INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO LASER HAIR REMOVAL USING A COMBINED DUAL-IMPACT METHOD ON THE HAIR FOLLICLE

ABSTRACT

The article is devoted to the analysis and implementation of an innovative dual-impact method in laser hair removal. The essence of the author’s technique lies in combining the initial heating of the hair shaft with repeated laser exposure through the open follicle after waxing. Theoretical foundations, clinical justification, and the results of testing on 100 patients are presented. It has been proven that the method reduces the number of procedures by 25-30%, increases hair reduction efficiency up to 88%, and decreases the rate of complications to below 2%. In addition, the study highlights significant financial and economic prospects for introducing the method into the practice of cosmetic clinics and studios.

АННОТАЦИЯ

Статья посвящена анализу и внедрению инновационной методики двойного воздействия при лазерной эпиляции. Сущность авторской методики заключается в комбинировании первичного прогревания волоса и повторного воздействия по открытому фолликулу после депиляции воском. Представлены теоретические основания, клиническое обоснование и результаты апробации авторской методики на 100 пациентах. Доказано, что методика позволяет сократить курс процедур на 25-30%, повысить эффективность редукции волос до 88% и снизить частоту осложнений до менее 2%. При этом существуют и выраженные финансово-экономические перспективы внедрения методики в деятельности косметологических клиник и кабинетов.

Keywords: laser hair removal, photothermolysis, combined method, innovation, cosmetology.

Ключевые слова: лазерная эпиляция, фототермолиз, комбинированная методика, инновации, косметология.

Introduction. In modern cosmetology, a clear trend toward technologization can be observed, with laser hair removal emerging as one of the most dynamically developing areas. Although already standardized, this procedure still holds significant potential for further refinement. According to current data, the average effectiveness of hair removal procedures using lasers and light sources reaches a 60–95% reduction in hair density after a course of 10–12 sessions, with remission lasting more than six months [4]. Nevertheless, despite their proven clinical effectiveness and safety, traditional SHR (Super Hair Removal) and HR (Hair Removal) methods are recognized to have certain limitations. The treatment courses must be relatively long, while the effectiveness of these methods depends on the skin phototype and hair color, and there remain risks of adverse reactions such as erythema, burns, and hyperpigmentation. Particularly challenging are light and gray hairs, due to their low melanin content, which reduces the absorption of light energy. In addition, existing treatment protocols primarily target hairs in the active growth phase, making it impossible to radically reduce the number of sessions without compromising the quality of results.

It follows that the relevance of further research in the field of laser hair removal is associated not so much with optimizing the radiation parameters as with the search for new combined-impact schemes. The combination of different wavelengths or the sequential use of various types of radiation allows targeting the follicle at multiple levels, thereby enhancing the efficiency of hair structure destruction [2]. In combination, these circumstances formed the basis for the development of the dual-impact method concept, which integrates the advantages of a traditional laser pulse on the hair shaft with subsequent direct exposure to the open follicle after waxing.

The aim of the study is to describe and present a comparative analysis of an innovative approach to laser hair removal using a combined dual-impact method on the hair follicle.

Methodology. The study was conducted in three stages. During the first, analytical stage, scientific publications on the principles of photothermolysis and existing laser hair removal technologies were reviewed; during the second, experimental stage, the dual-impact protocol combining sequential laser and waxing procedures was developed and implemented. In the final stage, the results were analyzed and the developed innovative approach was compared with conventional SHR and HR methods. The study employed observation, trichoscopy, and comparative analysis methods.

Results and Discussion. Examining modern hair removal technologies, it should be noted that they are based on the principle of selective photothermolysis, first described by R. Anderson and J. Parrish. According to this principle, radiation of a specific wavelength is selectively absorbed by melanin in the hair follicle and converted into thermal energy. This reaction underlies all contemporary laser and photoepilation procedures [5]. Thus, the effectiveness of the procedure is directly determined by the combination of wavelength, pulse duration, and energy density, which must be matched to the optical and thermal properties of the tissue. Comparative clinical studies of different wavelengths show that each technology has specific advantages. For instance, the alexandrite laser (755 nm) is most effective for lighter skin phototypes; in contrast, the Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) is preferred for darker skin types, as it penetrates deeper with a lower risk of burns. Combined use of these laser hair removal systems within a single procedure allows for compensating the limitations of each. As noted in the study by Ş. E. Gençoğlu, combined application of alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers achieved 84% hair reduction with a minimal incidence of hyperpigmentation [3]. Similarly, diode lasers with an 810 nm wavelength, employing low-fluence and high-frequency modes, enable significant reduction in hair density even in patients with skin phototypes IV–VI (see Fig. 1), while the complication rate does not exceed 3% [1]. Nevertheless, as previously mentioned, regardless of the laser system type, the average long-term hair reduction ranges from 60% to 95% after a course of 10–12 procedures.

Figure 1. Skin phototypes according to Fitzpatrick

Considering the circumstances outlined above, we present the author’s dual (combined) impact method, which represents an enhanced version of laser hair removal (Fig. 2). It should be noted that the method (protocol) was developed based on the physiological principles of selective photothermolysis and clinical data on tissue responses to repeated thermal stimuli. Unlike conventional SHR or HR technologies, where treatment is limited to a single processing phase and may require up to 10 sessions, the new scheme implements a “double-strike” effect, i.e., a combination of photothermal destruction of the pigmented shaft and direct heating of the follicle matrix through the open follicular orifice.

Figure 2. Author’s dual-impact method for laser hair removal of the follicle

The practical testing of the dual-impact method was conducted at an operational cosmetology center over a six-month period. The study involved more than 100 women aged 22 to 45 years with various skin phototypes (I–V according to Fitzpatrick); each participant provided informed consent, and all procedures were performed in compliance with international safety standards. Clients were assigned to treatment areas (underarms, bikini zone, lower legs, arms, and face), using diode equipment with an 810 nm wavelength and a contact cooling system. Energy parameters ranged from 8–20 J/cm², with pulse durations of 20–40 ms in the first phase and 30–50 ms in the second. Intervals between procedures were 4–8 weeks. The efficacy criteria included: 1) reduction in hair density determined via trichoscopy; 2) the number of sessions required to achieve a pronounced cosmetic effect; 3) presence and nature of side effects (erythema, burns, folliculitis, hyperpigmentation); 4) patient-reported comfort on a VAS scale (0–10 points).

As a result of the testing, the average reduction in hair density after a course of procedures ranged from 75% to 88%, depending on skin phototype and treatment area. The most pronounced results were observed in patients with phototypes I–III, achieving 85–88% reduction; in patients with phototypes IV–V, the reduction was approximately 70–78%. The method proved most effective in the underarm and leg areas, where hairs have high pigmentation and density. Comparative analysis showed that the new method reduced the number of sessions by 25–30% compared to conventional SHR/HR techniques. While standard technologies required 10–12 sessions to achieve a lasting effect, the dual-impact method delivered comparable results after only 4–7 sessions (Fig. 3).

Figure 3. Comparison of the course dynamics between SHR/HR and the author’s method

In addition, mild erythema was observed in 16% of patients and resolved within a few hours. Burns, hyperpigmentation, and folliculitis were extremely rare (less than 2%), comparable to the results of the multicenter study by E. Russe et al. [6]. The testing data of the method are summarized in Table 1:

Table 1.

Comparison of the effectiveness of conventional SHR/HR and the author’s combined dual-impact method

As a result of practical testing, it was established that the author’s dual-impact method provides hair density reduction, accelerates visible effects after just 1–2 sessions, and demonstrates a high safety profile. Patients also reported subjectively lower pain discomfort compared to conventional SHR technology, which is associated with optimized pulse parameters and an effective cooling system.

Collectively, these factors ensure not only an improved quality of aesthetic outcomes but also the economic attractiveness of the technology for cosmetology clinics, as the reduced number of sessions decreases staff workload, increases client loyalty, and allows for higher service pricing through the use of innovative techniques.

Conclusion. Thus, the conducted study demonstrates that the application of the combined dual-impact method in laser hair removal is an effective, safe, and physiologically justified advancement in cosmetology. The theoretical basis of the technology relies on the principle of multi-level impact on hair follicle structures, while practical testing confirmed that the author’s method allows for a 25–30% reduction in the number of sessions while maintaining stable results and reducing the complication rate to below 2%.

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