Skin Club by DermaGenesis

Hair in unwanted places? DIODE Laser hair removal system, is the GOLD STANDARD for permanent hair removal with excellent aesthetic results. This state of the art Laser is designed to remove unwanted hair faster, with less discomfort and more reliable than others.

Laser hair removal is a safe and effective way for long-term reduction of unwanted hair by precisely targeting the hair follicle without damaging the surrounding epidermis. Laser hair removal is also used to treat ingrown hair and discoloration over the upper lip and underarms due to excessive shaving. For optimum results, the hair should be black in colour and coarse. White hair, blonde hair and very fine hair cannot be removed. Click here to know more about Diode laser.

Laser hair removal procedure

Laser hair removal is a well-tolerated, safe and effective procedure for any part of the face and body. If there is excessive discomfort, an anaesthetic cream can be applied prior to doing the treatment. In darker skin type, a patch test may be done prior to a complete treatment. Laser hair removal is successful only when the hair is in their active (Anagen) stage at the time of treatment.
Hair has 3 stages - Anagen, Catagen and Telogen. Anagen is the active phase of hair growth during which time there will be abundant melanin. It is during this phase when hair removal treatments must be targeted. Catagen is the growing phase of the hair while Telogen is the dormant phase of the hair. The Telogen phase has almost no melanin. Treatments done during this phase might not be able to destroy the hair bulb.
The treatment area must be shaved a day or two before the procedure. Laser energy travels better when the follicles are short. A layer of cold gel is applied before, during and after the procedure. The wavelength, pulse width and the energy level is adjusted based on the skin type and hair density. The Laser is activated and glided over the treatment site. There will be a brief sharp sensation as the hair is being destroyed.
The hair normally remains intact after the treatment and will only start to shed few weeks later, after which, there should be a hair-free period. The next set of hair that was dormant (in Catagen phase) beneath the skin during the earlier treatment will start to surface few weeks later. The treatment can be repeated once there is enough hair on the surface and the process continued until desired result is achieved. At least 7 - 10 initial treatments, spaced 4 - 6 weeks apart, is required to notice a considerable percentage of hair reduction.

Laser hair removal results

Though the objective is to achieve 100% hair loss on treated areas, which some people do, but most often Laser hair removal provides a permanent reduction of hair growth up to 80% to 90% only. Patients should not expect to permanently remove every single hair from the targeted area; however, they can expect to remove the vast majority of it. Laser hair removal works best on light skin with dark coarse hair. Laser hair removal is not effective for lighter or white colour hair and fine hair. For the few cases where the hair does grow back, it is usually lighter and finer. Some people may experience about 10% hair re-growth after few years, for which they may need touch-up treatments. Remember, Laser can only destroy the hair that is currently present, but cannot prevent new hair from developing. Rarely, there can be excessive hair growth pattern and the treatment may be unsuccessful in some people due to heredity, pregnancy, glandular and/or hormonal imbalances (PCOS in women), insulin resistance issues, reactions to certain medications and normal aging process.

Safety, risks and side effects

The common side effects are pain, itching, redness and / or swelling for few days. In rare cases, some patients may experience scab formation, bruises, infection and temporary pigment change (hypo or hyper-pigmentation) for few months. In very rare cases, the scabs may be infected and result in scarring.

While on Laser hair removal program, patients are advised to adhere to the following guidelines after the procedure:

• Keep the treated area clean;
• Shave in the direction of hair growth and not against it;
• Do not tweeze, pluck or wax throughout the Treatment since this will remove the hair root and they cannot be destroyed;
• Apply moisturizer for a few days after the Treatment to soothe the skin;
• Avoid exposure to excessive sunlight in the first 2 weeks after the procedure;

Cost

Cost of Laser hair removal depends on the treatment area. For more information on the pricing, please click here.

Clinical papers on Diode 800 nm Laser hair removal

Use of the LightSheer® Diode Laser System for Hair Reduction: Safety and Efficacy in a Large Series of Treatments, 2001, Rube Pardo, MD, PhD, and Judy Fahey, RN
An 800 nm high-power, long pulsed diode Laser with contact cooling provides safe and effective reduction of pigmented hair in patients with a variety of skin types. This paper presents the safety and efficacy results of 800 Treatments performed on 250 sites in 144 patients with Fitzpatrick skin types II-V. Over 84% of sites showed a good or excellent response following the second and subsequent Treatments. Treatment responses were similar for all skin types treated, with an excellent safety profile. Side effects were noted in only two of the 800 Treatments and were transient in nature. Patients were extremely or moderately satisfied with over 96% of their Treatments.

Hair Removal: Scientific Principles and Practical Aspects, 1999, Christine Dierickx, MD
The use of Lasers for hair removal has been studied for a number of years. In this procedure, Laser light is absorbed by melanin in the hair shaft, damaging the follicular epithelium. A clinical study evaluated the use of the LightSheer Diode Laser for hair removal. Of 92 patients, all had temporary hair loss and 89% had permanent hair reduction. Regrowing hairs were shown to be thinner and lighter than previously. Extensive clinical use of this high-power, pulse diode Laser has resulted in recommendations for patient selection and proper use of the Laser. Appropriate fluence settings have been shown to cause permanent hair reduction without damaging the epidermis, regardless of skin type.

Use of Very Long-Pulsed (100 ms) High-Powered Diode Laser for Hair Reduction on All Skin Types, 2000, Eliot Battle, MD and R. Rox Anderson, MD
An 800 nm diode Laser with contact cooling and very long pulse widths provides for effective, long-term hair reduction of medium to course pigmented hair, even in some darker-skin patients. Very long pulse widths allow for all skin types to tolerate substantially higher fluences, and thus darker skin types can be safely and effectively treated. Additionally, preliminary results demonstrate that very long pulse widths do not significantly decrease the efficacy for medium to course hair reduction for any given fluence.

Diode 800 nm pulsed, high-power diode Laser Hair Removal system, 1999, Robert M. Adrian, MD, FACP
Recent technological advances in Laser Hair Removal have been accompanied by a tremendous degree of public enthusiasm for this procedure. Unfortunately, clinical studies regarding safety and efficacy of these procedures have lagged behind the actual widespread use of this modality throughout the world. Traditional methods of hair removal such as shaving, plucking, waxing, and electrolysis are associated with clinical limitations and side effects; thus the introduction of Laser Hair Removal has been embraced by the public despite relatively little data regarding clinical safety and long-term efficacy. A Ruby (694 nm), alexandrite (755 nm) and diode (800 nm) are clinically compared.

Laser-assisted hair removal in Asians: A study of 101 Japanese patients. Taro Kono, MD and Motohiro Nozaki, MD, Sept. 2000
In this retrospective study of 101 Japanese patients, we were able to achieve temporary hair removal in all patients with even single Laser Treatments. Longer lasting results required multiple Treatments, and 50% of all patients achieved 60% or greater permanent hair reduction. Complications were mild and transient, and to maximize Treatment efficacy and safety, longer pulse durations and active skin cooling are critical for darkly complected patient populations. These initial experiences with the LightSheer™ system on an all-Japanese patient base demonstrated that 800 nanometer diode Laser assisted hair removal can be performed as effectively and as safely on Asian populations as on Caucasian patients.

Permanent Hair Reduction Using a Pulsed, High-Power Diode Laser, 1999, Christine C. Dierickx, MD, R. Rox Anderson, MD, Valeria B. Campos, MD, and Melanie Grossman, MD
A solid-state, 800 nm pulsed near-infrared diode Laser was studied for permanent hair reduction. The effect of Laser fluence (energy per unit area), single vs. multiple Treatments, and single vs. multiple pulses were determined in different skin types (Fitzpatrick's type I through VI).

Use of an 800 nm High-Power Diode Laser for the Treatment of Leg Vein Telangiectasia, 2000, Valeria B. Campos, MD, R. Rox Anderson, MD, and Christine C. Dierickx, MD
Lasers have been used for hair removal since 1995, but few have had properties that are also effective in treating leg veins. This dose-response study at Wellman Laboratories on 25 patients with 200 Treatment sites has determined parameters for an 800 nm high-powered diode Laser. It has also resulted in recommendations for patient selection and a Treatment protocol. Patients presenting with leg vessels between 0.4 and 1 mm have been shown to respond to Laser Treatment, with the results improving with the number of Treatments and with time after Treatment.

Use of the LightSheer Diode Laser System for the Treatment of Benign Pigmented Lesions, 2000, Suzanne Kilmer, MD, Vera A. Chotzen, MD, and Marla McClaren, MD
An 800 nm, high-energy, long-pulsed diode Laser with contact cooling has been used to provide Treatment for benign pigmented lesions in subjects with a variety of skin types. The overall safety profile was excellent with only minor side effects observed. Detailed descriptions of the use of the LightSheer diode Laser system for pigmented skin lesions are presented.

Hair Removal with an 800 nm Diode Laser. A Retrospective Study of 1,000 Women with Skin Types II to VI, 2002, Atif Kazmi, MD
This retrospective study examined hair removal using the LightSheer system for 1,000 women with Fitzpatrick Skin Types II to VI. Overall, the women achieved satisfactory results within four or five Treatment sessions, with hair reduction ranging from 70-95%.

Safe and Effective Long-Term Hair Reduction in Tanned Patients Using an 800 nm Diode Laser, 2002, Valeria B. Campos, MD
This study examined hair reduction in tanned patients, resulting in safe and effective long-term reduction of unwanted hair.