Ask the Laser Hair Removal Expert

May 2012 Article

The first thing that anyone looking into availing themselves of the various hair removal services being offered should realize is that the field is generally unregulated in all provinces.

There are only two effective technologies for permanent hair reduction – laser and electrolysis. There is no such thing as a laser that works for everyone.A skilled and knowledgeable operator, using the proper equipment, can deliver the desired results. All too often, however, the operator lacks the required skill and knowledge, and/or the equipment used is not suitable. The best outcome of this is that the client is simply not getting value for their money.

Worst case results can include infection, permanent pitting/scarring, serious burns, and changes in skin pigmentation.

Be sure to get information on the following points:

• Are you a suitable candidate for laser? (Consider hair type, medications causing photosensitivity, etc.)

•  Equipment used? – Is it actually a laser, or is it IPL? (IPL is much less powerful, sometimes ineffective)

•  Is the type of laser suitable and safe for your skin type? This is especially important for darker skin types with risk of burning.

•  Operator training?  The field is unregulated so there are many operators, even medical professionals, with inadequate training or experience in laser hair removal.

•  Consultation and proper test patch offered before actual treatment?

•  Pre and post treatment guidelines reviewed?

• Is electrolysis offered as well as laser? Many people need to use a combination of the two for best hair removal results.

 

 

April 2012 Article

Unwanted body hair can be a continuous cause of anxiety. Millions of people hide it, pluck it, shave it, wax it or use depilatory creams just to be rid of it.

Laser hair removal systems are designed to act on the melanin pigment in hair. As there is very little pigment in light-coloured hair, people with light blonde or white hair will not likely benefit from laser treatments.

The amount of pigment in the hair will determine if lasers can be used effectively.

With the proper equipment, laser treatments will work well for darker blonde hair, however it’s likely that more treatments will be necessary than would be required for a person with brunette hair. Our experienced operators will manipulate the energy level and pulse duration specifically to suit the needs of each client, ensuring the best results in the least number of treatments.

On average, a reasonable expectation for laser hair removal on dark blonde hair would be 8-14 treatments.

For individuals with lighter blonde hair it will be necessary to do a test patch to determine if laser equipment will be at all effective for hair removal. If laser proves to have just a moderate degree of effectiveness, that will mean that some but not all of the hair follicles will be destroyed by the laser. The process then will be to do a series of treatments with laser, and then use electrolysis to take care of hair growth that the laser is unable to affect.

Individuals with very light blonde or white hair will ONLY be able to consider electrolysis for permanent hair removal as there is virtually no pigment in the hair to work with. Electrolysis is effective, but the process takes longer because hair follicles are treated one at a time, as opposed to a laser which can treat an area the size of a quarter at one time.

 

 

March 2012 Article

Men struggle to maintain and groom facial hair on a daily basis for most of their lives. and if this weren’t bad enough, as they age other concerns develop related to body hair. Beards become coarse and difficult to manage, hair develops in ears and nose, brows knit together, chest hair and back hair creep up above the collar, and ingrown hairs are a source of aggravation for a lot of men.

Champion Laser can offer ‘malescaping’ solutions with permanent hair removal methods to end or reduce these problems, cutting down on maintenance and concerns about appearance.

Sad to say, the same hormone that causes balding (DHT), causes body hair to grow at excessive rates in awkward places, such as ears and nose. Hardly seems fair, does it? In fact, in a mature man ear and nose hair can grow at the rate of 1cm per month.

Ear hair can be easily and quickly treated with a laser, and that ‘unibrow’ can be permanently reshaped using a laser as well. Laser treatments will also arrest hair growth at the nape of the neck and throat, and can be used in most other body areas where unwanted hair is a concern. Laser treatments can also offer a solution for men with coarse or curly hair who suffer from ingrown hairs because their hair is prone to twist inside the hair follicle.

Electrolysis is not an option for hair inside the nose, because of its invasive nature and resulting risk of infection. However, our lasers have the capability of treating these hairs.

These are simple, permanent solutions that eliminate the need to constantly check and trim these hairs. As a general guideline, 5-8 laser hair removal treatments are required to destroy the hair follicles as they cycle through their active growth stages.

 

 

January 2012 Article

Bodybuilders must remove hair on large body areas such as chest, abdomen, back and legs, as well as arms, underarms, bikini area, neck, face, hands, feet, toes…and for most bodybuilders this is a weekly chore. Most bodybuilders rely on shaving, which causes ingrown hair problems, or hair removal creams which contain harsh chemicals.

Given that hair removal is so critical to the sport and the lifestye of bodybuilding, why continue to repeat hair removal with non-permanent methods?

Laser treatment is the most effecient and effective method of hair removal.

Since hair grows in continuous cycles, most bodybuilders will require 5-10 laser hair removal treatments to permanently free up the hours currently spent on this task, leaving the surface of  the skin perfectly and permanently smooth. Treatment frequency varies based on hair and skin colour and individual characteristics.

In addition to designing a program specifically to suit the needs of each client, a key step that Champion Laser employs to ensure that our clients are comfortable is to make sure skin is cooled effectively. This contributes to quick recovery and reduced redness immediately following treatment.

As many bodybuilders tan their skin, it is important to note that laser hair removal will work but the energy will be at a lower setting to avoid skin damage, therefore more treatments will be required.

Champion Laser requires that each client meet with us for a consultation and test patch before beginning treatment. There is no charge for this consultation and no obligation. We will determine what treatment process will give you the best results, and discuss this with you along with any options.

 

 

October 2011 Article

One of the most irritating conditions related to non-permanent hair removal is ingrown hairs. At Champion Laser we employ our expertise with laser and electrolysis to eliminate these problems – permanently.

Ingrown hairs are most often caused when the hair does not exit the follicle properly, but turns or twists and continues to grow under the skin. Processes such as shaving, waxing and tweezing are usually the cause of this condition. By cutting or breaking the hair they produce a sharpened or pointed end which is more likely to penetrate the side of the follicle.

Curly hair, particularly coarse and tightly curled hair such as is common for people of African descent, is especially prone to twist and remain trapped under the skin, but it can also exit the follicle and twist to re-enter the skin.

Ingrown hairs are common on the male face or neck, and other parts of the body where hair is shaved or plucked, especially areas where hair is curly and skin is sensitive, such as bikini area.

Ingrown hairs lead to inflammation and can make the skin itchy and red, and in some cases, it resembles acne pimples. Inflamed pustules can form especially if the area becomes infected.

At Champion Laser, we are well experienced at eliminating problems of ingrown hairs. We are able to attack the hair under the skin and disable it to stop new growth. As an alternative to complete hair removal, limiting therapy a few laser treatments will often reduce the volume of hair sufficiently to eliminate ingrown hair irritation and allow problem-free shaving.

Call Champion Laser for your free, no obligation consultation to find out if laser therapy is a solution for your ingrown hair concerns.

 

September 2011 Article

I’m frequently asked if laser hair removal works for people with very dark skin. Rest assured, it does! When the appropriate  equipment and treatment parameters are used, almost everyone can benefit from laser hair removal.

It is also true, however, that there are special considerations and risks that people with dark skin must be aware of.

Laser hair removal systems are designed to act on the melanin pigment in hair. Dark skin also has melanin pigment, so the laser operator has to be careful to avoid having the laser act on the skin.

There are lasers that are better suited to working with dark skin.

Lasers with longer pulse durations are superior options for clients with dark skin, because they allow deep penetration with minimal scattering of laser energy.

It is also necessary that the energy of the laser must be reduced so it only acts on the pigment in the hair. As a result, a client with dark skin will likely require more treatments than someone with light coloured skin pigment. An experienced operator will manipulate the energy level and pulse duration specifically to suit the skin of each client, ensuring the best results in the least number of treatments.

Another key step is to make sure the skin is cooled effectively to avoid traumatizing the skin. At Champion Laser, we use a cryogenic spray system as well as a medical Zimmer that blows cold air on the skin being treated for optimal patient comfort. This also contributes to quick recovery and reduced redness.

Champion Laser requires that each client meet with us for a consultation and test patch before beginning treatment. There is no charge for this consultation and no obligation.

 

August 2011 Article

Do you find yourself waging weekly battles with bristly leg hairs or ingrown bikini hairs?

Tweezing, shaving, waxing…when you add up all the hours spent on this, does it start to make you think that it’s time to consider alternatives? Why continue to repeat hair removal with non-permanent methods?

Permanent hair removal is accomplished with either laser or electrolysis treatments, or in some cases a necessary combination of the two. Lasers are used wherever possible because they allow removal of hair in the fastest, most efficient way possible. But I say ‘most efficient’ cautiously here, because what is most efficient is what is most effective, and for fine hair it may be more effective to use electrolysis. White hair can only be treated with electrolysis. You might, for example, want to deal with fine hairs on your face (women), and in that case a laser could be used for most of the work, but there may be fine hairs on the upper lip that require precise attention applied directly to the root of the follicle to permanently kill growth.

Unwanted hair can be caused by many factors: heredity; hormonal or glandular imbalance; reaction to certain medications; pregnancy; stress or adrenal stimulation; and it’s also a natural consequence of aging. Both men and women have concerns about unwanted hair that they struggle with.

You should be aware that multiple treatments are necessary to permanently remove hair in any area because hair grows in cycles. If you want a general guideline I will say 6-8 treatments are standard, but this varies with each person based on skin type and individual characteristics. People with darker skin will generally require more treatments than people with fair skin, but hair color is also a critical factor.