"WANT TO BUY
A LASER EPILATOR?
Have we got a deal for you!"
A brief up-date on some recent developments
in the field of laser epilation
BY DEREK COPPERTHWAITE
ARE YOU IN THE MARKET for a laser epilator? Photomedix Ltd., a British company specializing in the manufacture and sale of laser equipment for the medical profession, may have exactly what you have in mind. If you're looking for a non Q-switched ruby laser with a (low energy) density of between 7 and 10 J/cm2 - which is something like the lasers currently being used experimentally in the U.S.A. to effect hair removal - Photomedix can probably fix you up for about $85,000 (US$). The same company was recently advertising a Dd: YAG laser (non-modified) for $81,491 (US$). Be warned though, Photomedix is not recommending laser devices as a means of removing superfluous body hair.
Photomedix (whose slogan is Capturing the Power of Light) say they have had very little success with laser epilation so far. Late in 1994 the firm was involved in clinical trials, in association with its sister company Laser Treatment Centres Ltd., to develop a new technique using a modified ruby laser for "semi permanent hair removal." The protocol used for the tests required that the treatment area be shaved and cleaned before the laser was traced over the area and a single pulse of energy fired at the skin. It was found that unshaved areas resulted in the hairs vaporizing during irradiation, causing them to ignite for a brief moment. The heat generated by this ignition was significant, although too small to induce any damage to the underlying skin.
The technique developed by the researchers proved to be "very successful in slowing the growth of hair" following inactive periods up to 10 weeks following treatment, and there did not appear to be any pain for the patient or any damage to the skin. Results further showed that those parts of the body where the hair typically grows rapidly (such as the male beard) a larger number of treatments was required.
In areas where hair typically grows slowly, there were periods of up to 10 weeks when no evidence of hair regrowth was obvious. In faster growing areas, regrowth was apparent in about four weeks.
At present it is thought that most subjects require only one, or possibly two treatments, but early results indicate that those parts of the body where hair grows rapidly (such as on menıs faces) a larger number of treatments is required.
The study found the ruby laser to be ³an excellent tool for reducing the rate of hair growth without causing any unwanted side effects,² but concluded by saying, ³As yet it is not known if the laser can effect a permanent removal of body hair. Further research needs to be carried out to answer this question.²
On July 1, 1996, Photomedrix issued another Laser Hair Removal Update, declaring that results of more recent clinical studies ³have indicated a number of important drawbacks in the use of ruby lasers for hair removal.²
"While the laser is useful for certain patients," said the researchers, "it appears that it is unsuccessful in others."
There were two main problems cited. Firstly, the color of the hair being treated is very important. ³Basically darker hair is easier to remove for longer periods ‹ up to three months,² Photomedix offered. ³However, as the hair color lightens the efficiency of the treatment falls.² They found that treatments on blond and red hair showed no beneficial results whatsoever.
The second problem for the study team was the rate of growth of the hair. ³We have noted that it is difficult to achieve any lasting effect with fast growing hair,² said a company spokesperson. ³The hair on womenıs legs, in particular, have proved difficult to manage. In most cases a partial result is achieved with some areas slowing in growth. However, these are interspersed with other areas where regrowth appears to be normal.²
Again the Photomedix researchers came to the conclusion that the world is not yet ready for laser epilation. ³In general our results have been disappointing although we have seen a number of excellent cases. It is therefore too early to offer this treatment to the public at this time.²
* * * *
In North America ‹ where lasermania has been cranked up to fever pitch ‹ there was also disappointment for the proponents of laser epilation. In mid-July, Palomar Medical Technologies Inc., of Beverly, Massachusetts (whose shares on the New York stock market have risen dramatically in the last nine months in anticipation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administrationıs clearance of the companyıs Epilaser) were saddened to learn that the FDA will not permit them to represent their laser as a type of epilator.
Although the FDA approved Palomarıs new laser for removing epidermal pigmented lesions, the federal agency made it very clear that it would not approve it for hair removal ‹ the machineıs main intended purpose. Soon after the company made the FDAıs decision known, Palomarıs stock fell 11/8, to close at 115/8. Since then the stock has fallen to below 9Ŝ, down from 14 on July 5th.
In September 1995, Palomar signed an exclusive, worldwide licensing agreement with Massachusetts General Hospital to market MGHıs patent-pending technology for a laser-based hair removal system. It also entered into a four-year research agreement with MGH to continue the laboratory and clinical investigation of laser-based hair removal. Through this research program, conducted by R. Rox Anderson, M.D., of MGHıs Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine (which specializes in the use of medical lasers) Palomar was to receive ready access to the technology necessary for continuing product improvement.
Although the FDA has turned down Palomarıs Epilaser for hair removal, company president Michael Smotrich says, ³We plan to talk to the FDA.²
In October of last year, ThermoLase Corp. of San Diego, California, became the first laser company to receive FDA clearance for a system which it now calls Softlight, involving a low-energy, dermatology laser in combination with a pre-treatment lotion that promises ³long-lasting² hair removal. But ThermoLaseıs Spa Thira, their first hair removal spa in swanky LaJolla, California, reportedly ran into some problems, and there has been rumors of burning and pigmentation on patientıs, particularly in removing facial hair. The cost of treatment gives pause for thought, too, with the price tag on an upper lip treatment running at $1,400; legs $3,000.
"I think the FDA got a bit of a black eye when it cleared ThermoLase," said Smotrich. "They [the FDA] tightened up the reins . . . that means getting hundreds of cases, using the laser on all types of skin, a mix of men and women, and different body parts.²
Undaunted by the recent downturn in events, Palomar now appears to be adjusting its sights to focus on the Canadian and overseas markets where there is no FDA to contend with and less regulation. Steven Georgiev, chairman and chief executive officer of Palomar, said in a recent news release, ³The FDA clearance to sell and market Epilaser [for purposes other than hair removal in the U.S.] is an important milestone in our continuing implementation of Palomarıs strategy, which is to be the dominant company in the world offering a full suite of cosmetic laser products.²
Georgiev continued, "We have recently received orders for the Epilaser from Europe and the Far East totalling $12 million, in addition to the $4.8 million Epilaser orders from Canada [announced earlier this year]."
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