Do You Have Unwanted Hair?
Are you tired of constantly shaving, tweezing and waxing? Many have discovered a more permanent solution that relies on laser or pulsed light technology.
Have you ever wondered how technology can target hair producing cells selectively without damaging surrounding skin? In Nature, dark objects feel warm when exposed to sunlight, because they absorb visible light, which is converted to heat energy. Lighter-colored objects reflect more light, and heat up less. Hair is typically darker than the skin, so an intense, but appropriate form of light energy can preferentially target hair, while sparing the lighter surrounding skin.
Laser and Light-based systems utilize wavelengths of light that are absorbed by chromophores in the body. In this case, the target chromophore is pigment within the hair. Emitted light is absorbed by pigment and converted to heat energy. Since pigment is more abundant in hair than it is in skin, this selectively limits thermal damage to hair and adjacent hair producing cells within the follicle. This loosens hair and disables some of the cells that make new hair. Multiple treatments are necessary, though you should see a decrease in hair thickness and growth even after your first treatment. Practically any area of the body with unwanted hair can be treated, provided that the hair has pigment. Therefore, this will not work with white or gray hair.
Light must be absorbed for an effect to occur. The process in which we use forms of light to thermally damage selected targets while sparing surrounding tissue is known as selective photothermolysis (SPTL).
Melanin, the pigment in hair and skin, absorbs light across wavelengths in the visible color spectrum (see the graph on the left). When it comes to absorbing light, the pigment in the skin competes with pigment in the hair. The challenge is to select the appropriate treatment wavelength and parameters to maximize SPTL. For lighter skinned individuals, we typically utilize shorter wavelengths; for darker individuals, longer wavelengths. This is because the absorption of light by melanin changes with different wavelengths, and longer wavelengths penetrate deeper into skin (which focuses less energy on the surface where thermal injury can be more apparent).
Traditional waxing, tweezing and threading procedures painfully rip hair from the skin. Electrolysis offers a more permanent solution, but can be very time consuming, and painful. When done appropriately, light-based hair removal technology offers men and women safe, effective, more comfortable, and fast ways to reduce hair growth more permanently.
We have been using pulsed light devices, diode, alexandrite, and Nd:YAG lasers since 2004 for permanent hair reduction. By Law in the State of California, these procedures may be performed by a licensed physician (MD or DO). They may also be performed by a RN, NP, or PA under the supervision of a licensed physician. You should be counseled and treated only by one of these licensed providers.
Our top-of-the-line lasers and light-based devices are State-of-the-Art, and routinely upgraded so that you may benefit from the latest refinements in technology. We offer continuity of care, continuity of experience, and integrity in providing you with honest, cost-competitive quality service. At Lumier Medical, you can rest assured that your treatments will be performed not only by an experienced licensed provider, but by the same provider from beginning to end.
The alexandrite laser showed the highest pain scores, and the pulsed light devices caused the least pain (Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. 2006; 8: 65-68).
Lasers use monochromatic (one wavelength), coherent, collimated light. Pulsed light devices use multichromatic (multiple wavelengths), noncoherent, divergent light.
