Laser hair removal

Laser technology has long been used in human life. One of the areas of laser application for beauty and health is to remove unwanted hair from any part of the human body. Laser hair removal offers to get rid of vegetation forever. It is worth considering all aspects of this procedure in more detail.

Laser hair removal is hair removal with an impact on the hair shaft - up to the bulb. It allows you to destroy it and stop growth forever. This procedure is significantly different from the usual options for home hair removal. The most common method of getting rid of vegetation at home is to use a razor, as well as creams or epilators.

Depilation with a razor or depilatory cream allows you to remove only the superficial part of the hair above the skin, so the growth will be fast enough. This also distinguishes the procedure of depilation and epilation. Epilation using homemade methods allows you to pull out the hair completely, significantly slowing its appearance on the surface of the body.

The effect of this technique is based on the content in our hair and skin of a special coloring matter - melanin.. Thanks to him, the surface absorbs the energy of light, turning it into heat. The laser hair removal machine produces a short but powerful light pulse that is absorbed by the hair. Its entire structure (along with the follicle) is exposed to heat, which causes the hair to die.

To destroy all the hairs at once is impossible. The thing is that only those hairs that are in the period of active growth react to the laser pulse. The rest are not affected. At the same time, only about 20 percent of all active hairs are present.

Laser epilation is suitable for both girls and men.. Most often, women get rid of unwanted vegetation on their legs, armpits or in the bikini area. Men can expose any areas where the hairs interfere with them: the armpits, chest or chin and cheeks.

The difference in exposure depends on the contrast between the skin and hair. For the most obvious and quick result, the patient should have a dark head of hair and light epidermis. So the light energy will be absorbed by the hair. It will destroy it without affecting the skin. However, it is now possible to regulate the impulse to affect any intensity of hair color.

Electrolysis is quite different from laser exposure. The first procedure uses not the energy of light, but the electric current. When it is carried out, the hair is either caught with tweezers, or a medical fine needle is fed to its follicle. One of these methods is an electric current that heats the bulb and destroys it. The methods of laser and electricity differ, but patients get the same result. The follicles are destroyed, and the hair can not grow further.

The effects after these procedures are different. After electrolysis on the skin may cause red spots, as well as during the recovery time of the epidermis, there may be a slight itch, as well as burning.

After laser irradiation, slight redness may occur.but usually it is the result of a recent tan or lack of professionalism of the medic who performed the procedure. But in case of electrical removal, scars on the dermis can result from poor training of a specialist due to incorrect calculation of the current strength. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a specialist carefully anyway, but special attention should be paid to this if electrolysis is necessary.

In this case, the electric current can cope with any type of vegetation, including very thin and light. After all, the impact does not depend on the content of melanin in the hair.

Laser hair removal allows you to remove hair from almost the entire body.

Professional cosmetologists should take into account the nuances of growth and location of hairs in a particular area - for their qualitative removal and correct calculation of the course of the necessary procedures.

The depth of the hair follicle depends on the area on the body. From this should depend on the wavelength at which the laser will work. If you choose the wrong session will be ineffective. The follicles of the hairs of the arms, legs, back, armpits, bikini and chest in men are most deeply seated. The equipment should have a sufficient wavelength for high-quality processing of these areas. A diode or neodymium laser can cope with this. But the older ruby ​​and alexandrite devices can not provide the desired length. Because of this, the masters working with them can exhibit increased power, which threatens with greater intensity of pain and even burns.

The hairs on the face, chin, above the upper lip lie most close to the skin surface.. The problem is that they can be thin and light. In this case, again, it is worth making a choice in favor of newer models of neodymium or diode laser.

The eyebrow area can also be treated with a laser. It should be borne in mind that the tip of the laser is not very small, so fine adjust the shape of the eyebrow will not work. The procedure is suitable for those who suffer from the problem of eyebrows coalesced in the nose. In this case, it turns out to be solved quite easily.

The degree of sensitivity of the various zones should also be taken into account. Usually, the face and the bikini area are most susceptible to unpleasant sensations. When epilating these areas, you should use anesthetic gel, which will significantly increase the comfort of epilation. The same goes for hypersensitivity.

The laser technologies that a modern cosmetology clinic can offer differ in their type:

1. Traditional laser hair removal uses the energy of a beam of light produced by a laser. It can affect hairs that lie at a depth of less than four millimeters below the surface of the skin.
2. Elos - is a combination of the use of light energy and electric current, combines laser technology and thermolysis. The laser acts on the surface of the hair, and under the skin, the follicle is destroyed by an electric discharge. This method allows you to act on the vegetation that lies under the skin for five to six millimeters.
3. Cold hair removal performed at a higher processing rate of the epidermis. This improvement minimizes the risk of thermal burn and unpleasant sensations. This option is especially relevant for dark-skinned patients.

Hair removal uses different types of laser equipment:

• Ruby laser is the oldest. Can use wavelengths up to 694 nm. It can only affect dark hair in combination with white skin.In addition, it is used in cosmetology to get rid of age spots and tattoos with bright enough and contrasting colors.
• Alexandrite laser capable of producing waves up to 755 nm. Serves for work with hair covers of light or red shades. It is also used to remove pigmentation and old tattoos.

• Diode laser is a newer modification. Uses a wavelength of up to 810 nm. This allows you to get rid of hairs of any color and with different epidermis. In addition, it is used in the cosmetic treatment of excessive hair growth and their rigidity. Over time, they become softer and brighter, and then disappear altogether.
• Neodymium laser is the most new and perfect form. Its wavelength is up to 1063 nm, and infrared radiation is also present in the light beam. It helps to fight even with dark vegetation on dark skin. In addition, it treats vascular and capillary nets, acne and helps to make scars less noticeable.

The clinics use different types of lasers. A wide network of beauty salons Louis Dor offers patients epilation diode and alexrite lasers. Some devices (for example, "1S Pro") Combine several technologies in one device. And devicesSoprano»Combine two effects: the laser and the cooling system, which increases the comfort of the session.

For a hair removal session to be most successful, certain preparatory measures are needed:

• Do not sunbathe two weeks before the appointed time. If there is no other way, secure the areas to be affected. Make it necessary. First, the contrast between the tanned skin and the burnt hairs will decrease significantly. This will significantly reduce the effectiveness of the procedure. Secondly, the tanned epidermis is extremely sensitive, and the newly exposed sun is still irritated. In this case, due to exposure to light during the operation of the laser, you can get burns and redness.
• Two weeks before the session, hair should not be pulled out or brightened. It is better to abandon the use of wax, sugar paste, home epilator. No need to shave hair. The optimal length is three to five millimeters. It allows you to achieve maximum efficiency with a minimum of discomfort. However, in some cases, on the eve of the procedure, the master may ask you to shave off vegetation.

Remember - using laser energy you can only remove hairs that are in the active growth phase. “Sleeping” hairs are not affected during the procedure, and there are about 80% of them in our skin. Do not forget that to get a perfectly smooth skin requires several sessions.

The number of procedures depends on the type of epidermis, the characteristics and color of the hair. It is determined by the doctor at the reception (with each patient).

There is a myth spread by advertising agents that it is possible to remove hairs in just three to four treatments.. However, this is said only to attract customers. Usually, it takes about seven to eight sessions to get a satisfactory result. In the presence of hormonal problems and diseases, hair growth can be enhanced by the action of hormones. Particularly affected by the skin on the face. In this case, it may take up to ten to fifteen sessions.

In cosmetology practice there are cases when hairless skin was achieved in just four sessions. But it is rather an exception, confirming the rule.

After all the necessary actions have been carried out, the cosmetologist who deals with the patient applies a remedy to the treated area of ​​the body that helps relieve irritation of the epidermis.

After a session for several days, the person himself must use the means to care for dermis. To do this, you can apply a special lotion that has a nourishing and softening effect. In some cases, the procedure may cause burns and irritation. If this happens, the patient is recommended to use wound healing and anti-burn drugs - for example, those containing panthenol.

It is worth noting which actions should be avoided after laser hair removal:

• Avoid sunbathing in the solarium and in the natural sun for a week or two. If it is very difficult for you, be patient for at least three or four days. Otherwise, the risk of irritation and burns increases.
• Not worth visiting bath or sauna.
• Medication intake is also worth limiting. We must be wary of antibiotics, neuroleptics, hormones, sulfanilamide and some other drugs.

• If, nevertheless, not without burns, you can not remove the crust. Otherwise, it is possible the formation of scars or the appearance of areas with increased pigmentation.
• In the sun you need to go using sunscreen. Moreover, the SPF protection factor in them must be at least 30.

Anyone who resorts to a laser hair removal procedure or just thinks about it is concerned about the question of how long the effect will last. Not everyone knows how often the procedure will have to be performed.

The result begins to be noticeable after the third procedure. In some small areas, hair stops growing altogether, in others it becomes paler, thinner and less often, it grows more and more slowly.

If the vegetation is dark, but not very thick and tough, the number of procedures may be reduced to four, but this does not happen very often.

After the first session, the second time you need to come to the clinic after about one month. Subsequent procedures add another two weeks. After completing the full required course (usually six to eight sessions), you can increase the gap to a year. At the same time, it is rare who manages to remove vegetation forever. For most patients, beauticians recommend supporting procedures at least once a year.

The number of sessions and their effectiveness depend on various features:

• hormonal levels, various related diseases;
• plot processing;
• hair structures their stiffness and thickness;
• colors: dark hairs on light skin are quite simple to remove, and with less contrasting combinations it is already more difficult;
• growth features vegetation.

It is possible to distribute all patients resorting to this type of hair removal into several groups:

• The first group includes those whose hair is not thick at all and mainly concentrates in the areas of the armpits, the intimate area and on the legs. Such people may be less than six procedures to obtain a smooth epidermis. Then they can maintain this state by repeating the procedure at an interval of two years.
• Those men and women who are by nature or due to hormonal changes, glitch hair grow thicker and faster form the second group. To achieve the desired goal, they may need about ten sessions of laser therapy. To maintain smooth skin, they will need to repeat the procedure twice a year.
• The third type includes those who has contraindications to the use of laser therapy.In this case, the issue is resolved with a cosmetologist, all risks and positive aspects are considered, after which a decision is made.

During the procedure, there may be pain (depending on the individual sensitivity of the patient). It is also possible the appearance of negative consequences. These effects can occur due to the nature of the organism, the propensity for allergic reactions and improper preparation for the session.

Sometimes after the procedure, patients complain of redness of the skin in the treatment area with a laser, called hyperemia. In addition, there are cases of edema of the skin, bruises. Burns and blistering effects are also possible.

This can happen for two reasons. The first: sunbathing or solarium. The skin after sunburn is irritated and painful. Therefore, burns are possible due to intense exposure to light during laser flashes.

This condition is treated with anti-inflammatory and healing drugs (for example, on the basis of panthenol).

The second reason may be the lack of experience and proper education of the doctor conducting the procedure. This can be avoided only by carefully choosing a clinic and a specialist, making sure you have all the necessary certificates.

During the procedure, with the help of temperature, the hair follicles on the treated area are destroyed.. Due to this, the hair stops growing and falls out. But this does not happen immediately. Part of the vegetation disappears within two weeks after the session. Others do not fall off, but grow, because most of the vegetation during the procedure is in the stage of sleep or rest. That is why you may need the following procedure, and then another. The course is determined for each patient individually - by the cosmetologist at the laser hair removal clinic.

Laser hair removal is safe (compared to many other methods of radical hair removal), but there are some contraindications for which you can not exactly resort to this procedure:

• Do not remove hairs using a laser during pregnancy. It is necessary to abstain during breastfeeding.
• Acute or chronic condition of skin diseases (especially in the area of ​​impact) - a direct contraindication.
• Some diseases endocrine system (especially diabetes mellitus).
• Herpes and any other infectious diseases in the active phase.

• Oncological diseases.
• If there is the likelihood of an epileptic seizure, the procedure should also be excluded, because numerous bright flashes (even through glasses) can cause aggravation.

Laser equipment is a rather serious equipment that requires careful and competent handling.

Like any innovation, laser hair removal has its pros and cons.. It is better to learn about them before use, in order to reasonably weigh the pros and cons precisely for themselves.

During laser exposure, hairs absorb light energy, turning it into heat (due to the melanin content). The core is heated, the follicle collapses and falls out. When this occurs, it is the hair that is heated. The skin does not heat up, so there are almost no discomfort. The most effective laser affects the vegetation that rises above the skin by three to five millimeters. The rest enters the growth phase after the procedure, so it needs to be repeated.

So, it is necessary to list the main disadvantages of hair removal using a laser:

• The need for several procedures from 7 to 10 (depending on the structure of the hair, the type of skin and individual characteristics).
• For the effectiveness of the procedure requires a contrast between the color of the skin and hairs. The laser will work well with dark hair growing on light skin, because only in this case the light will be absorbed as much as possible by the hair structure, not the epidermis. With dark skin and black hair or light hairs on the pale surface is difficult to achieve a satisfactory result.
• Many refer to the disadvantages and cost of the procedure. Especially when you consider that you need a lot of sessions. However, others are willing to pay even a high price for completely eliminating unwanted vegetation.

Laser hair removal has a lot of positives. They make it very popular among consumers. So, the main advantages:

• Under all conditions, the procedure practically does not cause discomfort. With high sensitivity of the skin or in areas rich in nerve endings, you can use anesthetic gels to increase comfort.
• Serious damage excluded. skin cover, such as scars or scars.
• In the case of maximum contrast, you can lose your hair forever. In other cases, after completing the full course, supporting procedures are required - once a year or half a year.
• Each session does not take much time. It depends on the area of ​​processing. For example, a specialist can process an underarm area in fifteen minutes. The hips have the largest area, so work on them can take 40 minutes or an hour.

Hormonal restructuring of the body lasts until the end of adolescence. Previously, the completion of hormonal changes to remove hair with such a radical method makes no sense, because there is a high probability that hairline will be restored.

After 14-15 years, you can come to the consultation with the doctor of the clinic. It will determine whether it is already possible to resort to the procedure or it is worth waiting for more.

Sunburn makes skin more vulnerable and susceptible to effects.. Because of this, sunbathing or tanning beds are not recommended before or after exposure to the laser. After all, the procedure uses light of very high intensity. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation before or after increases the risk of redness and burns.

Reviews of laser hair removal are different. Someone rejoices in the complete deliverance from the vegetation, but for many it comes back. For a perfect result, prior consultation is required.

The blogger talks about the myths and realities of laser hair removal.