Ruby Laser

What is laser hair removal?

Lasers are increasingly being used in the treatment of skin problems, including wrinkles, broken face and leg veins and removing the blemishes of ageing skin. It was discovered by accident, that the ruby laser can be used to remove unwanted hair. World-wide clinical trials have found laser hair removal to be very safe.

The Ruby Laser produces light beams of pure wavelength of 694nm. This wavelength of light is absorbed by the melanin which gives hair its colour, but not, importantly, by the red pigment of the blood cells in the skin. This means that the energy of the pulse of laser light is absorbed by the hair follicle, but not by the skin. The hair follicle can therefore be destroyed with minimal damage to the skin. This process can be controlled with precision by limiting the pulse of the Ruby Laser light energy to one millisecond and limiting the amount of energy in each pulse.

What does the treatment involve?

The Ruby Laser generates a bright flash of light which passes through the skin and heats the brown pigment in the hair. Because the laser light is very bright, protective goggles must be worn during the treatment. The laser damages the hair and the hair follicle which forms the hair and this is associated with a mild stinging sensation. The skin may feel hot for an hour or so. Ice packs and local anaesthetic cream help to minimise any discomfort.

Post operatively, the skin may show some redness that settles, usually over a few days. The damaged hairs may be visible in the skin for a few days until they are shed. Occasionally there may be some blistering in the area. The sensation in the skin and treatment reaction are usually considerably reduced with subsequent treatments to the same area. A small test patch is usually performed first to assess the skin response before full treatment is performed.

Occasionally, a light brown pigmentation occurs at the treatment site and this usually settles over several months. Skin lightening can occur on rare occasions, but generally returns to normal after a few months. Permanent pigmentation, or loss of pigment have not been described with this treatment, but are known as very rare after-effects of laser treatments. The risk of scarring is very small indeed.

What kind of improvement can I expect?

After a single treatment, there is usually clearance of the majority of the hair for a few weeks. There is often re-growth of some of the treated hairs after this time, although many are fine, rather than coarse hairs and are often invisible. Further treatments over the same area are usually required to get the best improvement. The number of treatments required varies, but three treatments to the affected area produces a considerable improvement for many people. So far, improvements lasting many months have been seen and research to determine the extent to which they are permanent is currently under way.

Because individuals vary in their response to treatment, we can not guarantee removal of all coarse hair, or that improvements will be permanent. White or very pale hairs are less likely to respond.

Over time, some completely new downy hair could grow and may require further treatment.

Skin care before Ruby Laser treatment.

  1. All make-up should be thoroughly removed from the treatment area. This can be done at home, or at the clinic.
  2. If other methods of hair treatment are being used, it is best to allow a little hair stubble to be present at the time of treatment to enable the laser to be directed most effectively.
  3. Very little laser light is absorbed by the skin surface, but a greater treatment reaction may occur when the skin is darkly pigmented. Although a light skin pigmentation rarely causes problems, the skin should be as pale as possible before treatment. Sun tanning and sun beds should be avoided and the skin site to be treated should be protected with a sun block (factor 15 or more) if exposed to the sun. If the skin is very tanned, treatment may need to be postponed.

Skin care after Ruby Laser treatment

  1. The skin may be sensitive to injury in the first few days after treatment and should be treated delicately. Tight fitting clothing which may rub or scratch the area should be avoided.
  2. On visible areas, make-up can be used but should be applied lightly and removed gently to avoid damage to the skin.
  3. In the uncommon circumstance where blistering occurs, they should be left intact if possible. If the blisters burst or weep, they should be kept clean and exposed to air. If blistering occurs, swimming should be avoided until after the blister is healed.
  4. The treated areas may be sensitive to sunlight for up to a few months after treatment. Any exposure to sunlight after treatment should be cautious and strong sun blocks should be used (factor 15 or more).