Unwanted Hair

The challenge remains to target lighter coloured hair. Stains such as ‘Meladine’ have not been successful and even with non-selective techniques the answer remains elusive.

In PCOD where there is increased androgenic drive multiple repeat treatments are required and patients must always have realistic expectations and understand that results vary. Paradoxical hypertrichosis (especially in the PCOD context) may compromise treatment of facial hair.

Hair removal lasers target melanin, papillary blood vessels and the hair bulb itself.

The interplay of factors is complex and considerable damage to pigmentation and melanocytic naevi can occur in ‘IPL hair removal clinics’ where concepts of epidermal protection are poorly understood.

Longer wavelengths (Nd:YAG 1064nm) should be used for darker phototypes although pain can be more of a problem and best mitigated with Zimmer™ forced air cooling additional to contact
cooling.

The LightSheer™ Duet Diode laser from Lumenis has a large vacuum assisted head additional to the standard unit. This is faster and less painful for larger areas such as chests or backs. Skin is pulled tightly against a diode array and has further advantage of not requiring gel as a good optical interface achieved by suction so that lower treatment fluences are possible.

Alexandrite and Diode HR lasers can be safely used on fairer phototypes so long as cooling is adequate. The long pulsed 1065nm HR lasers are preferred for phototypes IV and above. Discomfort is often an issue and other approaches to pain reduction such as the low power diode system from Alma rely on a cumulative energy build up in hair follicles and claim to deliver effective and ‘less painful’ treatments.

This is however not always the case in clinical practice and for systems trialled in our clinic there was in fact no advantage in discomfort. IPL, VPL or RF systems advertised extensively in the beauty industry are not in fact effective compared with true laser systems as noted above.

For more information about this condition, please contact the Solais team below...