Permanent Hair Removal by Intense Pulsed Light or IPL
Of permanent hair removal techniques, IPL or Intense Pulsed Light hair
removal is considered the latest although the US FDA gave permission
for it's use as a tool of permanent hair removal in 1997, a year before
laser hair removal. This is because
the technology was developed as flashlamps to treat other conditions
and doctors and patients observed hair loss
as
a result. Unlike laser hair removal,
there is a lot more information in circulation about IPL hair removal
and the FDA do certify it for efficacy and safety.
Although both laser hair removal and
IPL hair removal use light to cause thermal damage to the hair folicle,
there are big differences. IPL uses specific wavelengths of light
that are the optimum for absorption by the melanin pigmentation in hair
yet at the same time minimising the trauma to the skin. IPL differs from
laser
by
being able to deliver greater energies at optimum wavelengths while causing
less damage to the skin. It is even said to be safe for dark skinned
people, though being as I'm very fair I have no personal experience to
testify to that.
Another similarity is that neither laser or
IPL hair removal is effective where there is no pigment, so white, grey
and red hairs aren't suitable and
will need to be removed through electrolysis.
It's also not something you should do if you get epileptic fits, or if
you are a genetic woman who is pregnant. Equally don't try and get a
tan while taking a course of IPL treatments.
IPL as I said earlier, was initially developed for other purposes and
so it is also used to treat thread veins and rejuvenates the skin - now
that's not bad for a side effect! On light skin it is pretty much completely
safe as far as my research tells me and though IPL treatments are typically
taken 6 weeks apart, studies have shown it to clear between 54 and 77%
of hair in a given area in just 6 months, something that is just totally
unheard of with electrolysis.
Clearing a beard with electrolysis takes between one and four years with
an average being around three, so this is a seriously big improvement.
Naturally with a newer technology, long term studies on regrowth have
not been done, but certainly IPL hair removal is not subject to the same
type of controvesy of skin damage and recurring regrowth that has dogged
laser hair removal.
As with all things to do with beauty, I have taken it upon myself to
trial it for you all. Oh, the things I do for you! Nah, I'll be honest,
I'm interested in beauty and I've always wanted to be hairless so I've
tried electrolysis and found
it to be effective but slow, painful, costly and a possible source of
scarring. I tried laser hair removal but
hey Captain, those laser weren't set to stun, they were set to kill.
It gave me a massive red angry swelling
on my test patch and I took the hint. So I investigated IPL hair removal
and this is what I found:
For the amount of coverage you get, it's probably cheaper than getting
a once over clearance by an electrolysist, though you will need to
save up if you are used to just parting with a few pounds
The amount of pain I experienced was so minimal, I hardly noticed
it. I was told to expect a feeling "like being slapped with
a hot rubber band" and my toes were starting to curl under before
my first hit. After I had it, I was just like "have you done
it yet?"
In terms of the amount of hairs killed in one session, don't expect
to walk out hairless after one treatment. You'll be needing somewhere
between 6 and 10 typically on each area depending on your skin and
hair type and the growth phase the hair is in. I'd still say I lost
significantly more through one treatment than I would have done with
a similar expenditure on electrolysis,
in fact one treatment I had removed close to 50% of the hairs in that
area and kept me grinning for weeks!
Another great perk of IPL hair removal is that shaving the
hair is mandatory! It can only be performed when the hair is short, so
unlike electrolysis where full time girls are traumatised to have to
actually grow their beard in order to get it treated, IPL hair removal
clinics may actually charge you if you turn up unshaven!
I currently get my IPL Hair Removal (as well as lots of other goodies
like Dermalogica
Professional Shave) from a clinic chain that is not
only National Care Standards Commission registered, they also have a
long experience of dealing with transgendered clients and have no qualms
about you turning up in dress. Skingensis are based in Leeds,
Chester and Manchester town centre which is ideal for us trannies as
you can get a hair removal session before or after a big night out!
When I was at Skingenesis, we chatted and they came
up with a great deal for Dani's T-Room readers. If the thought
of
having
to shave
everyday
for
the rest
of your
life
makes
you
want to cry and you are interested in having your hair permanently removed,
Skingenesis will offer you:
A fact sheet on Intense Pulsed Light Hair Removal
A free consultation at either their Manchester, Chester or Leeds
clinics
A 15% discount on all permanent hair removal treatments you decide
to take thereafter!
If you have any reservations, do feel free to contact Lynn at Skingenesis (on 0113 244 8799 or by email)
first, but if you want to get rid of that hair and get this great package
from one of the best skin
care
clinics
I've experienced,
all you need do is fill in the form below. You'll be sent an email with
a link to your IPL Hair Removal Fact Sheet and Skingensis will contact
you to arrange a time for you to get your free consultation. After that,
you'll qualify for this special discount and can consign that razor to
history!
