Laser hair removal works by using a laser or light source to target and selectively heat the hair follicle. The laser is attracted to the melanin in the hair follicle where it is converted to heat energy that can destroy the stem cell in the hair follicle and prevent its future growth. The skin also takes up part of the laser energy, but it has the ability to lose heat quicker than the hair follicle, and is left intact. Hair also has a larger amount of melanin than skin, therefore it attracts the laser energy more readily than skin. Therefore, as a rule, people with darker hair and lighter skin are easier to treat as there is a greater differential between the amount of melanin in the skin and hair. The hair follicle also dissipates heat slower than the skin, and therefore tends to heat more than the skin with laser treatments.
Laser hair removal works best on the hairs that are in their Anagen or active growth phase.
The laser head is placed on the skin, and systematically fired over the areas to be treated. A slight 'prickly heat sensation' is felt with each laser shot, and this discomfort is usually tolerated well. We also use a cooler to reduce the heat and discomfort of the laser on the skin, and this can be built into the laser head, or be a separate cooling unit that blows cold air onto the skin.
Generally, 3 to 6 sessions are required at 4 to 8 weekly intervals (depending on the area treated) in order to achieve effective reduction in hair growth. The reason why 3 to 6 treatments are required is that laser hair removal works best on the hairs that are in their anagen or active growth phase. Therefore, in order to reduce the amount of hair growth, multiple treatments are required to capture more hair follicles in their anagen phase of growth. The interval between each session is decreased in areas such as the face which has a shorter hair cycle.
The permanence of laser hair removal has always been a debatable topic. In many cases, hair reduction can be achieved for a significant period of time, sometimes years. Although laser hair removal is able to permanently remove existing hairs, this does not prevent the growth of new hairs - this is the case with any laser or IPL system used. Instead laser hair removal allows for easier management of hair, decreasing the need for plucking, waxing, and shaving of hairs.
Therefore, you may need periodic re-treatment even after the initial set of sessions.
Fine, light brown hair poses big challenges for any hair removal laser as less light will be absorbed into the hair follicle and therefore less thermal energy to damage the stem cells causing hair growth.
Our experience shows that the best hair removal results on finer, lighter hair is achieved by using Candela Alexandrite GentleLASE..
One of the reasons that the Candela Alexandrite GentleLASE works so well on lighter fine hairs is because the shot of laser energy is delivered in a very quick burst of 3 milliseconds. This is an important machine specification of the GentleLASE for people with finer, lighter hairs (which is also typical for most female facial hair as compared to the thickness and colour of other bodily hair, for example underarm or pubic hair.)
Finer, lighter hairs will have very short thermal relaxation times, which means that the thermal energy of the hair quickly dissipates. To achieve effective permanent death to the finer or lighter hair follicle the energy needs to be delivered in a quick, short laser shot and the laser that appears to do this the best is the Candela’s Alexandrite GenteLASE laser, which is why we invested in this technology.
More About the GentleLASE Alexandrite Laser
GentleLASE™ is the market and industry leader and it is for good reason. It’s effective, very fast and with Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD™ Cooling) its virtually painless. Additionally, the GentleLASE™ is able to treat a broader range of skin types than most other hair-removal lasers. It is delicate enough for a woman’s fine, sensitive skin and robust enough for a man’s beard, back, or arms.
As the world leader in light-based aesthetic technologies, Candela continues to set the
standard for innovation and performance. This innovation has been built on a platform
of 37 years experience. Candela is dedicated to produce a near pain free experience with the best results possible.
This dedication means that Candela is the only company in the world that employs a patented cooling system, Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD™ Cooling).
The DCD emits a short spray of coolant onto to the skin, milliseconds before each laser pulse. This minimises the thermal (heat) effect on the superficial layers of the skin without affecting underlying targeted structures. In other words the skin is cooled while the underlying pigment, hair or vascular lesion are targeted.
To summarise… it is a far more comfortable experience!
Because the pain is reduced it means that you can experience longer, more effective treatments and that means not only less pain but possibly less visits… another good reason to have your hair removal using the Candela GentleLASE.
GentleLASE Alexandrite, 755 nm wavelength, laser specifications have been designed to truly deliver results. These include:
The Alexandrite laser 755 nm wavelength is widely recognised as the most effective hair removal laser for lighter skin.
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