The safety and effectiveness of laser epilation application was approved by the American Food and Drug Administration, FDA (Food and Drug Association) in 1997. Laser roughly means light concentrated in a single wavelength. Laser beams of certain wavelengths are captured by dark-colored materials and turn into heat energy by transferring their energy to these materials. Taking advantage of this feature, laser light has been used in medicine for 40 years in various fields. The principle in laser epilation is to convert the color substance called melanin located in the hair follicle into heat by being held by the laser light, and then to destroy the hair follicle with this heat energy. (The heat generated during this time destroys the hair root cell. The melanin in the hair is more concentrated than in the skin. This prevents the skin from being damaged.)
Different laser systems are used in laser hair removal treatments. Among them, Alexandrite, Diode and Nd-Yag systems with different wavelengths are the most frequently used systems.
The choice of device, namely the choice of laser system, should be chosen according to skin color, hair type and hair root color, which is different for each patient. Since these criteria affect the treatment applied by laser beams to the hair root, treatment should be performed with a laser system that meets the criteria in question. Because the activity areas of Alexandrite, Diode and Nd:Yag lasers are different. For this reason, before the treatment, the person should be examined and the skin color, hair root color and thickness should be determined.
The number of sessions in laser epilation treatment varies according to the application area, skin color and hair root color and thickness. On average, 6-8 sessions are usually sufficient for this treatment. The session period, on the other hand, varies according to the anatomical region, but is 4-6 weeks.
Advantages of Laser Hair Removal
– Provides permanent or long-term hair removal for most patients
– It is a reliable method if it is done according to the technique
– Allows application in large areas such as legs and back
– It is a relatively less painful method, most of the patients easily comply with the treatment
– Even if there is regrowth, the hairs that will be formed are in the form of weak light colored hairs of cosmetic importance.
– It is a fast method, all hairs on the body can be removed in 1 hour
– It has no toxic or allergic side effects on the skin, does not irritate the skin, does not leave permanent scars, there is no evidence that it is carcinogenic.
– It is the most important treatment method for ingrown hairs and ingrown hairs.
– There is no risk of skin infection and infectious disease.
Disadvantages and Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal
– Since the clinical response is not the same in every patient, a definite success rate cannot be given without evaluating the hair structure by interviewing.
– The best response to treatment occurs in people with light skin and dark hair profile.
– Generally ineffective on white-gray, red and yellow hairs
– Laser epilation cannot be performed on tanned skin, it is necessary to wait for the color to lighten.
– It is harmful to the eyes, it is mandatory to wear special protective glasses.
– Laser epilation cannot be performed in areas with herpes (herpes disease), psoriasis, precancerous skin lesions, and skin infections.
When laser epilation treatment is performed under the control of a physician, problems such as treatment-related burns, lightening and darkening are very rare. In addition, if your doctor is an expert in this field, even if such problems are encountered, he can easily treat them.
As a result, laser epilation is an effective and permanent treatment that can be applied without any problems if it is applied by or under the supervision of a specialist in this field. In addition, it is a method that provides a lot of comfort in terms of hygiene and cosmetics in social life.
exp. Dr. Fortune Master
