One less worry. After all, this is a bit what we all think when we consider choosing a permanent hair removal treatment. After all, how can you not take it into consideration, the freedom it promises is unique. End of the torture of waxing every three weeks, of the razor every three days, of the hours posing with the depilatory cream. In short, the end of the fixed appointments with the «hair». Better to see each other once every four months if really necessary. Together to Dr. Michela Galimberti, surgeon and aesthetic doctor, medical director of Iclid Milano we analyzed the differences between the two most requested methods: laser and pulsed light.
Laser hair removal and pulsed light: identikit
“The two methods are very similar, both exploit a light energy that is transformed into thermal energy, or heat, what changes in the two methods is the wavelength: the laser emits a single type of light, a single wavelength that is absorbed only by the melanin contained in the hair bulb, while pulsed light contains practically all wavelengths, including that for epilation, which are cut by filters to select their use. Both the laser and the pulsed light are performed on clean and shaved skin: the hair is allowed to grow for the four weeks preceding the session and shaved two days before. During the session, the handpiece is passed over the skin (depending on the equipment it may be necessary to use a gel) and once the session is over, a soothing cream is spread. The only precaution is not to expose the skin to the sun for the following four weeks ».
The most suitable for sensitive skin
“There is no particular indication in the sense that both methods have the possibility of varying the intensity of the energy used in relation to the skin, so if by sensitive skin we mean a very reactive skin we can calibrate the energy to make the sessions more soft and tolerable “.
The fastest to act on the hair
“The laser is faster because it emits a light with a single wavelength that is absorbed only by the melanin contained in the hair bulb, which transforms into heat and destroys it. So the thicker and darker the hair is, the more effective the laser is. This is why the laser works well on thick hair such as those of the groin, armpits and mid-leg and the darker they are, the more effective the laser will be. If they are clear with less melanin and thin it is less effective. Pulsed light, on the other hand, containing a beam of different wavelengths which also contains that for epilation, does not allow the use of high powers, because the light produced is also absorbed by the skin with the risk of burns ” .
The one that has the most long-term effects
“Both are permanent hair removal methods, change the number of sessions needed to achieve total hair removal: with the laser eight sessions are needed for women and twelve for men, with pulsed light fifteen-twenty for women, while on men it is not always possible to reach the depth of the bulbs and therefore to obtain the definitive result. Then there is a distinction to be made: the laser and pulsed light devices supplied to the doctor are more powerful and therefore effective than those supplied to the beautician, so the latter will require more sessions than those that are done by the aesthetic doctor. Finally, let’s open a parenthesis on devices for domestic use: obviously, they have very low powers, therefore they slow down the growth of the hair if used consistently but cannot be considered definitive epilation methods “.
The one that risks staining the skin the most
«There are basically three lasers used for hair removal: the one ad alexandrite, diode and neodymium. Three different lasers that are all absorbed by the melanin present in the hair bulb but with a different impact on the skin. Alexandrite is used on people with very fair skin, neodymium yag on pigmented skin, for example on colored subjects. Having a wide range of lasers, the doctor chooses the most suitable one based on the patient’s skin color to avoid lesions or spots. Pulsed light, on the other hand, being a beam of light that also affects the skin, is more likely to cause hyperpigmentationespecially if in inexperienced hands. The risk of skin spots after a laser or pulsed light session increases if the patient is exposed to the sun after treatmentand this regardless of the type of treatment “.
The one that requires the most preparation
“No special skin preparation is required: they grow hair for four weeks, shave two days earlier and on clean skin you pass the laser or pulsed light. At the end, a soothing cream is applied to reduce any redness that may occur. If the skin is particularly dry, a moisturizing cream can be applied the evening before the session ».
The most painful
“There’s no difference, the pain does not depend on the method but on the treated area. Laser or pulsed light can be more painful in particularly sensitive areas, such as the groin or armpits, and less painful in others. For women, then, there is another factor to consider: near menstruation we are generally more sensitive to pain and less tolerant, so we will feel more discomfort during the session “.
The one best suited to tanned skin
“Only a neodymium laser yagis the only device that can be used on tanned skin because it is not absorbed by the skin’s melanin ».
Other stories of Vanity Fair that might interest you
10 things to know about do-it-yourself hair removal
Lourdes, queen of unshaved armpits
Source: Vanity Fair
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