Hair Removal

For many years, lasers have been used with great sucess to treat skin problems, and, through continuous research, new uses are being developed all the time.

Now, following world-wide trials, the Ruby Laser is being shown to be an extremely safe and effective new method of hair removal, without some of the side effects and pain associated with other treatments.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does normal hair grow?

Hair is made up of a shaft and a root. The shaft is the hair you see on your skin. The root is buried within the skin. At the lower end of the root is a swelling called a hair bulb and this is surrounded by a socket called a hair follicle. The hair grows upwards from the root and emerges from the skin. Each hair has several growth phases:

• Anagen - where the hair grows in length
• Telogen - a resting phase
• Catagen - a shedding phase where the hair falls out

This is known as the normal growth cycle. In this way hairs are continually grown, shed and replaced throughout an individual's life and, at any one time, different hairs will be at different stages of this growth cycle. The length of the growth cycle varies between different sites of the body and of course between individuals.

• Is hair distibution the same in all individuals?

No. The amount and distribution of body hair is largely determined genetically. This may vary according to racial or familial characteristics. For example, women of Asian or Mediterranean background may tend to grow darker, thicker hair than those from Northern Europe.

• What is hirsutism?

Hirsutism is a term used in medical practice to describe excessive hair growth, especially in females. This can often be quite natural and due to normal genetic characteristics or can be due to certain medical conditions.

The presence of hair in some regions of the body may be acceptable for some people but not for others.

The removal of unwanted body hair is called depilation.

• What methods of hair removal are available?

There are a number of methods used to remove hair today. These include plucking, shaving, depilatory creams, waxing and electrolysis. All these methods have their associated problems; they may be time- consuming, painful, messy and only temporarily effective. Electrolysis can cause scarring. Until recently these were the only methods of depilation available. Now however, lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL) systems appear to be far superior.

• How does the treatment work?

Lasers produce pulses of coherent light at a specific wavelength that passes through the skin. Intense pulsed light (IPL) systems produce a pulse of high intensity broadband light that passes through the skin. The pulses from either method are converted to heat at the hair follicle, which stops any further re-growth of hair.

• Can all types of hair be treated?

The ruby laser is ideal for lighter-skinned patients with dark or blonde hair, and suited to treatment of facial hair and smaller body areas.

The advanced intense pulsed light system (IPL) is ideal for all skin types and effective for treating lager areas.

The Nd: YAG laser is especially effective for longer, deeper hairs.

• Is the treatment permanent?

No single laser system destroys all hair follicles. Some follicles are destroyed, others are miniaturized and some enter a prolonged resting phase. It is possible that with a sufficient number of treatments, true permanent hair reduction can be achieved.

• How many treatments are necessary?

This will vary depending on the area treated, the response of the individual, what has been done to the hair in the past and any underlying medical conditions. On average 3 to 6 treatments are needed at 4 to 6 week intervals.

• Can all areas of the body be treated?

Yes, although very large areas may take a little longer. We would not recommend the treatment of hairy moles and the nasal septum.

• Are there any after-effects following treatment?

A slight irritation of the skin, including redness and some burning sensation can occur in the first few days following treatment. This is reduced considerably by the use of a skin cooling device during treatment. Cooling the area after treatment (with ice, for example) should help reduce any inflammation further. Blistering or crusting may occur in a minority of patients. Rarely is any specific treatment required and it will usually clear in a few days. If blistering does occur, prolonged immersion in water, e.g., swimming should be avoided and when bathing or showering the area should be patted dry and not rubbed. Rarely some patients may find that the area of treated skin appears darker or lighter following treatment. This would normally resolve with time.

• Is laserase treatment safe?

Yes. There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that the treatment can lead to skin disorders or an increased risk of cancer. Furthermore, every precaution has been taken to ensure the safety of the patient. Having met all the necessary conditions, each Laserase Centre is registered with the Healthcare Commission. The lasers are also subject to periodic checks by the Regional Radiation Physics & Protection Service.

The treatment is carried out only by qualified and fully trained doctors and nurses. Patients are required to wear approved protective goggles at all times.