Diode Laser Hair Removal
Diode laser hair removal is among the most popular methods performed by a dermatologist all around the world. It’s a highly successful and safe method. The word hair removal should be used in place of electrolysis because a large percentage of the hair will grow back even after several sessions even when undergoing electrolysis. In comparison, diode-laser hair removal is much less expensive as well as more convenient. It also allows you to perform the treatment without spending for multiple sessions unlike in electrolysis.
Diode laser works by applying a diode onto the melanin in the hair follicle preventing it from absorbing the energy. This causes the follicle to shut down and not allow any additional energy to transfer to the pigment causing the hair to fall out. However, this process does not cause damage to the surrounding skin and hair. The skin will only become slightly irritated and red for several hours after the treatment, however it completely returns to its normal state after several days.
Laser treatment for hair removal employs a diode laser hair removal system, which consists of four different types of lasers namely, the Ruby wave, the Diode, and the Beta waves. Ruby-W is the type which is the most commonly used. The other three types are the Beta-Ray, the Diode, and the Nd: YAG.
When diode laser hair removal treatments are carried out, a small device called a probe is attached onto the skin before the application of diode laser energy. The probe is then slowly lowered onto the melanin in the hair follicles below the surface of the skin. This probe then emits a short pulse laser energy which is absorbed by the melanin. This short-term effect stimulates the production of melanin from the hair follicles as a response to the stimulus from the diode laser energy.
The diode-laser hair removal process may differ slightly from one clinic to another, as some may use a cooling method whereas others use a pulsed-cooling method. The difference between these two methods is that the pulsed-cooling method uses a continuous cycle cooling cycle whereas the continuous cycle cooling method stops when the last pulse of laser energy is received. This means that the skin remains a little hot for a few hours after the treatment has been completed. The other advantage of the constant cooling method is that it prevents the skin from becoming irritated or sore following the treatment. It also helps in protecting the treated areas from the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Overall the diode laser hair removal procedure takes around two days to complete. A brief break is allowed for the treated area to cool down and then the area is treated once again before being covered with a fresh topical cream. During the second day, a course of another topical cream is applied. This is to help seal in the ingredients of the cream and help it work more effectively on the skin. It is important to follow the direction of the surgeon regarding the number of treatments required.