. However, it is a grey area. The industry
complicated issue.
claims that several lasers and light-based machines have demonstrated permanent hair reduction in clinical studies, and are allowed to make this claim.
Laser types Ruby The ruby laser (wavelength 694 nm) is the oldest type of depilation laser. it is suitable for skin types i and ii on the Fitzpatrick skin type scale (a scale with six types, i-Vi, where i is people with white, very fair, red or blond hair and blue eyes and freckles, who always burn and never tan; and Vi people with black skin that never burns and tans easily). it works well in dark hair and fair skin types, but cannot be used on people with darker and tanned skin.
Alexandrite alexandrite (wavelength 755 nm) lasers are the fastest laser hair removal systems, but
are usually
recommended only for a very white skin tone. They
can treat large body areas among patients who are of light-to-olive complexion. recommended for skin type i.
Diode The Diode laser (wavelength 800, 810 nm) is said to be the best overall laser for all six
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