Hair removal
The presence or absence of body hair is of great cultural importance. Unwanted body hair and the efforts to eliminate it can be a source of great mental discomfort for both women and men. Excessive and unwanted hair growth is the result of hereditary predisposition, hormonal effects, or drugs. Traditional hair removal methods (shaving, waxing or cream) give only temporary results, while electrolysis with a needle is painful, time consuming and practically difficult to apply in large areas. In the early 90's, when Lasers began to appear, they revolutionized the field of hair removal.
The mechanism of Laser hair removal is the absorption of the energy of the beam by the melanin of the hair resulting in the destruction of the follicle. The crucial point is that melanin coexists in the hair follicle and the skin. Here come the new advanced Lasers based on the principle of thermokinetic selectivity that allows the best result with the maximum possible protection of the skin.
The success rate of Laser hair removal depends on the color, the thickness of the hair and the phototype of the patient. Difficult cases are those with a dark phototype or thin light hair, while the result is usually better on the body than on the face.
Success is a function of the following parameters of the Laser:
wavelength, energy density, pulse duration, repetition frequency, spot size. There are various ways of cooling (by contact, with air, with coolant) that aim to reduce skin damage and achieve better tolerance on behalf of the patient.
In terms of frequency of sessions, they should be done when the hair follicles are in the early regenerative stage, when melanin responds to a high concentration in the hair resulting in high energy absorption in this phase. In the face the sessions take place in approximately 1-2 months while in the body every 2 months.
Both before and after treatment, photoprotection is recommended because the less tanned the skin, the more energy can be used. Attention should be paid to existing nevi or other pigmented lesions. A basic safety requirement for all attendees to wear special eye goggles.
Contraindications to Laser hair removal are: pregnancy, use of retinoids (topical or systemic), a medical history of keloids, melasma, herpes simplex, photosensitivity.
Side effects of laser treatment include: perifollicular erythema and edema, which is very common and lasts for a short time, 1st degree burn (rarely 2nd degree), herpes simplex (relapse), bacterial infection (rare), discoloration (hyperchromia or hypochromia) ), reactive hypertrichosis in the same or a neighboring area.
