Who Can get Laser Hair Removal?
The laser beam finds the hair follicles by targeting the substance that gives skin and hair dark color - melanin. Therefore, the ideal candidate for laser hair removal has dark hair and light skin. This laser will not work on people with red, white, gray or true blond hair but the cold laser system can. More about that in the Cold Laser section. The hot laser light will also be attracted to the melanin in the skin, so people with suntans, or dark skin types are at more of a risk for discoloration of pigment and other side effects.

How Does Hair Grow?
Hair forms in a pouch-like structure below the skin called a hair follicle. What we see as hair is actually the hair shaft, which is the keratinized, hardened tissue that grows from this follicle.

Everyone's hair grows differently, depending on age, weight, metabolism, hormones, ethnicity, medications, and other factors. But all hair goes through three distinct growth phases:

1. Anagen phase.  This is the hairs active growth phase, the hair has an abundance of melanin during this phase.

2. Catagen phase.  This is the hairs regressive phase when the lower part of the hair stops growing but is not shed.

3. Telogen phase.  This is the hairs resting phase during which the old hair falls out in preparation for the development of new hair.

The LHE Skinstation can effectively disables hair that is in the active growth (anagen) phase. Because all the hair in a treated area may not be in the anagen phase, more than one laser treatment may be necessary to remove the hair that subsequently enters the growth phase.

There are four different kinds of laser light that are commonly used for hair removal:

Alexandrite- such as the Candela GentleLase Plus.

Ruby- such as the EpiTouch or the Epilaser.

Diode- such as the Coherent Light Sheer. ND, and LP ND Yag- such as the Candela GentleYag and the Altus Cool Glide.

IPL - Intense Pulsed Light- such as a Radiancy Skin Station

Laser hair removal is a multi-factorial process that involves complex photo-thermal reactions through the epidermal-dermal layers, aimed to cause follicle damage 1-4. Light and heat parameters must be carefully designed and critically selected to achieve effective, long lasting damage to the follicle yet avoid adverse side effects to surrounding skin. Based on the theory of selective photothermolysis 5 wavelengths are chosen for maximum absorption in the targeted chromophore-melanin, while pulse durations are set to minimize epidermal heating as well as thermal diffusion from the heated follicle.
Ideal candidates for laser and pulsed light (IPL) hair removal are those with fair skin and dark, coarse hair. In practice, however, most candidates possess a significant amount of melanin in their skin and desire removal also of lighter, thinner hair. Under these conditions the effectiveness of the basic selective photothermolysis theory diminishes to the point where auxiliary skin cooling techniques become mandatory to avoid undesirable thermal damage to the epidermis 6-7. Most current laser and IPL hair removal systems employ high light energy fluency combined with some sort of skin cooling technique such as a contact, cooled sapphire window 8 or a burst of evaporative coolant 9 delivered just prior to the laser pulse. While adding to the cost and complexity of the system these cooling techniques are also operator dependent and may compromise safety.
Since selective conversion of light energy to follicular heat is practically difficult to achieve, Radiancy has developed a novel approach of simultaneously utilizing two different energy pathways-light and heat 10. Heat, and not light, is responsible
for the hair follicle damage so heat energy rather than excessive light energy is brought into play. By optimizing wavelength, spot size and pulse duration and by simultaneously applying its patented pulsed light and heat technology (LHE) Radiancy's Skinstation achieves effective hair removal more efficiently than existing laser and IPL systems without the need for any skin cooling mechanism.

Is it permanent?

The FDA has cleared select lasers, including the Skinstation, for marketing as "permanent hair reduction". This means that the hair follicles that are disabled by the laser will not grow back.  It is only effective during the active growth stage of hair so more than one treatment is necessary to achieve desired results. 

Is it painful?

You may experience an uncomfortable stinging sensation during treatment similar to the quick snap of an elastic. Some areas of the body are more sensitive and you may want to use a topical anesthetic. The Gentle LASE has a cooling device which reduces discomfort by spraying the skin with cryogen before the laser pulse. 

Are there side effects?

Although side effects occur infrequently and are generally temporary the possibility exists. These can include: Temporary pigment change, swelling, redness, itching during treatment, crusting or scab forming on ingrown hairs, purple coloring of the skin on tanned areas and tingling or feeling of numbness from the cold spray.

The laser can only disable hair follicles during the growing stage. Although one laser session can result in several months of hair reduction additional treatments will be necessary to take care of other follicles when they re-enter the growth phase for permanent results. Most people will see good results with 4-6 treatments although additional treatments may be necessary depending on skin and hair coloring, density per treated area and genetics.  A 95% reduction is considered a good result.
What can I expect during treatment?

Safety eye wear may be worn to protect the eyes from the laser light during the procedure. A pulse approximately the size of a small gum stick is delivered through a hand piece that touches the skin.  Each laser pulse is a flash of light with a flow of air to allow for maximum comfort and protection of the skin. Treatment time can vary from minutes to hours depending on the areas treated.  

The following information is to be used as a guide for  what to expect after laser hair removal treatment:

• The treated area may become red and puffy.  If this reaction occurs, it could take as little as an hour to a day or so to return to normal.  This skin reaction may be similar to a mild sunburn and can be treated in the same manner.

• Do not scrub the treated area after a laser treatment.  Wash gently using a mild soap.  The treated hairs will begin to surface as the hair follicle purges them from under the skin.  This usually takes 3 - 10 days and is not re-growth.  The hairs can be shaved during this process.

• Do not pluck or wax purging hair.  You may use a cloth or loofah sponge to gently exfoliate these hairs.

• You should avoid the sun for 4 - 6 weeks after treatment.

• Clients can return to normal activities immediately after treatment.

Before Treatments

Two months after 2 LHE Treatments