Laser + light hair reduction

As an Esthetician working with various energy-based modalities, I'm amazed by the many options for my clients. No device is as versatile as the Cutera Xeo, which combines laser and light-based modalities to reduce unwanted hair and treat many skin concerns. 

As the months get colder and winter turns the corner, the hair removal habits of clients begin to change. It's common for people to take a break from shaving and waxing services. People that decide to remove hair are typically inconvenienced by the need to keep up with it indefinitely. The remedy for this problem is laser or light-based hair reduction. 

The term "Laser Hair Removal" is used quite loosely under the umbrella of light-based hair reduction. Laser Hair Reduction uses specific wavelengths of light to target the hair follicles and permanently prevent growth.

Then there's s IPL Hair Reduction (Intense Pulsed Light) which uses multiple wavelengths of light to achieve similar results. Laser hair removal is my go-to for almost all clients because fewer adverse reactions are associated with it.

How Light-Based Hair Removal Works 

The IPL and Laser both work on the same principles. They use different wavelengths of light to target pigments in the skin. These targets are called chromophores. The two chromophores we can work on with these modalities are hemoglobin (red) and melanin (brown). Laser and IPL can be optimized to target the melanin in the hair follicle. The light emitted from these devices attracts the melanin in the hair follicle and delivers heat into it, selectively damaging the hair follicle while preventing damage to the surrounding tissue. The heat is also controlled by a cooling tip on the end of the device's handpiece. 

 Hair Reduction for all Skin Colors 

One of the biggest challenges for clients when looking for hair removal services is those with darker skin prone to hyperpigmentation. Fitzpatrick types 4-6 require special precautions when being treated with lasers and IPL. In general, IPL is not safe for types 5 and 6. Since the light is attracted to melanin, if someone has more melanin in their skin, the light has more targets which can cause more heat to be released into the surrounding tissue, ultimately increasing the risk of burns for many clients. The 1064nm ND:YAG laser is a modern solution to these challenges. The ND:YAG is the go-to laser for hair reduction for all skin colors. However, it's especially important for darker skin colors because it can use one wavelength of infrared light to selectively target the hair follicle without releasing too much heat to the surrounding skin. 

Longer wavelengths of light penetrate deeper into the skin, so they can pass through a lot of the melanin that resides toward the skin's surface. When looking for light-based hair reduction, make sure to contact the provider and receive a consultation to ensure they're capable of 

treating all skin colors properly.