Intense Pulsed Light Hair Reduction
What is it?
In 1996, Palomar, the manufacturer of the StarLux, became
the first light-based technology company to receive FDA clearance
for Permanent Hair Reduction. The StarLux employs their most
powerful and effective technology to achieve the quickest
possible hair clearance. It works several times faster than
other light-based systems. Treatment sessions are shorter
without the discomfort associated with some of the older
lasers.
Who is this for?
This is for people who want a more permanent solution for
hair reduction. In the past, the usual treatments for unwanted
hair were waxing, shaving, plucking, or electrolysis but
they were all painful, messy, and only temporary. Say goodbye
to your razor blades and daily shaving.
How does it work?
Pulsed Light hair reduction works by emitting pulses of
intense light into the hair follicles. The light is absorbed
by the
pigment in the follicles and converted to heat. The heat
destroys the structure of the follicle, loosens the hair
and disables the cells responsible for growing new hair.
This leads to short-term freedom from unwanted hair and long-term
reduction of new hair growth.
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What is IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)?
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. It is a light energy
that is applied to certain parts oxf the body, so that the
target structure - whether it is hair or blood vessel in
the skin - absorbs the energy and is destroyed.
IPL is not the same as laser, although it is similar. The
main difference is that laser (Light Amplification by the
Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is a technique of producing
light energy of only one wavelength. IPL (Intense Pulsed
Light) uses white light which contains all the wavelengths
of visible light from red to blue. However, to concentrate
the treatments on different structures, filters are used
to reduce certain wavelengths that are not needed.
How IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) works on hair?
With IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), the Light energy is absorbed
by the melanin pigment which then heats the hair. Before
the treatment happens, the hair is clipped so most of the
long hair has been removed from outside the skin. This leaves
the bulb of the hair in the follicle within the skin.
When the Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is used, the melanin
in this hair bulb absorbs light and gets very hot. As this
bulb is surrounded by the cells in the follicle, they are
damaged by the heat. Using the correct settings, it is possible
to completely destroy these cells so they will not produce
any further hair in the future.
Clearly, the darker the hair, the more it will absorb the
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and so the more it will heat up
and damage the follicles. Very light hair such as very blond
hair or grey hair does not have the color in it to absorb
the light and therefore IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is ineffective
in very blond hair or very white or grey hair.
Benefits of IPL Hair Reduction Include:
•
Long-lasting hair reduction
•
Removes hair from all parts of the body
•
Removes hair of various color and thickness
•
Treats most skin types and colors
•
Few side effects
•
Speed and convenience
•
No needles or injection
•
No aftercare and fast return to daily activities Back to top ^
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