Laser hair Removal 101

IPL Laser Hair Removal 101

Looking for a way out of excess hair growth and or lessening the amount ?

Than IPL laser is your best friend

Causes of excess hair growth

• Aesthetic - most often related to ethnic background or heredity
• Medical - related to endocrine disorders resulting in androgen over production. Common signs include irregular menstrual cycles, acne, alopecia, hirsutism.

So why have IPL laser hair removal?

•  non invasive
•  faster session times
• suitable for small & large body areas
•  minimal maintenance
•  long term reduction of hair
• It reduces the amount of ingrown hairs
• up to 80- 90 percent reduction 

A common question often asked by my clients, is why do I require more then one treatment?

The reason a course of IPL laser hair removal is recommended, is because it’s important to catch hair in the Anagen stage of growth or the active stage.

Not all follicles grow hair at every given moment. Active follicles grow hair in cycles and at an avg rate of about 0.33mm per day.  Dormant follicles do not grow hair but can become active at any time due to hormonal changes and other reasons.

When the hair is fully connected to the blood supply, it is impossible to tell at what stage the hair growth is at, so a course of treatments will remove the hair when it is at it’s most active.

IPL Laser Hair Removal Explained

IPL only treats dark coarse hairs, it will not treat white, blonde, grey or red hair.

This is because the light is attracted to the melanin pigment in the hair follicle. The light energy absorbed in the follicle is transformed into heat which coagulates the follicle. 

Each pulse takes less than a second, small areas include the underarm, lip and chin which can take minutes to treat, areas such as the the arms, legs, chest and back may take 30 minutes or more.

At our spa we recommend between six to twelve treatments and then regular maintenance, over time treatment will be pushed out to just a couple of times a year, exactly how much depends on the clients hormonal hair growth.

I believe honesty is the best policy with my clients, unlike many un-reputable companies…

I always explain IPL hair removal is not permanent, we aim to get 80 to 90% reduction of unwanted hair, so my clients are under no false illusions about their future treatments.

Preparing for Laser Hair Removal

• Before undergoing a hair removal treatment you must not PLUCK, TWEEZE or THREAD for 6 weeks, as this stimulates hair growth, turning it from fine vellus to coarse terminal hair
• Ideally you don’t want to be WAXING because IPL targets the root of the hair which is temporarily removed by waxing
• It is really important that you are wearing no FAKE or GRADUAL tan, or that the areas being treated have not been directly EXPOSED to the sun, because IPL is attracted to pigment in the skin
• Ideally the LENGTH of your hair should be a few millimeters above the skins surface before treatment, so shaving 24-48 hours before treatment is recommended
• So you get the most from your treatment, the IPL light is always adjusted to your particular colour, thickness, and location of hair

Laser Hair Removal Consultation

Below are a list of questions you can expect to be asked before treatment:

1. What areas are you interested in having treated?
2. What do you normally do for hair removal?
3. In the last two weeks have you been in the sun or had fake or gradual tan on the area to be treated? If the answer is yes the treatment cannot be performed, as laser light is attracted to pigment in the skin.
4. How long ago did you have hair removal?
5. Have you waxed or plucked in the last four weeks? Again if the answer is yes, this may indicate that your hair will grow back quickly, drawing blood to the hair follicle.
6. Before a treatment can be performed, hairs must be no longer than two mm’s as obviously hair must be showing above the surface in order to target the hairs.
7. You are allowed to shave or trim between treatments, but no plucking, tweezing, waxing or threading.
8. Are you aware of any hormonal imbalances you may have, such as PCOS?
9. Are you pregnant? Diabetic? Cancer? Epilepsy?
10. Are you currently on any medication? If you are on accutane for instance you cannot have laser for six months, as this medication thins the skin.
11. Due to the intensity of the heat it is normal for the skin to appear a little swollen and red after; It is important that you avoid heat treatments such as the sauna, direct heat and the gym for 24 hours after treatment.
12. It can take up to two weeks for the hair to completely fall out of the follicle, so you need to be exfoliating from the following day.

Important Laser Information

IPL is a medical treatment and should not be taken lightly, because if administered incorrectly there is a real potential to do harm.

Anyone, whether trained or not can legally operate an IPL or laser machine; A scary thought when some of the side effects include burning, pigmentary changes including hypo-pigmentation, hyper-pigmentation, scarring and reactivation of herpes viruses.

I don’t write this to scare you, because IPL does have fantastic results, and in the right hands it is safe and effective and the results are far superior to conventional methods of hair removal.

It’s your skin, so you need to make sure the hands that administer your treatment are well trained……

Because ultimately many adverse reactions can be minimised, especially with the correct use of wavelength for the person’s skin and hair type and by using a cooling system on the skin.

Ensuring you have a thorough consultation and are offered sound post-treatment advise is also key, if the treatment is to be administered safely.

Live Well, Be Healthy and Take Time to Renew Yourself,

Renu U Aesthetics.

Photo Facials: Keeping your face beautiful

Intense Pulse Light Photo Facials and their Benefits

I have noticed that Photofacials are a service many people may have heard of but are unaware exactly what is it and how it can benefit them. So here are a few things you need to know about what they are and how they work.

What is skin rejuvenation used for?

Skin rejuvenation (IPL- Intense Pulsed Light) laser treatments are most commonly used for:

• Lightening and removing "sun spots", "age spots",  and brown blotches on the face, neck, chest, hands and other areas of the body
• Lightening and reducing redness, rosacea, dilated blood vessels and "broken" blood vessels on the face, neck and chest
• Helping to control flushing
• It also has a lesser effect of improving skin texture through collagen stimulation and improves pore size minimally by temporarily reducing oiliness

Skin rejuvenation, when done properly, almost always consists of a series of 3-5 treatments, usually one every three to six weeks. The benefits of photorejuvenation treatments are achieved with little discomfort and minimal risk. 

Some will refer to IPL skin rejuvenation as a Photofacial or Fotofacial. 

How does the laser treatment improve the appearance of blood vessels, rosacea, and age spots/freckles? 

The laser/IPL device emits a range of lightwaves that are then tuned and targeted at hemoglobin (the red blood cells in the blood vessels) or melanin (the brown pigment in freckles and age spots). The light beam passes through the skin and is absorbed by either hemoglobin or melanin resulting in damage to the vessel wall or fragmenting of melanin pigment. These tiny vessels and the melanin pigment are then absorbed by the body, rendering them less visible. 

How long does it take for laser skin rejuvenation treatments to work?

Most people need 3-5 months, which consists of a full series of 3-5 treatments about 1 month apart.  You can see some improvement with each treatment, but it's common for your response to be slightly different to each treatment. The more sun damage or redness you have, the more likely you are to need a full five treatments.  Some cases of severe redness or brown spots require more than 5 treatments. Expect to see gradual clearing over time.

Do IPL Photofacial treatments hurt and how long will they take? 

There may be mild discomfort during the treatment, but most clients tolerate removal of dilated blood vessels or age spots/freckles and fine lines very easily. The first treatment is usually the "zingiest." As your skin begins to clear, the treatments usually become even more comfortable. Treatments usually take 30-60 minutes, depending on the size of the treatment area.

What are the IPL Photofacial treatments like? 

When you come for your treatment, your technician will put special glasses or eyepads over your eyes to protect them. A cool gel is then placed on the skin being treated. The smooth glass surface of the handpiece is gently applied to your skin and pulses of light flash. You may feel a very slight sting, like the snapping of a small rubber band. 

At the end of the treatment, the gel is wiped off, the area is cleaned with a warm cloth, and a moisturizer with sunscreen is applied. If there is any mild swelling, you might be given a cold pack to apply for five or ten minutes. 

What will I look like right after the IPL treatment, and what is the healing time? 

For veins, generally, the skin looks slightly redder after the treatment for two to five days. Makeup can be used starting right after the treatment, as long as it is applied and removed very gently. Rarely, there is bruising, which can take 1-2 weeks to resolve. 

For freckles and age spots, the spots generally look darker for 3-7 days. Crusting can occur, which may last up to ten days. The lesions will then begin to clear and will generally be resolving at one month. Remember, it takes an average of 3-5 treatments to clear age spots.

How much do skin rejuvenation treatments cost? 

A single full face treatment costs $200 and can be upwards to $500 depending on where you live and who does the treatment. So a series of 3-5 treatments will usually be $600 to $2,500. A face, neck, and chest treatment runs from $400 to over $1000, for a series total of $1,200 to $5,000. Treating the hands is usually around $99 per treatment.

Be suspicious of low cost "specials." They are usually low cost for a reason.  The treatment timeframes may not be correct and therefore not as effective, or the technician doing the treatment may not be properly trained. 

What results can I expect from skin rejuvenation treatments? 

After your first treatment, you can expect to see some redness, darkening of brown spots, and light swelling. These symptoms will resolve in several hours to one week. Makeup can be immediately applied, if desired. After the treatment, your skin will feel smoother and have a more even tone. A gradual decrease in overall redness, flushing, age spots, and fine lines will be more visible after each treatment. 

How long will the results from a photofacial last?

Tht depends on how much sun exposure your skin gets after your treatments.  If you are in the sun a lot and do not use sunscreen, the underlying issues, whether they are redness or brown spots, will return.  But if you take good care of your skin and keep it protected from the sun, your skin will continue to look good with annual maintenance treatments. 

If you want to maintain collagen growth, we currently recommend a treatment every 6-12 months. Other conditions are more variable. If you are very red, once or twice a year may be needed.

How does an IPL treatment increase collagen? 

The light bypasses the outer layer of skin (the epidermis) and gently heats the cells in the deeper layer of skin (dermis). These cells, called fibroblasts, start to produce more collagen, which improves texture and fine wrinkles. 

Will the IPL Photofacial treatment make me more sensitive to the sun? 

No, it does not. You can have the treatments done any time of the year but summer is more difficult if you pick up color easily in the sun. The good effects of the treatments won’t last very long if you are getting much sun exposure. You can wear a sunscreen every morning and wear hats to protect your skin and decrease redness, brown spots, wrinkles, and skin cancers.

What should I do prior to my photorejuvenation treatment?

Your technician will give you their instructions prior to your first treatment but here are some of the basics.

1. For 2-4 weeks before your treatment, avoid self-tanners and excessive sun. 
2. You may be asked to discontinue minocycline, tetracycline, doxycycline or Retin-A/Renova several days prior to each treatment. 
3. You may be asked to avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen, or Aleve one week prior to treatment unless medically indicated to help prevent bruising. 
4. Protect your improved skin with sunscreen every morning. Hats and sunglasses are also good protection from the sun.

Who should not get these treatments? 

• Pregnant Women or Breastfeeding 
• People with Darker Skin Complexions
• People with recent sunburn or suntan
• People with Cancer and/or undergoing Cancer Treatment
• People with Lupus
• People with surgical pins or plates under the area being treated

Are there any side effects? 

The main side effects are mild, temporary swelling, redness, an accentuation of the brown spots, crusting, and an occasional bruise or small superficial blister (like a sunburn blister).  There are rare other side effects which your laser center will review with you in your consent form.

I hope that this was helpful and will encourage you to care for your skin in various ways. You can have beautiful skin without going under the knife, and we want to help you know how.

Live well and Be healthy,

Renu U Aesthetics.