Laser Hair Removal / IPL Hair Removal
Is IPL hair removal safe on all skin colours/types?
Yes, IPL is a permanent solution to removing pigmented hair on all skin types and colours. A modality that cuts off the shorter wavelengths is required to treat Fitzpatrick Skin Types V and VI as these darker skins have higher melanin absorption.
How to treat ingrown hairs
IPL is safe and effective to treat ingrown hairs and highly recommended in areas like the groin and underarms or buttocks area where men and women get painful cysts and boils as result of ingrown hairs. Permanent hair removal is recommended by doctors and specialists for patients who get Pilonidal Sinuses.
Pilonidal sinus is an abnormal cystic skin growth that contains hair and dead skin and situated at the tailbone. It can be painful, inflamed and infected with pus. Surgery is required, however reoccurrence is common and therefore eliminating the problem of the hair permanently is advised.
How do IPL and laser work?
Hair that contains pigment absorbs the light energy from the device, which is converted to heat. The heat is sufficient enough to destroy the hair follicles bulb rendering it unable to produce another hair when treated in its anagen hair growth phase.
Anagen phase is the growing phase. See diagram of different hair growth phases.
How many IPL, Laser or Electrolysis treatments do I need?
Hair growth is cyclical, as hair follicles go through growth and resting phases. Only follicles in the growth phase contain hair and thus only these can be destroyed by the heat. Resting hair follicles need to enter the growth phase before they can be effectively destroyed by IPL, laser or Electrolysis for permanent results. That is why is it important to repeat the treatments at intervals until all follicles have been though the growth phase.
The length of the growth cycles are affected by many factors like where the hair is on the body, the hair density, the thickness of the hair, ethnic origin, hormonal influences and age. Clinical studies have confirmed that on average of 8-12 treatments are needed and the intervals between treatments are site dependant and vary typically between 1 to 3 months. One can be hair free for 3 months or longer toward the later part of the course of treatments.