I am asked this question all the time!! It’s tricky to answer because it’s not at all obvious. The short answer is: the interval should track telogen duration, not anagen duration. Anagen tells you what you can kill today; telogen tells you how fast the next treatable cohort arrives. See what I mean?!?! The Merhag… Continue reading What is the ‘best’ time interval between laser/IPL hair removal sessions?
Tag: hair
Why Hair Sometimes “Comes Back” During Laser/IPL Hair Removal
Many laser and IPL operators become concerned when a client experiences what appears to be “full regrowth” after several treatments. In reality, this often represents a normal and potentially beneficial biological response. Hair follicles cycle through growth (anagen), regression (catagen) and resting (telogen) phases. However, not all follicles are equally treatable. Laser and IPL treatments… Continue reading Why Hair Sometimes “Comes Back” During Laser/IPL Hair Removal
The basics of laser/IPL hair removal – have you been taught properly?
It’s very clear to me that this subject is quite badly taught out there. Many of my clients tell me stories of what they’ve been taught, which are just clearly absurd or ridiculous. Things like ‘increasing the fluence’ with each treatment session. Or ‘matching the pulse width with the size of the hair’ – these… Continue reading The basics of laser/IPL hair removal – have you been taught properly?
IPL does remove hair, very effectively…
Proof that IPL does remove hair permanently and with 100% clearance This lady had a series of six IPL sessions on her axilla (armpits) around 18 years ago, in 2007. Her skin was cooled using ice packs for more than two minutes. She said the cooling was a bit ‘painful’, but only for a short… Continue reading IPL does remove hair, very effectively…
Synchronised hair growth vs paradoxical hypertrichosis
These days, we see many claims of ‘paradoxical hypertrichosis’. Most of the time, these claims are inaccurate – they are not seeing this at all. So, what do these terms actually mean? Let’s define these two terms… Paradoxical hypertrichosis PH (I can’t be bothered writing this out all the time!) occurs when hairs are observed… Continue reading Synchronised hair growth vs paradoxical hypertrichosis
Should we wax or pluck before laser/IPL hair removal? The science…
This is an interesting question. Virtually everyone’s initial response would be a resounding “NO”. “Why should we? We would be removing the target we are trying to destroy!!” Well, yes, of course. That’s obvious. Except, it isn’t… A telogen hair, about to transition into anagen 1. To answer this question properly, we need to look… Continue reading Should we wax or pluck before laser/IPL hair removal? The science…
Hair removal – how does fluence relate to depth?
We all know that light energy can kill hair follicles. It has been around since about 1996. But, many people still don’t understand the relationship between fluence and depth in the skin. Let’s begin with fluence – what is it? Simply put, fluence is just the concentration of light energy on the skin surface. If… Continue reading Hair removal – how does fluence relate to depth?
“Synchronised hair growth” – Yes – it is real!
This issue keeps appearing in online forums. Many laser/IPL operators talk about ‘lots of hair growth’ usually after a few sessions. So, I investigated this with my computer model. I had developed this model a few years ago to look at the ‘best’ time intervals between repeat treatments. Last year, while researching laser/IPL treatment of… Continue reading “Synchronised hair growth” – Yes – it is real!
Association of Laser Safety Professionals – new Chairman
We held our AGM on Decemebr 11th and I was elected as the new Chairman of our Association. The Association of Laser Safety Professionals (ALSP) is a professional society of laser safety experts actively engaged in providing advice, support and training in laser safety, and covers all applications of laser technology. The primary aims of… Continue reading Association of Laser Safety Professionals – new Chairman
The hair growth cycle in humans
Human hair grows according to a cycle. This cycle can be broken down into three main phases – anagen, catagen and telogen. To understand this process, we need to look closely at the follicles, and their structure. All follicles are comprised of two distinct parts – the upper, permanent part which includes the stem cell… Continue reading The hair growth cycle in humans
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