Photoepilation is one of the many terms used to describe the medical and aesthetic procedure for removing unwanted hair. The name "photoepilation" suggests that this procedure is carried out through the use of light. All procedures for removing unwanted hair today are based on the projection of a certain type of light (with a given wavelength) onto hair growing on the treated surface.
Photoepilation - what is it?
Photoepilation is a fairly effective procedure for removing unwanted hair on almost any part of the body with a prolonged effect. It consists in the following: when melanin (dark pimento) is heated, it transfers heat to the blood vessels that feed the follicle, in one way or another disrupting hair growth. With a repeatedly and regularly repeated procedure, the follicle atrophies over time, and hair growth stops completely.
Different types of photoepilation
The first photoepilation procedure was based on laser technology. In the early 1990s, the first laser hair removal machines were approved for use by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, which is also responsible for ensuring the safety of new treatments). Since then, three other technologies for hair removal have been developed: IPL (intense pulsed light), LHE (light thermal), DPC (Dynamic Control Pulse). The differences between the above technologies are their effectiveness in the removal of certain types of hair. For example, people with thin blonde hair will not get the maximum effect from laser photoepilation, unlike LHE.
Principle of operation
In order to carry out the procedure for removing unwanted hair, you need a special apparatus. Photoepilation is a procedure based on the action of light energy with certain physical characteristics. It works by passing thermal energy through the hair shaft to the follicles below the surface of the skin.
Light is projected onto the treated surface and is absorbed by individual locks of hair, this energy causes them to heat up to high temperatures. Then heat is transferred (conducted by the strand itself) to the hair follicle to its base under the skin surface.
Heated follicles disconnect the strand of hair growing from them (through which heat is transferred to them). A certain percentage of follicles (depending on the degree of their participation in the photoepilation procedure) also suffers enough damage, as a result of which new hair growth is disturbed for a sufficiently long period of time. As a rule, it is 3-5 years.
How is the procedure going?
Photoepilation - what is it? A cosmetic procedure like shugaring? Or is it a medical procedure that takes place under the supervision of a qualified specialist in several stages? Photoepilation involves, firstly, a consultation with a specialist, during which the doctor examines you and creates a special questionnaire with your data: hair color, hair type, condition and skin type, and also necessarily determines the presence or absence of contraindications. Based on your individual characteristics, the doctor develops a personal photoepilation program. Then you pass the photosensitivity test of the skin and hair. That is why photoepilation at home is quite problematic. Before starting the procedure, a special antiseptic and cooling gel with aloe vera extract is applied to the skin. And in the case of increased photosensitivity, a cream with anesthetic effect is also applied to the skin previously (1-1.5 hours before the start of the procedure). During the procedure, an unpleasant tingling sensation is felt at the exposure site, the pain of which varies depending on the individual sensitivity of the body. In addition, after the procedure, slight redness remains on the skin surface, which disappears after a few hours. You are comfortable in the chair, put on special safety glasses, and the doctor passes the skin with a manipulator connected to the device. After finishing, an anti-inflammatory agent and a cooling compress are applied to the entire treated surface. The duration of photoepilation varies widely and depends on the area of the treated surface and the degree of hair growth. The time interval between the first photoepilation sessions is approximately 4-6 weeks, and over time increases to 2-4 months. On average, it takes 6-8 procedures to completely remove hair in each particular area.
Photoepilation: Opinions and Benefits
As you know, laser hair removal is the most effective hair removal procedure, but it is effective only for dark hair and has some limitations in use in certain areas of the body, and is also very demanding on the level of skin sensitivity. That is why photoepilation has appeared as a worthy alternative to laser. What this procedure is, we have already described above, and now consider its advantages:
- almost complete painlessness;
- higher speed;
- a small number of contraindications and hypoallergenicity;
- contactlessness and comfort.
To date, a fairly large percentage of women around the world have managed to experience firsthand what photoepilation is. Reviews about it mainly emphasize high efficiency and the absence of side effects. In some cases, women complain of incomplete hair removal. Most often this is due to the incompleteness of the course.
How to choose the right type of hair removal?
Modern salons offer a huge number of different hair removal procedures: laser, photoepilation, waxing, shugaring, etc. All of them have a lot of differences, the main of which is the duration of the result and quality. In this article, we consider a procedure such as photoepilation, reviews about which are optimal. As described above, different types of hair removal promise different results depending on skin type and hair color. Laser photoepilation, for example, will provide the best results for people with dark and relatively thick hair.
Therefore, to achieve the best results, it is very important to choose a high-quality salon with a highly qualified specialist and modern equipment, which once again proves that photoepilation at home is almost impossible, and sometimes dangerous.
results
Photoepilation, as already noted above, is carried out in several stages to achieve maximum results. So, after the first procedure, about a third of the available hair is removed on the treated surface of the skin. These hairs were in the stage of active growth. They will never grow again. After a few weeks (from 4 to 6, depending on individual characteristics), the procedure is repeated, and again a third is removed from the remaining hair. Thus, the number and frequency of procedures for complete hair removal depends on the degree of their density and growth rate.
Photoepilation at home
As you know, science does not stand still, but because scientists have developed special portable devices for individual use. Home photoepilation has several advantages and disadvantages compared to the salon procedure.
Pros of home photoepilation
- Safety and painlessness. On portable devices, there is a power regulator, so getting burns during the procedure becomes simply impossible. Therefore, the pain of hair removal is reduced to 0.
- The effectiveness of the procedure is not inferior to salon hair removal. So, for complete and final hair removal, you will need from about 6 to 12 procedures with an interval of several weeks.
- The portable device is easy to use. Unlike the most complicated salon equipment, home photoepilators have instructions that are accessible to any user and a simple interface. Therefore, you do not need any special knowledge.
- The ability to remove hair in sensitive areas - on the face and in the bikini area. Some models, in particular German manufacturers, have special modes for removing hair on any area of the skin. However, in any case, you need to carefully study the mechanism, choose the appropriate mode in order to avoid burns. Do not forget that light should be strictly avoided on the mucous membranes.
- The use of home photoepilators is no more harmful than a salon procedure. The light pulse penetrates exclusively into the surface layer of the skin (up to 5 mm) and does not harm the internal organs.
Disadvantages of home photoepilation
- The lack of a preliminary examination by a qualified specialist increases the risk of allergic reactions and negative consequences. As a rule, before the procedure, the doctor examines the patient in order to determine the presence or absence of contraindications, such as, for example, moles, age spots. Incompetence can affect the appearance of the skin after the procedure and your feelings.
- When performing hair removal in the salon, the doctor uses special cosmetic preparations that protect the skin from the action of light. At home, choosing high-quality drugs can be quite problematic.
- Due to the greater power, salon procedures will help to achieve the final result faster.
- The cost of portable devices is quite high, in addition, it should be borne in mind that the lamp of the device is designed for a certain number of pulses, after which it needs to be replaced. Thus, home hair removal at its cost is quite comparable to the prices in the cabin. And the professionalism of a specialist is much higher.
Harm and danger of photoepilation
Photoepilation is a relatively new procedure, and therefore causes a lot of controversy and discussion. Experts argue: "Photoepilation - what is it? A panacea or an unjustified risk?" So, doctors say that an unpleasant consequence of the procedure can be hypopigmentation of the skin, that is, the appearance of discolored areas. The formation of colloidal scars, ingrown hairs is also likely. In addition, the question remains of the effect of photoepilation on the development of cancer of the skin.
Contraindications
The main contraindication for photoepilation is the presence of dermatological as well as cancer. In addition, experts do not recommend hair removal on tanned skin, in the place of accumulation of moles, in the area of birthmarks, mucous membranes. The tendency to allergic reactions, especially skin type, is also an occasion to think about the appropriateness of the procedure and, at a minimum, you need to consult a doctor. The same goes for infectious diseases.
Removal of antennae by photoepilation
The appearance of antennae above the upper lip can be associated with a wide variety of reasons, including hormonal ones, and is little dependent on age. However, most often this problem appears in women after 40 years. But in all cases without exception, any woman has an irresistible desire to remove these hairs once and for all. Photoepilation of the upper lip is an ideal solution to this problem. The entire course consists of 3-5 procedures with an interval of several weeks. And the ideal result will please you for several years, usually up to 5. Photoepilation of lips has the same contraindications as other parts of the body, but the requirements for professionalism are much higher. And at least you should not carry out the procedure at home on your own in order to avoid sad consequences.
Photoepilation is one of the optimal procedures for removing unwanted hair for a combination of the most important factors: efficiency, safety, painlessness, versatility and cost. Despite the contraindications and rare side effects, it is popular among women around the world and even men who want to get rid of the need for daily shaving. Especially considering the fact that the probability of developing side effects during photoepilation is less than 2%, and the effectiveness is 98%. Today, there is probably no worthy alternative to photoepilation among the whole variety of similar services, which explains the patients' disposition to it.