Since first being used for hair removal, the evolution of the laser has advanced significantly over the last ten years. It’s no longer used for a single purpose but treats more poignant skin conditions such as rosacea and spider veins. It can even be used to rejuvenate the skin. Tattoo regret is yet another reason many look into laser treatments. Here, NUIT gives the full report on what lasers can do today so that you too can join the evolution of lasers in beauty.
Laser And Hair Removal
Hair removal, in terms of personal hygiene, is no stranger to most of us. Both Men and women spend hours on end during the week, shaving, waxing, tweezing and other means to get rid of unsightly hair on the face and the body. Lasers are a very popular choice of hair removal as the results are significant whilst the treatment is virtually pain free. Many are left with no or very small amounts of regrowth especially those with darker hair. Lasers can target quite a bit of hair all at the same time, unlike other processes such as electrolysis. The laser targets and kills the root of the hair, but not the surrounding areas of the skin and is therefore safe for use. The process is rather simple: The laser heats up the bulb of each strand of hair and kills the blood supply, resulting in no or very little future re-growth. However, it’s important to note that it takes up to several treatments to completely get rid of all hair in an area. The reason for this is because hair grows at different stages and hair may be missed if it was not at the anagen stage. The anagen phase is where there is an active blood supply to the hair follicle. The laser targets the follicle by the degree or darkness of melanin. This is why people who have darker hair on lighter skin benefit most from laser hair removal.
Laser And Skin
Lasers are now a popular anti-aging treatments too. Photo rejuvenation recovers sun damage and can correct photoaging of the skin. It can also be used to heal acne scarring, and difficult mind boggling skin conditions such as rosacea, as well as eradicating spider veins and hyperpigmentation. The laser generally heats the blood vessel causing it to collapse and the blood is reabsorbed by the body. All skin conditions are medical conditions. This is why you should ensure to approach a medical practitioner when looking into having laser treatment done. They will be able to advise on what is best for your condition as well as making sure the treatment is done safely. Lasers have also been available on the market as ‘at home’ treatments, with many well-known brands producing handheld devices.
Laser and Tattoo Removal
Tattoo regret is probably one of the greatest advancements lasers have contributed to over its development. It is now possible to never have tattoo regret thanks to laser machines such as PicoSure. These machines pick up blues and greens and are able to remove tattoos faster than any other machines on the market. Picking up all the ink from the tattoo, it is able to destroy it into little pieces whereby the body absorbs it. Depending on a tattoo’s size it takes 4-6 week sessions to have a tattoo full removed. It is not always the case that a tattoo has necessarily been a full regret. Sometimes it is just a part of a tattoo and hence, this is where a laser can become also a correction tool for those who love and want to keep or build up on their skin art investments.
Think of what laser can do for you
In its early stages, laser could only remove hair if the skin was light in colour and the hair dark, hence, it not being an option for darker skin types or lighter hair types. This is now not the case as we learn from the likes of clinics in the city. Whether you want to treat lighter or stubborn hair, or treat darker or Asian skin types there is a laser for this. There are even machines that offer pain free options for sensitive skin types or can remove hair on tan skin such as Soprano Ice. The treatments are also not just for ladies, as we’ve heard many men get rid of unsightly body hair to show-off worked out bodies to their fullest potential! We’ve learned that skin could reap some definite benefits too, whether there is a skin condition involved or if it’s just looking for a refreshing glow. So the next time you think of advanced beauty treatments, think and do some research on laser as its seems like a beautiful step forward.
Founder of Pulse Light Clinic, Sheila Maclean tell us how she has seen lasers evolve and how they now are an option for almost everybody.
Q: What is your take on handheld laser devices versus the professional laser treatments you offer at Pulse Light Clinic? Would you recommend them to the public?
A: I actually bought a home handheld device a few years ago. What you will find is that they are all IPL and not laser. As we know, IPL is not very effective for hair removal in comparison to laser. I found I had ‘0’ results, however, I have had a few clients that have seen a small reduction through a long use of home handheld devices. When a client comes to Pulse Light Clinic to receive laser treatments, they will notice that the hair becomes finer and sparser after a few treatments. IPL is simply not as strong as laser and it’s limited to lighter skin types. As you would assume it would have to be safe enough to use at home therefore likely to be less powerful. Safety is also an issue as home hand held devices do not come with eye protection and certain wavelengths of light can be dangerous to the eyes.
Q: What skin condition have you treated with the most success and you would genuinely recommend those with this skin condition to try laser?
A: Pulse Light Clinic has been in the Rosacea industry for over 15 years. We can confidently say we are one of the leading clinics in the UK for IPL Rosacea Treatments. Over 10,000 clients have been treated at Pulse Light Clinic. The difference in our approach is that since I am an advanced skin rosacea specialist and nurse, we combine nutritional changes and IPL to gain fast and long term results.
Q: What are other latest developments in laser that you are most excited about?
A: That would have to be dark and Asian skin. With the latest laser technology, we have a laser machine which is suitable for every type of skin and hair type.
Text by Lillian Gusto.