Hair Removal
 
Hair growth and its management is an emotional and social issue throughout the world, and women in particular are subject to enormous pressure to conform to social and cultural norms. The development of laser and intense pulsed light systems has made long-term hair reduction possible for all skin types.


Types of Hair
 
Intense Pulsed Light removal requires selective photothermolysis of the hair follicle, and so the hair must contain melanin to conduct heat to the follicle. This means that non melanin containing colours of hair (white and grey) show very poor results, and white blonde hairs can prove difficult to treat.


Skin Types
 
Intense Pulsed Light systems can treat Fitzpatrick skin types I to V. Skin type VI is excluded as the skin contains a very high concentration of melanin it is likely to be damaged in treatment.
 

Clinical Process
 
Hair removal by Intense Pulsed Light uses selective photothermolysis to destroy the regenerative cells of the hair follicle. The light is absorbed by melanin in the hair, creating heat that travels down the hair into the hair follicle. The structures of the hair follicle is destroyed by the heat, preventing re-growth of hair from the follicle.

After an Intense Pulsed Light treatment the skin may remain slightly red for a few hours. The hair is pushed out by the surrounding skin renewal, and so results are seen after several days. Typically 6 to 8 treatments are required, depending on other related issues such as hormonal influences.

• A pulse train of light is delivered into the skin through a clear gel.
• The cells of the papilla and bulge reach temperatures of more than 70C and are destroyed.
• The absorbed energy heats the hair and the hair shaft.
• The hair is shaved prior to treatment.
• Only hairs in the active phase of the growth cycle are destroyed.
 

Vascular Lesion Removal
 
Vascular lesions are abnormally large, visible blood vessels situated close to the surface of the skin, resulting in unwanted red colouration of the face and disfiguring of the legs. A variety of conditions fall
within the category of vascular lesions which can be treated by Intense Pulsed Light:

• Thread veins or Telangiectasia (swollen/broken capillaries)
• Spider naevi
• Rosacea (permanent flushing to the face)
• Superficial leg veins
• Campbell De Morgan spots


The LUMINA Intense Pulsed Light handpieces are ideal for treating superficial vascular lesions, such as Rosacea, Spider Naevi, Cambell De Morgan spots and general Telangiectasia (red thread veins). The treatment is faster than other techniques, such as diathermy, and is preferred by some clients as it is non-invasive and causes less trauma to the skin.


Clinical Process
 
The removal of all types of vascular lesions is by selective photothermolysis of the blood vessel without damaging the surrounding tissue. The light emitted by the Intense Pulsed Light system is absorbed by the blood within the vessel, stopping the blood flow and causing vessel death and fading over the following weeks.

Some laser treatments produce severe bruising afterwards called purpura, which takes several weeks to fade. With Intense Pulsed Light treatment no purpura is caused, as the pulse of light is extremely unlikely to rupture the blood vessel underneath.

After treatment with using Intense Pulsed Light the area will be pink (erythemic) and this may take a few hours to subside. The vessels should fade over the following weeks as they are reabsorbed by the body. Typically 2 to 5 treatments are required for removal.


Photo-Rejuvenation
 
Many people suffer from sun-damaged skin, with fine lines, mottled skin tone and broken capillaries. Photo-rejuvenation has been developed to provide long-term improvement in the firmness of the skin and removal of pigmentation and broken capillaries that together cause the visible signs of ageing and sun-damaged skin. Photo-rejuvenation treatment requires several colours of light to target the three aspects of ageing:

• Collagen (for dermal plumping and improvement in fine lines)
• Melanin (for uneven skin tone)
• Blood vessels (for broken capillaries)

The LUMINA Intense Pulsed Light system uses several filters to provide the wavelengths needed to selectively treat these targets:

• 585 handpiece to target skin tone and red veins
• 650, laser handpiece targets collagen

Green/yellow light from the 585 handpiece is absorbed by excess melanin and haemoglobin in the epidermis, destroying red veins and/or pigmentation (see Vascular Lesion Treatments and/or Pigmentation Treatments for more information).

Infra-red light from the 650 handpiece penetrates deep into the skin to stimulate production of new soluble collagen and elastin by fibroblast cells to plump up the skin and help to minimise fine lines.

The use of a mild chemical peel or micro-dermabrasion is often incorporated into the treatment process. The peel removes dead skin prior to treatment, allowing better penetration of light into the skin so that lower energies can be used to better effect. The peel also gives the client an immediate effect from the treatment, as the light treatment takes several days to take effect.

Typically 3 or 4 treatments are required. Treatments are most commonly preformed on the face and neck, however some clients appreciate treatments to the back of the hands, as these areas also typically show the signs of photo-ageing.


Pigmented Lesion Removal

The skin produces melanin in response to factors such as sun exposure or genetic influence, resulting in a localised area of darker skin or pigmentation.


Superficial Pigmentation

Superficial pigmentation describes an area of pigmentation that occurs in the epidermis. This pigmentation can be removed effectively by an Intense Pulsed Light system releasing light of yellow/green colour (550nm to 700nm). Types of superficial pigmentation include:

• Age spots,
• Sun spots
• Freckles


Clinical Process

The removal of all types of pigmented lesions is by selective photothermolysis of melanosomes of pigment within the skin. In Intense Pulsed Light removal, the light emitted is absorbed by melanin in the epidermis, heating the cells to a point where they are destroyed. The treated area will quickly turn a darker colour, indicating destruction of the cells. The epidermal cells renew over the following days/weeks, initially forming a micro-crust before revealing a new, non-pigmented epidermis underneath. Typically 2 to 4 treatments are required for removal to be complete.


Acne

Acne is a disorder of the skin's sebaceous glands that affects over 80% of the population aged 14-30. Although commonly considered to be an adolescence problem, 25% of the people affected by acne in their teens will go on to develop permanent scars. The effects on personal appearance caused by acne and the resultant scarring can cause significant psychological, social and occupational problems if left untreated.

Active acne is diagnosed by the presence of papules or pustules, which are caused by an infection of the skin with the bacteria Propionibacterium Acnes. The bacteria ingress into all the epidermal appendages, such as sebaceous glands, sweat glands and hair follicles, and this can make treatment very difficult. The bacteria aggravate sebaceous glands and cause hypertrophy (enlargement) with consequent over-production of sebum, which builds up under the skin.

Current treatments show limited success for most people and can involve long term use of antibiotics, or isotretinoin (retinoic acid) administration, with its associated severe side-effects. However, light based treatments have shown very good success in clinical trials and represent a non-invasive, non-prescription alternative.

Blue light is very efficient at destroying the acne bacteria, however its very small skin penetration depths limit is effect on bacteria in deep blocked pores. Recent studies indicate that yellow/green light, with its greater skin penetration, is more effective. Infra-red wavelengths also combat the symptoms of active acne, as these wavelengths penetrate into the sebaceous glands and limit their activity. It is now thought that reversible thermal damage to sebaceous glands can result in long term remission from acne.

The LUMINA Intense Pulsed Light system is ideal at treating the multiple aspects of acne, as it releases in a single pulse, the wide range of light colours required to destroy the bacteria through-out the skin and control sebaceous activity. Successful treatment often incorporates the use of a mild chemical peel prior to Intense Pulsed Light treatment. The peel exfoliates the dead skin cells that together with the sebum block the pores and cause the pustules, and helps the light penetrate the skin.

A specific number of treatments cannot be guaranteed, as acne is a complicated condition with physiological and psychological components, however most clients achieve a significant reduction in the severity and frequency of pustule outbreaks following a course of three to six treatments.