Many people find it disturbing to have body hair on different parts of the body. Fortunately, there are many methods today for removing it. The key factor is to make an appointment with qualified doctor, having the appropriate knowledge and authorisation to use effective devices. 

The market offers a wide range of products, but they are far from being of the same quality, reliability and safety.

Hair laser hair reduction is suitable for both women and men. It can be used on all parts of the body, except around the eyes. The special attachment also removes light and red hair in all skin types, however, the procedure needs to be repeated several times.

Permanent removal is only achieved by electrolysis, which is suitable for smaller areas and individual laser-resistant hairs of all colours, both on the face and elsewhere. Owing to their uneven growth, the procedure also needs to be repeated several times until all the hairs have been treated.

At Derma Centrum Rogaška/Maribor, laser hair removal is supervised by a dermatologist, which means it is safe and effective.

What is ELOS™

Advanced ELOS™ technology from the early 2000s works on the principle of the interaction of optical energy and radiofrequency current (acronym: ELectro Optical Synergy). Its advantage over laser* or IPL systems**, operating only with the former, is in its using lower optical energy to heat the targeted structures and the melanin in the hair, which is located deep in the subcutaneous tissue. Therefore, there is a lower likelihood of side effects resulting from overheating of the epidermis. When the radiofrequency current is applied simultaneously, the optical energy flows faster and in a more targeted way through the pre-heated structure, causing damage to the hair follicle without damaging the surrounding structures.

Hair growth and removal

However, the hair growth cycles are not simultaneous and hair removal with ELOS™ technology or other devices is only possible during the anagen or growth phase. The highest percentage of hair in the mentioned phase is found on the scalp, chin and above the upper lip, where the density is also highest, with the correspondent lowest percentage found on the forearms, thighs and shins. The duration of the growth resting phase is longest on the legs and shortest above the lip.

Hair depth, gender, age, hormones, medications and other factors contribute to the effectiveness of the removal as well, which makes it is impossible to expect a perfect result after just one treatment, with one type of energy and wavelength and the same duration of the light pulse. Excessive hair growth may also appear as the result of certain diseases identified by a dermatologist. In such cases, laser removal without a simultaneous treatment of the underlying disease is ineffective.

Differences between lasers, IPL systems, home epilators and ELOS™ technology

Laser and IPL systems need only one energy source to cause enough thermal damage to the hair to stop it growing. If the energy source is too low, only a prolonged period of reduced growth is achieved, which returns to normal after a few months. A similar effect can be achieved with epilators based on IPL technology; these have a very low power output and can be purchased over-the-counter. Moreover, lasers or IPL systems are also ineffective for removing lighter hair, as the absorption of light is not high enough. On the contrary, ELOS™ technology, as mentioned above, uses two different energy sources, which makes it equally effective on light, grey, and red hair.

Complete removal of all hair

There are millions of hair follicles on the body, only a small fraction of which are in the growing phase, so it is unrealistic to expect them all to be destroyed at the same time. Permanent removal occurs when the hair follicle is so damaged by heat that the hair can no longer grow. Therefore, those in the dormant hair follicles and the thin, short, light, the so-called vellus hairs, colloquially known as down (or fluff), cannot be removed.

A permanent reduction in the number and size of hairs using hair lasers, IPL or ELOS technology is therefore only possible with several repetitions. A general rule of thumb regarding hair removal anywhere on the body is that we need somewhere between three and twenty repetitions, which is an average of six to ten times, spaced out over a period of a month to two and a half, depending on the body part.

However, the duration and the exact number of epilation sessions cannot be predicted, due to differences in hair density, individual sensitivity to pain and other factors related to skin colour and, consequently, the energy flux of the device, the technology used, the experience of the practitioner and, to date, unexplained reasons for the varying effectiveness of the devices in different individuals.

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Appointments and further information

To book an appointment, contact us Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00 on the following telephone number: 064 12 80 15 or send an e-mail: info@derma-rogaska.si