Photoepilation - what is this procedure and what is its effectiveness? Reviews about photoepilation

Photoepilation is one of the many terms used to describe the medical and aesthetic procedure for removing unwanted hair. The name "photoepilation" suggests that such a procedure is carried out by using light. All the procedures for removing unwanted hair for today are based on the projection of a certain type of light (with a given wavelength) on the hair growing on the surface being treated.

Photoepilation - what is it?

Photoepilation is a rather effective procedure for removing unwanted hair from virtually any part of the body with a prolonged effect. It consists in the following: melanin (dark piment), warming, transfers heat to the blood vessels that feed the follicle, in one way or another disturbing the growth of hair. With repeatedly and regularly repeated procedure, the follicle eventually becomes atrophied, and hair growth stops completely.

Different types of photoepilation

The first procedure of photoepilation was based on laser technologies. In the early 1990s, the first laser hair removal machines were approved for use by the FDA (control of food and medicine, also responsible for ensuring the safety of new treatments). Since then, three other technologies for hair removal have been developed: IPL (intense pulsed light), LHE (light-thermal), DPC (Dynamic Control Pulse). Differences between the above technologies consist in their effectiveness in the process of removing certain types of hair. For example, people with thin light hair will not get the maximum effect from laser photoepilation, unlike LHE.

Principle of operation

In order to carry out the procedure for removing unwanted hair, you need a special apparatus. Photoepilation is a procedure based on the action of light energy with certain physical characteristics. It works by passing heat energy through the hair rods into the follicles that are under the surface of the skin.

Light is projected onto the surface being treated and absorbed by individual strands of hair, this energy causes them to heat up to high temperatures. Then the heat is transferred (carried by the strand itself) to the hair follicle before its base beneath the surface of the skin.

Heated follicles disconnect the strand of hair growing from them (through which heat is transferred into them). A certain percentage of follicles (depending on the degree of their participation in the procedure of photoepilation) also gets enough damage, as a result of which the growth of new hair is disrupted for a sufficiently long period of time. As a rule, it is 3-5 years.

How does the procedure work?

Photoepilation - what is it? Cosmetology procedure like sludge? Or is it a medical procedure that takes place under the supervision of a qualified specialist in several stages? Photoepilation involves, firstly, consultation with a specialist, during which the doctor examines you and creates a special form with your data: hair color, their type, condition and type of skin, and also establishes the presence or absence of contraindications. Based on your individual characteristics, the doctor develops a personal photoepilation program. Then you pass a test for the photosensitivity of the skin and hair. That's why photoepilation at home is quite problematic. Before the procedure begins, a special antiseptic and cooling gel with an extract of aloe vera is applied to the skin. And in case of increased photosensitivity, a cream with an anesthetic effect is also applied to the skin beforehand (1-1.5 hours before the procedure). During the procedure, at the place of exposure, there is a slight unpleasant tingling, the soreness of which varies depending on the individual sensitivity of the organism. In addition, after the procedure on the surface of the skin there is a slight reddening, which occurs after several hours. You are conveniently located in the armchair, put on special protective goggles, and the doctor spends on the skin with a manipulator connected to the device. After finishing, the anti-inflammatory agent and the cooling compress are applied to the entire treated surface. The duration of photoepilation varies widely and depends on the area of the treated surface and the degree of hair. The time interval between the first sessions of photoepilation is approximately 4-6 weeks, and eventually increases to 2-4 months. On average, it takes 6-8 procedures to completely remove hair in each specific area.

Photoepilation: opinions and benefits

As you know, laser hair removal is the most effective hair removal procedure, but it is effective only for dark hair and has some limitations in applying to certain areas of the body, and is also very demanding on the level of skin sensitivity. That's why as a worthy alternative to the laser appeared photoepilation. What is this procedure, we have already described above, and now consider its advantages:

• Almost complete painlessness;
• Higher speed;
• A small amount of contraindications and hypoallergenicity;
• Contactlessness and comfort.

To date, quite a large percentage of women around the world have managed to experience first hand what is photoepilation. Reviews about it basically emphasize high efficiency and absence of side effects. In some cases, women complain of incomplete hair removal. Most often this is due to the incompleteness of the course.

How to choose the type of hair removal?

Modern salons offer a huge number of different hair removal procedures: laser, photoepilation, waxing, shugaring, etc. All of them have a lot of differences, the main one of which is the duration of the result and the quality. In this article, we are considering such a procedure as photoepilation, reviews about which are optimal. As described above, various types of hair removal promise different results depending on the type of skin and hair color. Laser photoepilation, for example, will provide the best results for people with dark and relatively thick hair.

Therefore, to achieve the best results, it is very important to choose a quality salon with a highly qualified specialist and modern equipment, which once again proves that photoepilation at home is almost impossible and sometimes dangerous.

results

Photoepilation, as already noted above, is carried out in several stages to achieve maximum results. So, after the first procedure, about a third of the available hair is removed on the surface of the skin being treated. These hairs were in the stage of active growth. They will never grow up again. After several weeks (from 4 to 6, depending on the individual characteristics), the procedure is repeated, and again one third of the remaining hair is removed. Thus, the number and frequency of procedures for complete hair removal depends on the degree of their density and growth rate.

Photoepilation at home

As you know, science does not stand still, but because scientists have developed special portable devices for individual use. Photoepilation home has a number of advantages and disadvantages in comparison with the salon procedure.

Pros of home photoepilation

1. Safety and painlessness. On portable devices there is a power regulator, so getting burns during the procedure becomes simply impossible. Consequently, the pain of epilation is reduced to 0.
2. The effectiveness of the procedure is not inferior to salon hair removal. So, for complete and final hair removal, you need about 6 to 12 treatments at intervals of several weeks.
3. The portable device is easy to use. Unlike the most complicated salon equipment, home photoepilators have an instruction accessible to any user, and a simple interface. So you do not need any special knowledge.
4. The ability to remove hair in sensitive areas - on the face and in the bikini zone. Some models, in particular German manufacturers, have special regimes for removing hair in any area of the skin. However, in any case, you need to carefully study the mechanism, choose the appropriate mode to avoid burns. Do not forget that you should strictly avoid getting light on the mucous membranes.
5. The use of home photoepilators is no more harmful than the salon procedure. The light impulse penetrates exclusively into the surface layer of the skin (up to 5 mm) and does not harm internal organs.

Disadvantages of home photoepilation

1. The absence of a preliminary examination by a qualified specialist increases the risk of allergic reactions and negative consequences. As a rule, before the procedure, the doctor examines the patient in order to determine the presence or absence of contraindications, such as, for example, moles, pigment spots. Incompetence can affect the appearance of the skin after the procedure and your sensations.
2. When carrying out epilation in the salon, the doctor uses special cosmetic preparations that protect the skin from the effects of light. At home, picking up quality drugs can be quite problematic.
3. Due to the greater capacity, salon procedures will help to achieve the final result more quickly.
4. The cost of portable devices is quite high, in addition, it should be taken into account that the lamp of the device is designed for a certain number of pulses, after which it requires replacement. Thus, photoepilation at home at its cost is quite comparable with the prices in the cabin. And the professionalism of a specialist is much higher.

Harm and danger of photoepilation

Photoepilation is a relatively new procedure, and therefore causes a lot of controversy and discussion. Experts argue: "Photoepilation - what is it? A panacea or an unjustified risk?" So, doctors say that the unpleasant consequence of the procedure can be hypopigmentation of the skin, that is, the appearance of discolored areas. It is also likely the formation of colloid scars, ingrown hair. In addition, the question of the effect of photoepilation on the development of skin cancer is still open.

Contraindications

The main contraindication to photoepilation is the presence of dermatological as well as oncological diseases. In addition, experts do not recommend epilation on tanned skin, in the place of accumulation of birthmarks, in the field of birthmarks, mucous membranes. The tendency to allergic reactions, especially of the cutaneous type, is also a reason to think about the expediency of the procedure and, at a minimum, it is necessary to consult a doctor. The same goes for infectious diseases.

Removal of tendrils with photoepilation

The appearance of antennae above the upper lip can be associated with a variety of different causes, including hormonal, and little depends on age. However, most often this problem appears in women after 40 years. But in all cases, without exception, any woman has an irresistible desire to remove these hairs once and for all. Photoepilation of the upper lip is an ideal solution to this problem. The entire course consists of 3-5 procedures with an interval of several weeks. A perfect result will please you for several years, usually up to 5. Photoepilation of the lips has the same contraindications as other parts of the body, but the requirements for professionalism of the specialist are much higher. And at the very least, it is not necessary to conduct the procedure at home on your own to avoid the sad consequences.

Photoepilation is one of the best procedures for removing unwanted hair from a combination of the most important factors: efficiency, safety, painlessness, universality and cost. Despite the existing contraindications and rare side effects, it is popular among women all over the world and even men who want to get rid of the need for daily shaving. Especially considering the fact that the probability of side effects during photoepilation is less than 2%, and the efficiency is 98%. To date, a decent alternative to photoepilation among all the variety of such services, perhaps, is not, which explains the location of patients to it.