Alexandrite - how many passes?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hello, newbie here. I tried the Alexandrite Mini-Gentlelase a couple of days ago at 14J/18mm spot size. It was for my whole arms. I’m Asian. My body/legs is very pale and I have jet black hair. The hair on my arms were black as well but they are not as thick as pubic hair. They’re slightly coarse, I would say.

Anyway, I was just wondering, doesn’t a Gentlelase laser do two passes on the skin? I’ve had a package of 8 diode sessions done for my legs (about 85% reduction) and the doctor always gave me two passes – one with high settings and one slightly lower. Is this really not necessary for Alexandrites?

Also, this new derm of mine who uses the Alexandrite told me that she might increase the joules on my next session. She might even bring it up to 18 if I can handle it. But she said she’d have to make the spot size smaller. Does this make sense? I’ve read on some threads here that higher joules is good, but bigger spot sizes are also ideal.

#2

It’s not necessary at all to do more than 1 pass. They just need to overlap to avoid missing spots.

Can you post a photo? Are you male or female? Most people’s lower arm hair is not coarse enough for laser, especially females.

Decreasing the spot size makes the joules less effective. On 18mm, 20J is max and on 15mm 30J is max for that reason.

#3

Unless you were treated with Soprano, you only need one pass per target, as mentioned.

I agree, a photo would be helpful.

Even though you are pale, skin in persons of Asian descent differs in structure and physiology: it’s more compact with many more layers of cells. Thus, you may have underlying pigment and have a higher propensity for hyperpigmentation and burning after laser exposure.

Not a huge issue, but if you want to increase settings with the 18mm spot size be sure to get a test spot to see if your skin can handle it.

Decreasing the spot size doesn’t make sense at all. 18J on the 15mm spot size is roughly equivalent to 12J @ 18mm.

#4

Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate it.

I’m a 25 yr. old female. Prior to any laser treatment, my forearm hair was dark and slightly coarse. My upper arm hair is dense and dark but quite soft.

For the arms, I’ve had 5 diode treatments already (E-max) and one NdYag treatment (Candela). The NdYag machine broke down so I switched hospitals, and I got the Alexandrite package because I’ve heard great reviews about the Gentlelase.

Before any laser treatment on my arms, I’d shave and there would be stubble the next morning. Now, stubble takes 2/3 days. I know it sounds like I’ve had a lot of treatments but I don’t think the first 5 diodes did a lot. The derm wasn’t very experienced and I only realized later that the settings were not very high. It didn’t do much but it did something. Actually, some of the finer hairs grew back thicker. Sometimes I think the shaving really makes it thicker. Or yeah, this could be the paradoxical hair growth thing. But I now have some bald areas as well (esp the coarser ones near the elbow) and hair growth is much more slower. So I decided to keep at it. I really want to push for the highest settings as I know that my armhair probably doesn’t have a shot otherwise.

Right now my arms are bald as it has been treated only three days ago. When it is fully grown out I’ll post a picture on here for you to assess.

I didn’t know Asians had a different skin composition. I was thinking my pale skin is downright advantageous for LHR. I will ask for a test patch before we try 18J. Thanks, JMISR.

Lastly, it’s been three days but some portion of my arms, esp the inner skin, still has collapsed follicles (?). The kind that looks like chicken skin. I had this with diode too, but maybe for like several hours or a day. This shouldn’t worry me, right? It isn’t itchy or anything.

#5

Yes, sounds like induced growth. Shaving is just a haircut above the skin’s surface and doesn’t change the structure of the hair.

Is any of the current hair dense and coarse? It sounds like it may not be, in which case GentleLASE wouldn’t help either.

Inflamed follicles for a few days is a sign of good treatment.