Newport Skin Care Specializing in Cosmetic Procedures |
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| Consultations (714) 671-3034 Ask for DeeDee, Merri-Ann or Ruthie |
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Many of us have unwanted hair - hair in locations that detracts from our appearance or interferes with some body function. For the most part, it is women who have the greatest interest in hair removal for cosmetic reasons. Traditionally, hair has been removed by plucking or electrolysis. Plucking hair is usually temporary - while electrolysis - the insertion of an electrified needle into the hair follicle - is permanent. Most women want permanent hair removal and have historically opted for electrolysis. Electrolysis, however, is somewhat painful and can leave an enlarged follicle or an only partially destroyed follicle with a deformed hair growing from it. In recent years, advances in laser hair removal have simplified the process, reduced the cost, and when properly applied - made a cleaner and more complete removal of the regions affected. Many young women have hair removed from their upper lip and chin area - though as we grow older, they may find unwanted hairs growing out of moles and their ears. None of these are appealing and all are candidates for laser removal. Moving on down the body, nipples and the areola area are candidates for vanity hair removal - as is the pubic area for those of us living along coastal areas and spending more time in our bikinis. If hair growth is exceptionally heavy on the legs - these too are good candidates for multiple laser hair removal treatments. Often, if certain areas habitually produce painful ingrown hairs - then these too are candidates for removal… though in some cases where the hair is extremely heavy, electrolysis may be the only effective method. To understand how laser hair removal treatments work, it helps to know a little bit about the stages of hair growth and how the physiology of hair growth plays a part in this process. At any moment, all hair is in one of 3 growth stages. The longest of these stages is the anagen stage - which lasts anywhere from 2 to 6 years… depending upon the type of hair, your ethnicity, and hereditary factors. While in the anagen phase, your hair contains an abundance of melanin - the hormone that gives color to your skin. The catagen phase only lasts a week or two and is considered a regression phase. The hair has stopped growing during the catagen phase but has not been shed. The final phase is the telogen phase - during which the old hair falls out and the follicle regenerates in preparation for generation of the new hair. The telogen phase typically lasts 5 to 6 weeks and is considered a transitional phase.  Of all 3 phases, the melanin level is the highest during the anagen phase - and therefore, most receptive to absorbing laser light energy and converting it to heat - for hair removal. The actual laser process is quite simple. The area to have hair removed is market off and the tip of the laser instrument is placed on or almost on the area where hair is to be removed. The laser is fired and light from the diode is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle. The light energy is converted to heat which causes damage to the hair follicle - causing permanent destruction in most cases. The darker pigmentation of the hair follicle absorbs more energy than the pigment of the surrounding skin so the laser raises the temperature of the hair follicle without damage to the surrounding area. Unlike electrolysis which only kills a single hair at a time, the laser destroys many follicles at once. For laser hair removal to be complete, the process needs to be repeated 3 - 5 times in order to catch hair follicles in their anagen phase - that were in their catagen or telogen stage during earlier treatments. The sensation is not uncomfortable and can be likened to a rubber band snapping lightly on the surface of the skin. Your skin care doctor may choose to apply a cool gel coat prior to treatment in order to make the process more comfortable. When the laser tip is fired, a light cracking or snapping sound is heard and you may notice a light acrid smell of burning hair. That is normal and an indicator that the process is working as it should. You should not shave, wax or otherwise remove any hair from the area within one week prior to treatment. |
restylane
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