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Affiliate Advertising Section
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Laser Dermatology, Electrolysis,
Permanent Hair Removal Alaska
Anchorage, Fairbanks
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ALASKA ADULT ADOLESCENT
3601 C ST # 1350 ANCHORAGE, AK 99503
CUSACK, MICHAEL L MD
3601 C ST # 1350 ANCHORAGE, AK 99503
Fuller, Lori MD
2401 E 42ND AVE # 301 ANCHORAGE, AK 99508
MEADOW CREEK DERMATOLOGY
11421 OLD GLENN HWY # 103 EAGLE RIVER, AK 99577
O'REILLY, MARGRETTA MD
2401 E 42ND AVE # 301 ANCHORAGE, AK 99508
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The first laser hair removal
treatment was done by a technician in the late 1970’s, quite by accident. While
doing preventative maintenance on a 1 Watt 692 Diode Pumped laser, he
unwittingly exposed a portion of his arm to the beam for several seconds.
Surprisingly, his skin was unharmed by the exposure, but all of the hair in the
area had completely burned off.
The accident was quickly forgotten, until several months later, when he
noticed an unexplainable bald patch of skin on his arm. Tracing his thoughts
back to the laser incident, he made the connection. The procedure was
repeated and studied. The tests showed a substantial reduction in hair
growth; henceforth, laser hair removal was born.
Over the next two decades, the procedure continued to evolve. The addition
of photosensitive (light-absorbing) dyes improved the rate of
photon-to-pigment heat exchange and made the procedure more effective and
reliable on light colored hair growth. This new field of development
is called Photodynamic Therapy (PDT).
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[ Laser
Hair Removal Procedure ] |
 'LASER
BEAMED'
Imagine a hair-removal treatment that doesn't involve regular battles with
razors, hot wax, or lotions that smell like a chemical plant. Laser hair
removal may sound like something out of star wars but, believe me, its the
greatest beauty breakthrough since the invention of the blow-dryer.
I was
initially skeptical when I set off to investigate this futuristic sounding
miracle.
Anyone
who passed O level physics will be pleased to hear that the laser works with
low energy. Those who failed the exam should content themselves with the
knowledge that it's gentler than other laser treatments and suitable for all
skin colors.
How does laser hair removal work?
Lasers have been used for many years for a
variety of medical cosmetic procedures including treatment of facial and leg
veins, age spots and smoothing fine lines on the face. The laser energy is
transformed into heat, which can disable the follicle leaving the
surrounding skin unchanged.
Why is laser preferred for hair removal?
Traditional hair removal techniques, such as
shaving, plucking and waxing, provide only temporary relief. Until now, the
only long-lasting hair removal solution has been by electrolysis - which can
be time-consuming and is usually limited to small areas, because each hair
is treated individually. Laser hair removal is non-invasive, and safely
removes unwanted body hair without damaging the delicate pores and
structures of the skin. Facial and bikini areas are usually completed in
under 45 minutes; legs and larger areas can take longer.
 What
does the treatment include?
Depending on the amount of hair and area
treated, the procedure varies from patient to patient. Generally, the
treatment will include: Safety eyewear to protect the patient's eyes
during the procedure from the laser light. A small handpiece will be used to
deliver the laser light. Most experience little discomfort at the treatment
site. The sensation and the degree of discomfort varies with each person. In
some cases, topical anesthesia is an option. Your laser specialist will
discuss this before laser treatment. Depending on the size or number of
areas treated, the time will vary in length from minutes to hours. Patients
can return to work or resume their normal activities immediately following
treatment. The area may become slightly red and may last from a few minutes
to several days depending on the area and skin sensitivity.
What precautions should be taken before and after treatment?
If you are tan or have a darker skin
type, a bleaching cream should be started 4-6 weeks before treatment for our
melanin absorption lasers.
How many treatments will I need?
Hair grows in cycles. The laser is only
effective on hair in its actively growing cycle. At any one time there will
only be certain hairs in that growing phase. This means that consistent
treatments at appropriate intervals are absolutely necessary for the best
possible results. The number of treatments required depends upon your skin,
hair coloring, coarseness of the hair and density per treated area. Everyone
will require at least 2-3 treatments as the process is only effective on
hairs during their growing cycle. Additional treatment will be necessary to
treat other follicles when they re-enter the growth phase and produce new
growth.
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Power, Wavelength and Tissue Penetration
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 The
most efficient wavelength required to achieve results by laser is in the 670
to 890 nm (nanometer) range. This particular frequency allows for the
greatest tissue penetration without loss of photon intensity through the
dermis(2). This range is also highly selective (as well as reactive)
with follicle melanin
and carbon dye.
The amount of power required for this range to reach the
papilla matrix varies with
the depth of the follicle pore. There are generally 3 types of hair growth:
terminal (deep), secondary (medium) and vellus (shallow). Terminal hairs
usually extend 7-8 mm into the dermis and require around 10 Joules per CM2 of
photon intensity at the surface of the skin to create adequate thermolysis in
the papilla matrix to destroy the tissue(3). Secondary hairs grow to
about 5-6 mm in depth and require ≈5 JCM2. The lightest hairs need roughly 2
JCM2. These vellus hairs are most common on upper lips of adult women and
normally respond very well laser epilation.
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Faster Than Regular Electrolysis
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The advent of this new technology has created enormous excitement in the
field of epilation cosmetology, and with good reason. Laser hair removal is
simply the fastest
way to remove unwanted hair currently available. It is very easy and highly
effective. The laser can completely clear the leg hair growth on an average
woman in under one hour. The same area would require more than 40 hours
of needle electrolysis.
Discussion
In this study the laser treatments given
every six weeks yielded better long-term clinical results than the treatments
given every two weeks. Previous studies [1-5] have demonstrated good to
excellent results for treatment intervals between four and eight weeks. An
earlier study done by the investigators [6] demonstrated excellent long-term
hair reduction using three-week treatment intervals. Mathematical modeling
showed that better laser penetration was achievable at the hair bulb and bulge
in the absence of terminal hair shafts extending to the skin surface. It was
recognized that the success of a hair removal treatment at a shortened treatment
interval was dependent on the regeneration of melanized target structures for
the follow-up treatments [6]
The poor
long-term results seen with the shortened treatment interval would suggest that
the laser treatment given only two weeks following the initial treatment did not
yet have an adequate target to absorb the laser's energy. It is
hypothesized that the hair bulb has not yet regenerated at two weeks and hence
the laser treatment was ineffective. The six-week interval allowed
adequate time for the hair bulb and follicle to regenerate therefore providing
an adequate target for the laser and hence, a more effective long-term result.
Conclusions
The treatment intervals chosen for laser hair removal strongly affect
the efficacy of long-term results. This study demonstrates better efficacy at
the six-week treatment interval compared with the two-week treatment interval.
References
1. Bjerring P, Cramers M, Egekvist H, Christiansen K, Troilius A. Hair
reduction using a new intense pulsed light irradiator and a normal mode ruby
laser. J Cutan Laser Ther 2000; 2: 63-71.
2. Kauvar AN. Treatment of pseudofolliculitis with a pulsed infrared laser. Arch
Dermatol 2000; 136:1343-6.
3. Eremia S, Li C, Newman N. Laser hair removal with alexandrite versus diode
laser using four treatment sessions: 1-year results. Dermatol Surg 2001;
27: 925-9.
4. Gorgu M, Aslan G, Akoz T, Erdogan B. Comparison of alexandrite laser and
electrolysis for hair removal. Dermatol Surg 2000; 26:37-41.
5. Bencini PL, Luci A, Galimberti M, Ferranti G. Long-term epilation with
long-pulsed neodimium:YAG laser. Dermatol Surg 1999; 25:175-8.
6. Lloyd JR, Mirkov M. Long-term evaluation of the long-pulsed alexandrite laser
for the removal of bikini hair at shortened treatment intervals. Dermatol Surg
2000; 26:633-7
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Patient # |
hair counts |
6 week
clearance |
| 2
females, 3 males |
pre |
post |
percent |
| 1 |
274 |
9 |
97% |
| 2 |
331 |
63 |
81% |
| 3 |
327 |
19 |
94% |
| 4 |
187 |
2 |
99% |
| 5 |
411 |
54 |
87% |
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median |
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91.6% |
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WorldPay
For your convenience.
Confidence
