I’m going in for a consultation in a few days for a clinic that uses the LightSheer laser and I plan on assessing them (in part) based on the settings they intend to use. I want to get my legs done. My skin is on the lighter end of type 4 and the hair is coarse on the lower legs and finer on the upper legs. What would be the best settings for effective treatment?
With type IV, it’s hard to say what will be safe on you as you may be too dark for effective settings or you may be ok. Effective settings (include compression during treatments) are in the 25 joules range with pulse of under 50ms. Also, various models of LightSheer have different spots sizes, anywhere from 9-12mm. It would be best for you if this machine has a higher spot size, i.e. 12mm.
For fine hair, pulse should be lowered. On LightSheer, it can go as low as 5ms.
You should ask for a test spot. If effective settings are too high for your skin, then you will need a Yag laser instead.
Thanks! I also have a consultation at a place that uses the CoolGlide ND:Yag. Any advice on best settings for that type of laser?
pulse of 50 and under is good, and joules in 40-50 range. depends on the spot size of their model too.
It’s very hard and inaccurate for me to give out settings like that since I can’t see you. It’s best if you ask THEM what they’re planning to use first, and then post here, and we can advise if they sound too low.
If you are satisfied with the Cool glide, great! but if there are some doubts, Lightsheer Type IV - 30ms, 25 to 29 joules are very good, On first appointment. I agree with lagirl, and hoping that you have good results!
Thanks very much, you two.
I had my consultation for the LightSheer place and she said they started at 25 jules and worked their way up. I forgot to ask about pulse and spot size was 9 mm. I decided not to go there because A) she said they didn’t do spot tests and she didn’t even look at my skin or hair (or ask me any questions about medical history, sun sensitivity, etc.) and B) I would have had to either pay $454 for one treatment or commit to a package of four for $953. I was a bit thrown off by the lack of spot tests, but then I realized that that’s actually the third place I’ve been to that didn’t do them.
I just got back from the CoolGlide place where I was tested at the following settings: 55 J, 20 ms; 55 J, 15 ms; and 57 J, 20 ms. Spot size is 10 mm. Oh, and she assessed me at Type 3, so that’s 2 clinics assessing me at Type 3, 2 at Type 4 and one not assessing me at all! Unless I have some horrible reaction to the spot tests, I’ll go with this clinic, since treatments are $200 each and I’ll get the fourth treatment free without having to commit to a package.
I’ll start a new thread on my “treatment diary”.
Thanks again!
You may want to consider GentleLASE alexandrite machine instead. It would be most effective on type III. Coolglide is a Yag and is ok on coarse hair, but it will have trouble once the hair gets finer.
Hi
What is the name of this Clinic that use the CoolGlide?
Thanks
Hi lagirl. I am very similar to this gentleman whose skin type is III-IV. You told him you could not recommend any settings to him since you could not see him, and so you did not know his complexion accurately. If I posted some pics of me as I am now, would you be able to judge what settings might be appropriate for my tone.
I visited a few clinics, and they judge my skin type differently. You seem you could give me an honest and objective response.
Horatio, Lagirl is in Africa until the end of February. Maybe Romeo will see this and help you if he can. You can private message him if he doesn’t answer in a short while.
Hi guys. I am type IV and I had my 1st laser treatment done 4 months ago with a Light Sheer on my shoulders. I post pics. I took these about a week after the procedure. I had more redness the 1st day of course.
Immediately above each photo there is a button with a magnifying glass to zoom in.
The redness lasted a month but was less and less each day. Then it was completely gone.
My shedding lasted surprisingly 2 months instead of two weeks. Only thick dark hairs shed, but the soft ones grew unaffected by the laser. This was nice, since it made me less hairy but also gave me a natural look, since I had the soft hairs still, and I am hairy all around, so this blended in well with the surroundings. This lasted two months.
I write to share my experience and answer any questions, but also to ask some of my own. Namely, I was treated with 16J. Was this too conservative? Based on the pics I posted, would my skin type allow higher settings?
I should say, I looked great for two full months after the redness was gone. During this time I had only soft hairs growing, and only 3 months after the procedure was done the hard hairs began to grow, and now they are their full size. Today, I am as hairy as before the procedure. But this was only my 1st.
During the laser treatment, my hairs were popping out with 16J. I told my RN at the beginning that my goal was only reduction and not elimination. Maybe that’s why she used 16J? Or maybe she saw that I was too concerned not to get burnt, so she thought it might scare me if we went higher and decided for the 1st treatment to go lower on the settings, and introduce me to lasering 1st, to prepare me for the next vist? Or maybe 16J was perfect for my skin type and my goal of reduction, not elimination? What do you guys think?
By the way, this RN has many years of laser experience and treated some of my friends and they are happy with their results. She was very nice with me and took her time.
Looking forward to reading your replies or answering any questions.
I can’t see your pictures.
We need to know what pulse width and spot size is being used, in addition to joules. But at almost any of those, 16J is low. I really wouldn’t use this machien in your skin type unless you can handle at least 25J (with pulse width of 30ms or less).
Hi LAgirl and dfahey,
Thanks for your responses.
Were neither of you able to see the pictures?
To see the pictures just paste the link in my post above into explorer and click enter. It should take you there. Here are the links again:
LAgirl, how can I know if my skin type can handle 25J or not? Do I just have to try it or work my way up first? What’s a safe way to go about it? I hope you can see the pics and give me an estimate if I am too dark for 25J.
Also, I thought if we saw hairs popping out, it means it’s working even at 16J. My hairs are pitch black and thick, and were popping out at 16J.
I can see the pics. You look light judging by the pics if the lighting here is pretty accurate…you look like a type II or at most III, which means you should be able to handle high settings without issues. They can test on a small area first.
Your hair is very coarse and dense and dark. It’s great for laser. You should get good results.
If you’re not stuck with this clinic, an alexandrite laser like GentleLASE would be ever better.
The problem with using only 16J is that even if the hair sheds, it may not be enough powerful to actually disable the hair permanently. You want to use highest settings you can handle safely to guarantee you get permanent results.
hey horatio,
i am about to start treatment myself and i have a skin type and hair type quite similar to yours judging by your photos. i also want to do back/shoulders hair removal.
so i guess my experience should be quite similar to yours.
i am still looking into various clinics and all, i have done a small test area on my back with lightsheer, 2 weeks have passed and that area is still red, but like in your case, a bit less each day.
this is quite unusual since most experts claim redness should go away after 1 week maximum.
anyway, you’re saying in your case it’s totally gone with no ‘aftermath’ afer 1 month?
just want to make sure. i guess i can live with 1 month of redness…
cheers
groovy
Groovy, you mentioned that you had an old alexandrite EpiTouch used on your at 36j. That’s a very high setting on an alex, though the spot size on this machine is small. I think you probably won’t have this issue if you find another clinic with a better machine.
the redness thing actually was when i did a test with lightsheer… 
I have done another test with lightsheer a week ago, in another clinic. They used 35j. Strong red dots appeared right after the treatment and the area became red and swollen, the swelling went away after about 4 days.
The redness is better but still exists and some ‘leftovers’ from the red dots is still visible (small areas that are more red).
I guess this is the way my skin reacts to this laser… I can’t find a clinic with a better machine, I think I will go ahead and start the full treatment next week if I see that the redness keeps improving.
Any thoughts?
Thanks again
groovy
It sounds like those settings are too high for you. Try lower settings and you shouldn’t get that reaction. Also, try taking an anti-histamine.
Where are you located?