Permanent Methods

Electrolysis (permanent solution for hair removal IF IT IS DONE CORRECTLY)

A thin hair metal probe slides into a hair follicle
Proper insertion does not puncture the skin
Electricity is delivered to the follicle through the probe, which causes localized damage to the areas that generate hairs.

Advantages:

• By far the best and longest track record of results
• Over 125 years of clinically safety and effectiveness

Disadvantages:

• Can be expensive
• Can be very painful
• Can be tedious
• Can be difficult for large amounts of hair
• If done improperly, it can result in
• Partial to full regrowth
• Lasting skin damage
• Spread of infection
• Regulation varies by state, so inadequate controls exist to ensure competent practitioners
• Regrowth rates have not been accurately established and cannot be predicted due to numerous variables.
• Some consumers do not respond to treatment.
• Frequently causes scarring
• Frequently causes hypo or hyper pigmentation
• Can cause pitting
• Inadequate controls exist to ensure competent practitioners
• Re-growth rates have not been accurately established and cannot be predicted due to numerous variables.
• Some consumers do not respond

Laser Comparables Studies

Flashlamps/ Ultimate Light/Intensed Pulsed Light (IPL) (515nm to 1200nm wavelengths)
Include: Epilight, Photoderm, Quantum, Aculight, or Vasculight

Some reports that have consumers experienced permanent hair reduction, but there is limited data on how much hair reduction is typical, and how often hair reduction occurs.

Facts:

Full spectrum (non-coherent) light and low range infrared are filtered to allow a specified range of wavelengths
This filtered light is delivered from a handpiece into the skin, where it targets dark melanin pigment.
This is intended to cause thermal and/or mechanical damage to a hair follicle while sparing surrounding tissues.

Advantages:

• Some consumers have experienced long lasting hair removal or permanent hair reduction
• Considered safe if performed properly
• Very useful for larges areas such as backs or legs
• Regrowth can come back lighter in colour or finer in texture
• Light skinned consumers with dark hair have best results
• May be less painful than other lasers such as the Yag, Diode, Ruby, and Alexandrite

Disadvantages:

• Long-term data on safety and effectiveness have not been established.
• Response rates have not been established
• Not as effective on unpigmented hairs and red or blonde hair
• Must be used very cautiously on darker skin tones or on consumers who tan themselves (if they are a candidate at all)
• Improper treatment frequently cause burns, skin discoloration lasting several months, or patchy/grid-like growth.
• Can be expensive
• Treatments can be very painful
• Most consumers do not respond to treatment.

Yag Lasers (1064nm wavelengths)
Includes: Coolglide, Medilite IV, Athos, Lyra, Image, Cynosure’s Elite, and Harmony XL

Advantages:

• Capable of treating all six skin types on the Fitzpatrick scale
• Less painful than Alexandrite

Disadvantages:

• No sufficient evidence laser produces long-term hair removal
• Short-term hair loss with complete re-growth in 6 months
• Longer pulse may be more painful
• Topical numbing creams are required such as Emla
• (Emla cream must be applied at least an hour before treatments covered with saran wrap. This can be very messy and nuisance)

Diode Lasers (800nm or 810nm wavelengths)
Includes: SLP 1000, F1 Diode, Light Sheer, Mediostar, Laserlite, Epistar, and Apex 800

Advantages:

• Delivers longer wavelength than the Ruby (694nm wavelength)
• Capable of treating all six skin types on Fitzpatrick scale
• This longer wavelength enables the light to penetrate deeper and is theoretically safer than the shorter wavelength lasers
• Can avoid the melanin pigment in the skin’s epidermis
• Penetrates into the hair follicle without causing as much epidermal injury as the Ruby or Alexandrite. 

Disadvantages:

• Very Painful
• Irritation and Inflammation following treatments
• Topical numbing creams are required such as Emla  (Emla cream must be applied at least an hour before treatments covered with saran wrap. This can be very messy and nuisance)
• Many consumers have to use icepacks on area after treatment for several hours to a couple of days
• Consumers with light growth, fine hair, red or blonde hair will have little to no effect
• Frequency of burning, blistering, and skin discoloration
• Extreme caution MUST be taken for those who are type 6 skin types
• Hot laser with only one energy source
• Less experience and less long-term data in evaluating Diode claims

Ruby – Rubystar, Palomar, E2000 (694nm, Short wavelengths)

Advantages:

• Some consumers reported short-term hair removal or hair reduction

Disadvantages:

• The occurance of side effects such as blistering, hypopigmenation, and hyperpigmentation(skin discoloration), however remains problematic
• Frequently produces side effects such as pigmentary changes (lightening or darkening of skin), or worse, for patients of all skin types except white skin.
• Uneffective on light growth, fine hairs, red or blonde hair

Alexandrite 755nm wavelength
Gentlelase, Apoge, Epitouch Plus, Cynosure’s Elite

Q-Switch

• No permanent results
• Less painful
• Less burning
• Only slows down growth
• Safe