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Does It Hurt?
As the
light energy is absorbed by the pigment melanin, the discomfort depends upon
the concentration of melanin in the epidermis and the hairs combined.
Consequently there will be more sensation in dark skinned people and those
with dense dark hair. No anesthesia is required and most patients describe
the pain as moderate and acceptable (as if a hairbrush has been tapped
against the skin)
Does The Client Need To Shave Prior To Treatment?
Ideally hairs should be 1 to 2mm long when the patient comes in for the
treatment so it is possible to mark out the treatment area. Long hairs take
up the energy and prevent all of it reaching to the hair root; therefore
transmission of the energy. If the hair is normally shaved and can be seen
when shaven then patients can shave right up to the day of treatment.
Although plucking and bleaching should not be done. Any other form of
depilation and waxing 4 weeks before the treatment ensure as many follicles
as possible contain hair thus can be destroyed by the light.
Why Do Hairs Grow After Treatment?
Unlike other light depilation treatments, hairs are not vaporized by the ECO
IPL treatment. The heat kills the hair roots but the hairs remain in the
skin and often become attached to the epidermis. They will fall out after 1
to 3 weeks as the epidermis renews itself. During this period it will seem
that the hairs are growing a little faster as the epidermis pushes them out.
How Can You Tell If The Treatment Has Worked When The Hairs Are Not Removed
Immediately?
Various Indications such as colour of hair become charcoal and expanding in
size or a Red ring around each follicle is often seen a few minutes after
the treatment. These are good indications that sufficient heating of the
follicles has taken place. Unfortunately this is not always seen and we have
seen many patients with successful treatments results without the post
treatment signs.
What Are The Side Effects?
The
visible light is completely safe so no special precautions are needed apart
from glasses for the brightness generated from the flash lamp. The skin of
some patients is quite red immediately after treatment and very rarely small
blisters as from excessive sun exposure can occur. However, most patients
experience no side effects at all and the described skin reaction as above
usually disappear within hours to few days.
How Many Treatments Are Necessary?
Only hair in the growth phase can be treated. The number of hairs in this
phase varies from 20% to 70% depending on the body site. The lengths of the
growth cycles also vary from 6 to 24 weeks depending on the body site. For
most patients three to five treatments are sufficient to clear an area of
hair. After the first treatment most patients get a significant reduction in
hair density also new grown hairs tend to become finer. It is important to
know that the first treatment is believed to synchronise the anagen (growth)
phase of the non-anagen hairs. This may cause what seems to be regrowth but
actually just sleeping hairs start to grow at the same time (new growth).
This in turn makes next treatment(s) more effective.
How Do I Prepare For Treatment?
Patients should avoid tanning 1 month ahead of the treatment and immediately
after treatment the skin is particularly sensitive to UV light and strong
sunlight should be avoided for 4-5 days.
Is It
Permanent?
Most authorities would agree that using current laser and IPL technology, it
is possible to permanently remove hair. Histology studies have found
destroyed and denatured hair follicles cells in post treatment. A recent
study showed that the percentage reduction in hairs after treatment using
IPL systems are well above 80%.
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