HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK?
The ECOLITE IPL hair removal system (Intense Pulsed Light) produces a high intensity flash of filtered light from the applicator head, which is placed in contact with the skin. The energy from the light is absorbed by the pigment melanin, which is the chromophore that gives the hair its’ colour. The hair acts as a conductor of the light and effectively turns it into heat to raise the temperature of the surrounding cells to 70 degree centigrade or more. The heating denatures, or kills, the cells making them incapable of producing further hair growth.
WHAT COLOUR HAIR CAN BE TREATED?
Other than white and grey hair, all hair colours can be permanently reduced through treatments. Dark hairs are most easily treated due to the high concentration of melanin that gives maximum absorption. In order to compensate for the lower levels of melanin found in fair hair, the operator can simply raise the fluence output from the ECOLITE system. The ECOLITE software allows the operator to adjust the treatment parameters for different hair and pigment types according to the client’s individual requirements.
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DOES IT HURT?
As the light energy is absorbed, the discomfort depends upon the concentration of melanin in the epidermis and the hairs combined. Consequently there will be more sensation in darker skin types and those with dense hair. No Anesthesia is required and most patients describe the pain as moderate and acceptable (‚as if a hairbrush has been tapped against the skin.?)
DOES THE CLIENT NEED TO SHAVE PRIOR TO TREATMENT?
As long hairs use up the energy and prevent all of it reaching the hair root, ideally hairs should only be 1 to 2 mm long when the patient comes in for the treatment. By avoiding any other form of epilation, plucking or waxing in the month leading up to the treatment, it ensures as many follicles as possible contain hair, and thus can be destroyed by the light. Additionally, bleaching should also be ceased in the weeks leading up to the termination.
WHY HAIRS ‘GROW’ AFTER TREATMENT?
Unlike other light epilation treatments, hair is not vaporized by the ECOLITE treatment. The heat kills the hair root, but the hair remains in the skin and sometimes become attached to the epidermis. Over the 1-3 weeks following the treatment, the hairs will fall out as the epidermis renews itself. During this period it will seem that the hairs are growing.?
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF THE TREATMENT HAS WORKED WHEN THE HAIRS ARE NOT REMOVED IMMEDIATELY?
A few minutes after the treatment, there are various indications of the effectiveness of the treatment. These include: the colour of hair becoming charcoal, the hair expanding in size or a red ring around each follicle. These are good indications that sufficient heating of the follicles has taken place. However, this is not always seen and many patients havegreat results without the past treatment signs.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
The visible light completely is completely safe, and thus, no special precautions are needed apart from glasses for the brightness generated from the flash lamp. The skin of some patients becomes quite red immediately after treatment and very rarely small blisters as from excessive sun exposure can occur. However, most patients experience no side effects at all, and any of the described skin reactions should disappear within hours to a few days. Unlike electrolysis the ECOLITE treatment is noninvasive.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS ARE NECESSARY?
Only hair in the growth phase can be treated. The number of hairs in this phase varies from 20% to 70% depending on the body site. The lengths of the growth cycles also vary from 6 to 24 weeks depending on the body site. For most patients three to five treatments are sufficient to permanently reduce an area of hair up to 85%. After the first treatment, most patients get a significant reduction in hair density as new hairs tend to become finer. It is important to know that the first treatment is believed to synchronize the anagen (growth) phase of the nonanagen hairs. This may cause what seems to be regrowth, but actually just sleeping hairs starting to grow at the same time (new growth). This in turn makes the following treatment(s) more effective.
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR TREATMENT?
Patients should avoid tanning for 1 month prior to the treatment. Immediately after each treatment session, the skin is particularly sensitive to UV light and strong sunlight should be avoided for 4-5 days.
IS IT PERMANENT?
Most authorities would agree that using current laser and IPL technology, it is possible to permanently remove hair up to 85-90%. Further, histology studies have found destroyed and denatured hair follicles cells in post treatment.
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