Laser Hair Removal Treatment Protocol

The most favorable results have been achieved by applying laser treatment in the early stages of hair growth (known as the anagen phase). It is during this brief window of opportunity when follicles are small, weak, shallow and highly vulnerable to trauma.

To assure that you are working with new anagen growth, it will be necessary for you to administer a manual follicle extraction (depilatory) to the treatment area (by tweezing or waxing) prior to administration of epilation. Allow 2-3 weeks for new hairs to begin surfacing before moving on to the next step.

At this point, there should be growth emerging from the skin which will look somewhat like the graphic at left. The lightly-colored pointed tip is what you should use to determine which hairs are anagen. Those with jagged or blunt-ended tips are late anagen or catagen phase follicles and do not respond well to electrolysis of any kind. Just pluck these hairs to get them out of the way. They will eventually return in the desirable phase for destruction, usually in 6-8 weeks.

To begin the treatment procedure, it will be necessary to remove all hair from the area by tweezing or waxing.  The use of a waxing kit or wax strips (as shown in the picture) is recommended.  This step is crucial to open the follicle pore for the carbon dye application.

Using a cotton-tipped applicator, completely cover the treatment area with the special carbon-dye included in your kit. Massage the dye into the follicle pore with a firm downward circular motion. Repeat 2-3 times to saturate the follicle pore.  Use an alcohol based wipe to lightly clean the excess dye from the surface of the skin. At this point you should have all desired follicles visibly highlighted with a dark spot. 

Focus the laser at the treatment area. If you are using a laser with a pin-point output, match the angle of growth and focus directly down the highlighted pore. If using an elliptical or square beam, match the angle of growth and scan slowly across the treatment area. The laser will not react with the skin. As soon as it passes over the pore you will see a brilliant flash of light accompanied with some vapor and smoke. You may wish to advise the patient to expect a brief zap (or pinch sensation) while the photons cauterize the pore.

If your patient has a low tolerance for discomfort, you may wish to apply an OTC topical anesthetic prior to treating (such as Dermal-Plast®). Continue to hold the beam over the pore until all activity ceases. Move on to the next follicle, or continue to scan across the treatment area until the photon reaction diminishes.

After the desired area has been completed, apply a cold pack. This will cool the dermis and sooth any uncomfortable neural activity.

Apply the post-treatment gel and advise the patient not to pick or scratch the area. The dermis will show some trauma in the form of eurythmia (reddening) which may last 12-24 hours.

Schedule the patient for their next treatment in 3 weeks. By then some of the new anagen hairs will be surfacing. Hair growth activity will diminish substantially after each application.