ECOLITE - IPL HAIR REMOVAL

Free Consultation / Patch Test
Price Guide / Special Offers
Testimonials
Complaints Procedure


Registration No. E010000633

HOW DOES IT WORK?
The ECOLITE (Intense Pulsed Light) hair removal system produces a high intensity flash of filtered light from the applicator head, which has been placed in contact with the skin. The energy from the light source is absorbed by the pigment melanin, which is the chromophore that gives hair its colour. The hair rapidly absorbs this filtered light and transfers it to the surrounding cells that in turn are converted into heat raising them to a temperature of 70 degree Centigrade or more. The heating denatures the cells making them incapable of producing further hair growth.

HOW IS THE TREATMENT CARRIED OUT?
The glass applicator is placed in contact with skin surface and the light is pulsed through it into the skin, The applicator is then moved to the neighbouring area and the process is repeated.

HOW CAN IT BE TREATED?
Dark hairs are most easily treated due to the high concentration of melanin that gives maximum absorption and conversion of light energy into heat. Very fair hair has less melanin and consequently less heat is produced, simply raising the fluence output from the ECOLITE treats such hair. White hair has no melanin and cannot be efficiently treated. The upper skin layer of the epidermis also contains melanin. It is therefore necessary to treat the dark skinned individuals with less energy to avoid generation of excess heat and pain in the skin. The ECOLITE software allows you to adjust the treatment parameters for different hair and pigment type according to the client’s individual requirements.

DOES IT HURT?
As the light energy is absorbed by the pigment melanin, the discomfort depends upon the concertration of melanin in the epidermis and the hairs combined. Consequently there will be more sensation in dark skinned people and those with dense dark hair hairs. No anaesthesia is required and most patients describe the pain as moderate and acceptable ("as if a hairbrush has been tapped against the skin").

DOES THE CLIENT NEED TO SHAVE PRIOR TO TREATMENT?
Ideally hairs should be 1 to 2 mm long when the patient comes in for the treatment so it is possible to mark out the treatment area. Long hairs take up the energy and prevent all of it reaching to the hair root. Therefore hair is trimmed just before to allow maximum transmission of the energy. If the hair is normally shaved and can be seen when shaven then patients can shave right up to the day of treatment. Although plucking and bleaching should not be done. By avoiding any other form of epilation and waxing 4 weeks before the treatment it ensures as many follicles as possible contain hair thus can be destroyed by the light.

WHY DO HAIRS "GROW" AFTER TREATMENT?
Unlike other light depilation treatments, hair is not vaporised by the ECOLITE treatment. The heat kills the hair root but the hairs remain in the skin and often become attached to the epidermis. They will fall out after 1 to 3 weeks as the epidermis renews itself. During this period it will seem that the hairs are "growing".

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF THE TREATMENT HAS WORKED WHEN THE HAIRS ARE NOT REMOVED IMMEDIATELY?
Various indications such as colour of hair becoming charcoal and expanding in size or a red ring around each follicle is often seen a few minutes after the treatment. These are good indications that sufficient heating of the follicles has taken place. Unfortunately this is not always seen and many patients with successful treatment results without the past treatment signs.

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
The visible light completely safe so no special precautions are needed apart from galsses for the brightness generated from the flash lamp. The skin of some patients becomes quite red immediately after treatment and very rarely small blisters as from excessive sun exposure can occur. However, most patients experience no side effects at all and the described skin reactions as above usually disappear within hours to a few days.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS ARE NECESSARY?
Only hair in the growth phase can be treated. The number of hairs in this phase varies from 20% to 70% depending on the body site. The lengths of the growth cycles also vary from 6 to 24 weeks depending on the body site. For most patients three to five treatments are sufficient to clear an area of hair up to 85%. After the first treatment most patients get a significant reduction in hair density also new grown hairs tend to become finer. It is important to know that the first treatment is believed to synchronise the anagen (growth) phase of the non-anagen hairs. This may cause what seems to be regrowth but actually just sleeping hairs starting to grow at the same time (new growth). This in turn makes next treatment(s) more effective.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR TREATMENT?
Patients should avoid tanning 1 month ahead of the treatment and immediately after treatment the skin is particularly sensitive to UV light and strong sunlight should be avoided for 4-5 days.

HOW LONG DOES THE TREATMENT TAKE?
The facial treatment usually takes 10 minutes whereas both legs and an entire back take approximately 1 hour.

IS IT PERMANENT?
Most authorities would agree that using current laser and IPL technology it is possible to permanently remove hair. Histology studies have found destroyed and denatured hair follicles cells in post treatment. A recent study showed that the percentage reduction in hairs after treatment using IPL systems are well above 80%.

We cover Kensington, Notting Hill, Chelsea, Fulham & Hammersmith