Diode Laser Hair Removal at HOO Center for Dermatology

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If you’ve been a regular reader of my blog, you’ll know that I’ve been loyally going to HOO Center for Dermatology for the last 6 months.

I’m a fan of their no-nonsense take on offering you better skin and their investment in quality products and services for their clients.

Here’a a little bit more background about their clinics:

“First launched as House of Obagi in 2007, its promise was to transform skin in 6 1/2 weeks with its triple threat arsenal of prescription-strength Obagi Medical Products, Board-certified Dermatologists, and effective in-office treatments. Its main products, the Obagi Nu-Derm System, is known for addressing a wide range of skin concerns, trusted by 300,000 patients and 15,000 Dermatologists worldwide.

Today, it is known as HOO Center for Dermatology, a change of name that resulted in the broadening of its range of products and promise of results- credit this to HOO’s expert knowledge on skin treatments- branching out to a more comprehensive array of medical skin treatments using the latest lasers and machines, body contouring and weight management programs as well as plastic surgery procedures that enhance the face and body.” – (From the HOO website)

Like their name states, they are distributors of top skincare line Obagi. I’ve been a loyal fan of their foaming cleanser, toner, and matte sunblock for the last few months. I love products that do what they promise to do.

They’ve also recently formulated their own line with the same high standards but at a more affordable price point.

For the last few months, I have been trying a number of HOO services like their Genesis Laser (which you can read about here) and their skincare ranges. I’ve also been doing their Diode Laser hair removal for my underarms.

I recently asked HOO Alabang’s resident board certified dermatologist Dr. Charina Pelayo to share more about the process involved in having Diode Laser Hair Removal and why you should go for Diode instead of IPL. Here are her answers below, plus images of a treatment being done:

What exactly is a diode Laser?

A diode laser uses a semiconductor device to produce a coherent projection of light in the visible to infrared range. It uses a light beam with a narrow spectrum to target specific chromophores (i.e. melanin) in the skin. The 800nm diode laser wavelength offers the deepest penetration levels and superior melanin absorption. These unique characteristics make the diode laser the most suitable technology for laser hair removal, enabling safe and effective treatment of all skin and hair types, in all areas of the body.

Why is a diode laser more effective than an IPL laser for hair reduction?

The diode is a LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) machine which produces a single, concentrated wavelength of light. The diode precisely targets the melanin of your hair follicle, heating it up to disable its ability to grow, without affecting the surrounding skin.

IPL (Intense Pulse Light) on the other hand is not a laser. It’s a device that produces a broad spectrum of wavelengths of light that cannot be focused into a single beam. It’s like a “shotgun” approach to hair removal – because different wavelengths are dispersed at a variety of depths, only some of the light will be effectively absorbed by the hair follicle to achieve hair reduction. In addition, some of the dispersed light can be absorbed into the surrounding tissue as well, leading to possible heating of melanin present in the skin, thereby increasing the risk of burns for darker skin types.

The diode laser system therefore creates more heat directed at the hair follicle than IPL systems, hence achieving better results.

What areas for the body can be treated for hair reduction?

Laser hair removal systems can remove hair from any area of the body including the face, legs, arms, underarms and back. They can also treat sensitive areas like the areola and bikini area.

How many sessions on average will you need to be completely hair free?

We recommend that our clients undergo 6 to 10 treatments, with yearly touch-ups for new hair growth.

How much time should you have in between sessions

Between 4 to 6 weeks apart.

What possible side effects might happen?

Itching, redness and swelling of the hair follicles are to be expected after treatment. However, they rarely last more than 2 or 3 days. Being a LASER, burn is always a possible side effect which can be avoided by choosing the right treatment parameters.

Are there any individuals who should not have Diode laser hair removal?

Patients who have had prior problems with laser therapy should be carefully screened before treatment.

Treatment should not be attempted on patients:

* with a history of skin cancer or pre-cancerous lesions at the treatment area
* skin cancer
* dysplastic nevi
* tattoos
* significant concurrent conditions or any inflammatory skin conditions
* active cold sores , open lacerations or abrasions
* deep suntan, recent suntan, sunburn or artificially tanned skin.

Who are the best candidates for Diode laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is great for people who are fed up of using the short term hair removal methods (such as waxing and shaving) and who would prefer to have long term “hair free” results.

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I’ve personally done 5 sessions of Diode Laser on my underarms and it’s has been nothing short of amazing. I have maybe 2 or 3 strands left per underarm at this time. This is what happens during the session.

(Photos are of a model getting her underarms treated)

The treatment starts with an inspection of remaining hair then shaving of the area. If you want to help the environment, I suggest bringing your own reusable razor so they don’t have to shave you one time then throw the razor away. Once shaved, a cooling gel is placed on the area to numb it.

The treatment then proceeds with the Diode laser while the gel is on the skin. Treatment feels like a rubber band slapping the skin or little ant bites. It is is certainly a little more uncomfortable when you still have a number of follicles to zap away. The more sessions you have, the more manageable it is.

Once all areas have been treated, the gel is wiped away. There is often a little redness, but nothing extremely unsightly.

The area is then iced before a calming cream is put. I honestly find the icing portion more uncomfortable than the laser. You are then advised not to wet the area for at least 5 hours. The whole session takes less than 30 minutes and you can then go through your day without any down time.