Added: 10/03/2005 |
Photoepilators have been in the spotlight as an efficient photoepilator hair removal method for a long timeThe essence of the photoepilator hair removal procedure lies in the following: hair at times is treated with a burst of filtered lights and then tweezed. However, mention must be made of the fact that there is no well-founded either scientific or clinical proof of greater efficiency of photoepilators in comparison with the ordinary tweezers.
Nowadays, along with time-tested traditional methods of hair removal there exist the alternative ones such as: laser photoepilation, non-laser flashlamp photoepilation, microwave epilation, topical methods. A cursory glance at the background of the photoepilator hair removal method tells us that photoepilators were the first commercial products that emerged from the profound research into laser hair removal. Since their invention, photoepilators have evolutionized greatly.
Suffice it to say that at the dawn of their history they used filtered lights from a xenon source, which is now utilized in flash lamps. The device was aimed at heating the blood and melanin pigments. Initially the filtered lights traveled into the hair follicle through the fiberoptic probe inserted light into it. The problem was that the probe was not disposable and sterilization was required after each use. Later versions of photoepilators implied sending light-based energy through the fiberoptic probe placed directly above the follicle.
The promoters of the photoepilator hair removal method claim that filtered lights when they are applied to the hair follicle on the surface of the skin (non-invasive photoepilation) cause permanent damage to it while sparing the surrounding skin structures. Photoepilator hair removal method is based on the principle of selective phototermolysis, delivering a carefully timed pulse of laser energy to hair shafts and bulbs. When photoepilators were first put up to commercial use, they were indicated for removal of unwanted body hair by using the pulse light energy. However, because of the lack of clinical and scientific proof of their efficiency, photoepilators appear inadequate for the permanent removal of hair.
Despite the fact that hair removal industry has invested impressive funds in the research concerning photoepilator hair removal method, the miraculous hair-producing follicle appears resistant to the noxious filtered lights. There is no denying the fact that photoepilator hair removal method does have a few advantages. Firstly, if performed properly it is absolutely safe. Secondly, it is less painful than tweezing and has fewer side effects.
However, as it has been stated above, permanent effect is not among the advantages of photoepilators, contrary to their advertisement as "painless and permanent". To touch upon the disadvantages of the photoepilator hair removal method, mention must be made of the fact that it is slow and expensive. Besides, no published clinical data demonstrate its long-term effectiveness. Contemporary research concerning photoepilators is conducted in the direction of the comparative analysis of different light sources for better efficiency.
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