Humans have had a problem with hair for thousands of years. Flint razors have been found that date back to the time of the cave-dwellers, and archaeologists have discovered obsidian shaving tools that are around 4000 years old. As well as shaving, other methods have been and are still used: plucking, waxing and needle epilation. All have a drawback – shaving, plucking and waxing are all temporary; needle epilation is only capable of treating one hair at a time. Excess hair may be the result of medical conditions, but the pressure to remove it may be cosmetic. Cultural norms and peer group pressure often require the removal of hair in certain regions such as the face, axillae (armpits), legs and bikini line for women and the chest and back for men.
At Enhance we use AW3 Crystal Freeze® hair removal systems as it offers proven, safe and effective long-term removal of unwanted hair.
To achieve long-lasting or permanent hair reduction, it is necessary to destroy the hair follicle from which individual hairs grow. Well-controlled pulses of light penetrate the upper skin layer and are absorbed by one of the body’s own natural chemicals – melanin – in the hair contained in the follicle. Melanin converts the light energy into heat. This heat is transferred to the hair follicle, which is destroyed, making it unable to produce new hair. The treatment is only effective on growing hairs as these are still attached to the follicle. The majority of our hair is in the resting phase which explains why more than one treatment is necessary. This technique is called “Selective Photothermolysis”.
Hair grows in three different cycles and the Permanent Hair Reduction can only successfully treat hair during its growth stage. Therefore it is often necessary to undergo a course of 3-6 treatments ensuring that you leave at least 4-6 weeks between each session initially, and then only repeat as and when the hair returns. Hair growth is cyclical, as hair follicles go through resting and growing phases. Only follicles in the growth phase contain hair and are destroyed by the heat. Resting hair follicles need to enter the growth phase before they can be effectively destroyed by the AW3 treatment. That’s why it is necessary to repeat the treatment at intervals until all hair follicles have been through the growth phase. The length and timing of the growth cycles are affected by numerous factors such as body size, hair density, thickness, ethnic origin, hormonal status and age.
To ensure as many hair follicles are targeted as possible it is also important not to undergo any hair removal for at least four weeks before the appointment or during the course of treatment. The same rule applies to any sun treatments, as a tan will raise the pigment level in the skin and have a severe effect on the treatment’s success.
We can offer treatment for all skin types and hair types and with our treatment, there is little post-treatment care required. Although people with sensitive skin may benefit from using a soothing gel or aloe vera for a few hours following treatment.
