Alexandrite laser epilation

In recent decades, it has become more indecent for a woman to leave the house with unshaven legs than for a man with stubble on his face. The fashion for hairless skin has given rise to offers on the cosmetics market. Women's shaving accessories have taken pride of place on the shelves in home bathrooms, cosmetic stores are filled with depilation and epilation products, and salons advertise new ways to "get rid of unwanted hair forever" - not only on visible but also on intimate parts of the body. The best cosmetologists are working on the problem, which is exaggerated in some cases, and alexandrite laser hair removal is the fruit of their joint efforts. What is it and is it suitable for everyone?

Which laser hair removal is better: diode or alexandrite?

Laser hair removal (LHR) is most effective for people with fair skin and dark hair. A recent study found that both skin color and hair color affect the success of LHR. [ 1 ]

Diode and alexandrite laser hair removal are the most popular methods of removing unwanted hair today. The operating principle of the emitters used for medical purposes is the same, but the technical characteristics are different. The laser beam has a certain wavelength, it is characterized by a narrow focus and monochromaticity. The center of absorption of light energy is melanin contained in the hair. Other structures located in the thickness of the skin are not destroyed by the laser. [ 2 ]

Which laser hair removal is better: diode or alexandrite? – depends on the color of the skin and hair, the power of the equipment, the presence of cooling. And the main factor in choosing is a qualified specialist to whom you are ready to trust the solution of your problems. In short, we can say this:

• alexandrite is indicated for people with phototypes 1–2;
• Diode laser is suitable for any phototype.

The numbers 755 and 800 nanometers, which characterize the wavelength of the devices, mean little to the average client. These parameters determine which device is more effective on which skin type. The more saturated the shade, the more effective the laser procedures are, regardless of the type of device. Hair deprived of melanin is almost never removed by laser. [ 3 ]

But no method can remove everything forever. As the hair grows back, the sessions should be repeated, and only after a full course does the hair disappear for several years. To significantly reduce the amount of hair, it is necessary to conduct 5-7 sessions, with an interval of 1 to 3 months.

Indications for the procedure

People who feel discomfort from excess hair on their body resort to various methods of hair removal. Alexandrite laser hair removal is suitable for those with dark hair. The equipment simply “does not see” light hairs. The device also does not recognize hair on a tanned body and takes dark epithelial cells for “extra”.

Indications for the procedure arise for various reasons:

• genetic;
• hormonal;
• due to inflammation after depilation;
• due to ingrown hairs, razor irritation.

The procedure for permanent hair removal is also ordered by women who are tired of regular depilation sessions. But before resorting to laser, hormonal causes should be excluded. To do this, you need to make an appointment with an endocrinologist who will help solve hormonal problems or exclude their presence.

Preparation

The Alexandrite laser hair removal procedure consists of three stages. It starts with preparation: it mainly consists of allowing the hairs to grow to the desired length: 3-5 mm. To do this, you should not shave for about a week.

• The clinic specialist is obliged to conduct detailed instructions with the patient in advance about the actions and expected results. During the interview, the presence/absence of contraindications is clarified.

There are no preparatory procedures before epilation, no anesthesia either. The patient is comfortably seated in a chair, protective glasses are put on during manipulation on the face and epilation begins.

Laser equipment acts on the hair roots without heating the surrounding tissues. Compliance with all conditions promises the absence of pain. The main thing is that the skin type of a woman or man meets the requirements as much as possible.

• Laser flashes during the procedure resemble light hot pricks. They are caused by heating up to 70 degrees.

Cooling is used to prevent severe pain. The specialist regulates the power: he starts with a small one and asks the patient about his feelings. And then increases the parameters, choosing the most comfortable ones for the client.

Anyone who has used wax or sugaring will confirm that the laser procedure is faster and more comfortable. Individual characteristics and differences in sensitivity in certain areas of the body also play a role.

The session ends after 40-45 minutes. To calm down, the treated skin area is covered with a cooling gel. It serves to prevent burns and pigmentation.

Alexandrite laser hair removal device

Without going into details of the structure and operation of the device for alexandrite laser hair removal, we note that the name comes from the name of the so-called active medium (or working body). For example, the first laser device was ruby. Today, the mineral alexandrite, grown artificially, is used.

• And if a ruby, as is known, has a red color, then in an alexandrite laser hair removal device the color changes depending on the lighting.
• The working body of the diode device does not contain minerals. Semiconductor materials and gallium arsenide are active there.

The longer the waves, the deeper the radiation penetrates into the tissue. Alexandrite allows you to remove hair with phototype 1-2 and benign pigmentation. During the session, an unpleasant smell of burnt hair is felt, which should be perceived by the patient as an inevitable unaesthetic effect and the price for an immediate effect. Diodes are free of this unpleasantness, but the patient has to wait a week and a half for the dead hairs to leave the skin for good.

The end result, however, is almost the same. With each of these methods of hair removal, hair does not grow from one to five years; such differences are associated with individual characteristics of the body.

Laser hair removal with alexandrite device Candela

A course of alexandrite laser hair removal gives a lasting result. The method is considered the most popular and effective for removing hair in unwanted places. The course lasts from 4 to 8 procedures, with some intervals. Laser hair removal with alexandrite candela device qualitatively and painlessly removes hair from both female and male clients.

• The effectiveness is demonstrated by the figures: after a course of epilation with the help of Candela, no more than 5% of the initial number of hairs remains on the skin. According to the clinics providing the services, no other device is capable of achieving such indicators. [ 4 ]

The duration of the result is up to 7 years; it depends on the age, treatment area, hormonal state of the body. The manipulation is carried out quickly, painlessly, with maximum comfort for the patient. No pain is felt thanks to the built-in dynamic cooling system developed by specialists of the American manufacturer. It also prevents thermal burns.

• Manipulation on the upper lip takes 10 minutes, in the bikini area – 20, treatment of the legs lasts from an hour to two.

The non-invasive nature of the technology ensures that contact diseases due to the treatment are excluded. Side effects are minimal and there is no effect on the body as a whole. [ 5 ]

Technique alexandrite laser hair removal

The design of the device for alexandrite laser hair removal uses artificial stone enriched with chromium. It has light-refracting properties that allow it to form radiation of optimal length and focus it in the desired direction.

Alexandrite heats up quickly and acts gently on the skin. The technique of laser hair removal with an alexandrite laser allows you to treat the following locations:

• bikini area;
• armpits;
• shins, thighs, legs in general;
• stomach;
• hands partially or completely;
• upper lip;
• chest and back in men.

The procedure is carried out in stages, starting with detailed instructions on the preparation procedure. The specialist who performs the epilation informs clients about everything 2-4 months before the scheduled session. Immediately before the start of the procedure, the patient's eyes, comfortably seated on a couch or in a chair, are protected with special glasses.

On the appointed day, you cannot use cosmetics on the area planned for treatment. An anesthetic is applied 50 minutes before the start. Then, the specified areas are directly treated. At the end of the procedure, a cosmetic product is applied to prevent irritation.

Despite the fact that the laser is capable of strongly heating the places on which its rays fall, when using alexandrite, a slight tingling sensation is felt, but there is no pain or burns. Their prevention is provided by the cooling system built into the device. In the latest models, the cryogenic factor is liquid freon, soothing the skin literally in the blink of an eye.

Bikini laser hair removal with alexandrite laser

Hair removal in the bikini area is very painful and uncomfortable. It is often accompanied by cuts, irritation, and the thought that it will have to be repeated regularly makes you shudder. Having performed at least one alexandrite laser hair removal, women no longer turn to other methods of getting rid of hair in such a delicate area. And after a course of procedures, you can completely forget about the problem.

Bikini laser hair removal with an alexandrite laser is one of the most requested services by women. Its advantages are as follows:

• rapidity;
• painlessness;
• safety;
• cooling;
• absence of scars;
• efficiency;
• long lasting effect.

Laser devices regulate the effect of heat depending on the skin phototype. The duration of the pulse depends on the hair type. In addition to excess hair, the device eliminates epidermal spots - post-acne, freckles, age spots.

• The laser beam acts on the melanin pigment contained in the hair. It reaches the follicle and destroys it, causing the hair shaft to fall off soon after.

Sometimes after the first treatment, hair density is reduced by half, but for a lasting result, a repetition of up to 5-7 sessions is required, at least with a monthly interval.

The duration of the procedure depends on the area, thickness and shade of hair. The device is able to select an individual program taking into account these and other parameters. Neighboring areas that do not require epilation are not exposed to the laser.

Laser hair removal alexandrite armpits

Although advertising convinces that alexandrite laser hair removal is painless, much depends on the location of unwanted hair. Legs are one thing, bikini or armpits are quite another. In these places, the skin is tender, soft, and sufficiently innervated, so sensitivity is higher and the pain threshold is lower.

In connection with this moment, laser hair removal alexandrite armpits has the advantage of being a fast-flowing procedure. Shorter time - less pain. It is alexandrite that provides a softer effect than other hair removal methods.

• For women's information, pain in the middle of the menstrual cycle is less than at other times.

True, there is such a thing as individual susceptibility. Cryogenic drugs or other cooling methods are used to reduce pain.

After the procedure, follow the recommendations for caring for the treated areas. During the first day, the armpits should not be washed with water, and sauna is contraindicated for 3–4 days. It is prohibited to pull out burnt hair remnants; they should fall out on their own. By the second week, the skin of the armpits is completely cleared.

If a specialist has recommended applying a special cream, then no other products should be used. Otherwise, the skin may react with irritation and inflammation.

Alexandrite laser hair removal for face

An effective way to combat unwanted facial hair is alexandrite laser hair removal. Thanks to the built-in cooling device, the technique minimizes the unpleasant sensations that accompany most hair removal technologies.

Alexandrite laser hair removal of the face and other areas with delicate skin is accompanied by painful sensations. Therefore, preliminary pain-relieving manipulation is necessary: cryogenic spray, gel with lidocaine or a stream of cold air.

• Alexandrite is ideal for dark hair and fair skin. Tanned and dark skin require different techniques.

One of the advantages of alexandrite is hygienic. The nozzles on the devices do not touch the skin during the procedure, which means that the skin does not come into contact with the surface of the nozzle, which has already touched previous patients.

• When planning to have laser hair removal in a salon, it is important to take into account some little tricks.

Since it is impossible to achieve smooth and clear skin in one session, it is hardly worth starting the venture in the middle of the beach season. After all, several procedures will be needed, and the final result is not immediately visible. So the summer will fly by in trips to salons. In order to look beautiful and aesthetically pleasing by summer, it is necessary to sign up for epilation of the face, legs, body in advance, even in the cold season. And then it is really possible to meet the beach season fully armed.

Contraindications to the procedure

The laser procedure has many contraindications. These include:

• poor blood clotting;
• preparation for fertilization 2-3 months, pregnancy and lactation;
• diabetes;
• skin diseases, multiple moles, spots;
• acute herpes;
• the presence of keloid scars, malignant neoplasms;
• diseases of the circulatory system.

You cannot do hair removal after active UV exposure for 1-2 weeks. Alexandrite laser hair removal is incompatible with hormonal therapy. If hair growth is the cause of hormonal disorders, then the problem of excessive hair growth is solved by proper treatment.

Consequences after the procedure

The main advantage of alexandrite laser hair removal is the duration of the result. After a course of manipulations, the vegetation disappears for several years, and maybe forever.

An interesting consequence after the procedure, in addition to the actual epilation, is rejuvenation. This effect is formed due to the cosmetic action of the laser: tightening the skin and eliminating pigment defects. Epilation with an alexandrite laser affects the biometric parameters of the skin, can reduce the melanin content in the skin and make the skin thinner, as well as increase the elasticity and density of the epidermis and dermis. [ 6 ]

• But there are also disadvantages. No device is capable of destroying "future" hairs, so when new hair appears, the procedure has to be repeated.

The effectiveness of hair removal is directly related to the flow density used. Patients have an average hair reduction of 74%.

Although most patients achieve long-term hair reduction after a series of laser treatments, partial regrowth is typical within 6 months, suggesting that additional treatments are needed to increase the rate of permanent hair removal. Some follicles are able to regenerate, causing hair to reappear in the treated area after a few months, although in smaller quantities. [ 7 ]

Complications after the procedure

Overall, the alexandrite laser is safe and effective for hair removal in patients with a wide range of skin types. The incidence of complications increases with increasing skin pigment and higher power levels. However, even fair-skinned individuals without recent sun exposure may experience complications and side effects before or after treatment. [ 8 ] Rare complications included transient post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (n = 9; 10%), blistering (n = 1; 1%), and post-inflammatory hypopigmentation (n = 2; 2%). All complications resolved without permanent scarring. [ 9 ]

Mistakes during preparation for alexandrite laser hair removal may result in abrasions, scars, pigmentation changes, folliculitis. Complications after the procedure, such as an allergic reaction, may be associated with the individual characteristics of the patient's body. A burn may also be a consequence of the doctor's inexperience. Herpes is likely in people prone to this disease.

• During the normal course of the procedure, nothing like this happens; the maximum complication is redness and slight swelling.

In dark skin, the risk of burns from alexandrite is higher than from diode emitter. Pigmentation occurs on dark skin if the patient ignores the rules of protection from ultraviolet radiation. Eye damage can occur as a result of improper use of laser hair removal devices. Ophthalmologists should be aware of eye damage caused by these devices. [ 10 ], [ 11 ]

Care after the procedure

After alexandrite laser hair removal, the patient uses a special anti-inflammatory cream for several days. Redness is normal: it confirms the effectiveness of the procedure. It can last for several days.

• In general, post-procedure care and rehabilitation include some restrictions.

1. Stop sunbathing and solar procedures for two weeks.
2. Do not perform sugaring or waxing.
3. Use a razor or depilatory cream.
4. Apply sunscreen for several months after your last session.
5. Do not wet or rub the treated surface.
6. Do not visit the sauna, temporarily stop water treatments and sports activities.
7. For several days, the use of hormones and antibiotics is excluded.

Reviews

Painful or not painful? – that is the question when it comes to alexandrite laser hair removal. This controversial issue is actively discussed online, mainly in reviews from visitors (and visitors too!) of beauty salons and clinics.

Most women who have tried other hair removal methods claim that alexandrite devices have a gentle effect, especially on sensitive skin areas. They are also generally satisfied with the results and their duration.

You can live your whole life without knowing about alexandrite laser hair removal, and this will not diminish your happiness. If this procedure is not enough for complete happiness, then before making a decision, carefully study all the pros and cons, choose an institution and a specialist with a good reputation. According to the calculations of knowledgeable people, the laser procedure, which is expensive at first glance, is not only more reliable, but also generally no more expensive than other hair removal methods. Having completed a full course of hair removal, you can forget about the problem of excess hair for a long time, or even forever.