FAQ

How does IPL Work?

The ECOLITE IPL hair system produces a high intensity flash 
of light from the applicator head, which has been placed in contact with the skin. The energy from the light source is absorbed by the pigment melanin, which is the chromophore, which gives hair its colour. 

The hair rapidly absorbs the filtered light and transfers it to the surrounding cells that in turn are converted into heat. The heating denatures the cells making them incapable of producing further hair growth .

How is the Treatment Carried Out?

The crystal applicator is placed in direct contact with skin surface and the light is pulsed through onto the skin.

The applicator is then moved a fraction further along the skin surface, and the process is then repeated with pulse light, until the whole area to be treated is similarly treated.

Who Can Be Treated?

Dark hair is more easily treated due to the high concentration of melanin, which gives maximum absorption, and conversion of light energy into heat. Very fair hair has less melanin and consequently less heat is produced, simply raising the fluence output from the IPL treats such hair. White hair has no melanin and cannot be efficiently treated.

The upper skin layer of the epidermis also contains melanin and the concentration increases when the skin is exposed to UV light.

It is therefore necessary to treat the dark skinned individuals with less energy to avoid generation of excessive heat and pain to the skin. The ECOLITE IPL software allows you to adjust the treatment parameters for different hair and skin pigment type.

Does it Hurt?

As the light energy is absorbed by the pigment melanin, the discomfort depends upon the concentration of melanin in the epidermis and the hair combined.


onsequently it hurts more in dark skinned people and those with dense dark hair. No anaesthetic s required and most clients describe the pain as moderate and acceptable.

(Likened to a hot prickle or a rubber band snap)

Do I need to shave before the Treatment?

Ideally, hair should be 1 to 2 mm long when the client arrives for treatments so it is possible to mark out the area for treatment. Long hair take up energy and prevent all of it reaching the root ball. If the hair is normally shaved and is visible then shaving is recommended on the day of treatment.

Equally it is recommended that creams and lotions be avoided on the area to be treated.

Plucking and bleaching is also discouraged. By avoiding any forms of epilation 4 weeks prior to treatment it ensures maximum treatment area coverage.

Thereby ensuring, as many follicles will be destroyed as possible by IPL.

Are there any side effects?

The visible light is completely safe some special precautions are needed apart from glasses preventing excessive bright light absorption generated from the flashes. The skin of some clients turns bright red immediately after treatment and very rarely blisters as from excessive sun exposure may occur.

Normally there are no side effects at all and the described skin reactions as above usually disappear within a few hours to a few days.

UNLIKE ELECTROLYSIS ECOLITE IPL IS NON-INVASIVE .

How Many Treatments Will i need?

Only hair in the growth phase can be treated. The number of hair varies from 20-70% depending on the body area.

The length of the growth stage can equally vary from 6-24 weeks again for most people four to six treatments are sufficient to clear an area of hair. After the first treatment most patients experience a significant reduction in hair density hair, and subsequent hair growth is finer.

It is important to know the first treatment is believed to synchronise the anagen (growth) phase f the non-anagen hair. This may appear to induce new hair growth but is in fact encouraging ‘dormant' hair growth. All subsequent treatments are found to be more effective in reducing subsequent growth.

How do I prepare for Treatments?

Patients should avoid TANNING one calendar month before treatments AND immediately after a treatment the skin is particularly sensitive to UV light and strong sunlight should be avoided for 4-5 days.

Is it Permanent?

Most authorities agree that using current lazer and IPL technology has significantly reduced hair regrowth. Histology studies have found destroyed ad damaged hair follicle cells in post treatment.

A recent study showed the percentage reduction in hair after treatment using IPL systems well above the 80%.