Determining skin type

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I’m new, and reading a lot, and I have a few questions.

I’ve read the skin types in L.A. Girl’s FAQ, and I’m not sure what I am.

When I was younger, I would’ve sounded like a Type V. I’m white (British/Euro ancestry), but I tanned extremely easily, rarely burned, and retained tan for a long time. Five years ago, I was advised I already had skin damage, so I now wear sunscreen religiously. I’m now so pale it’s a challenge to find a foundation color I can wear, and I have no idea how easily I’d burn if I allowed my skin exposure to the sun now.

A few years ago, I had LHR on my face with a GentleMAX, and the results were great. But since it’s both Yag and Alexandrite, and I don’t know which settings she used, that doesn’t tell me anything either.

My body hair is dark brown to black, and I would say medium-fine to coarse, and my skin is pale. Which laser should I go for? The place I went to for the GentleMAX is really expensive (half legs=$600), and I’d like to get LHR on a lot of my body, so I’m trying to find the best bargain that will actually give me a worthwhile result.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

#2

White = Type I-III. You don’t sound like a Type V at all.

Post a picture and we can help determine your skin type. Regular GentleLASE is all you need if you’re light enough to handle it.

Laser only works on coarse dark hair, so only treat the areas that have that kind of hair. The rest needs electrolysis.

#3

Well, by description I would look like a Type 2, it’s just I used to tan like a Type 5, but I guess the tanning’s not the important part of it, from what you’re saying. Thanks.

I had $2000 worth of electrolysis a long time ago, and not one hair went away, so perhaps mine are all coarse. I’m really never sure how to classify hair texture. But all the body hair I want rid of is much darker than what was on my face, and my skin is a bit paler than it was then, so I think you’re probably right about the GentleLASE.

#4

Tanning IS relevant in LHR, because more pigment in the skin requires lower (ie, less effective) settings.

However, the assignment of your Fitzpatrick skin type only depends on your natural skin tone and how you react to UV radiation (burn, tan, etc.). Your assignment remains static even if you appear dark due to tan development. Both your skin type and presence of a tan help determine what settings can be used on you.

Electrolysis IS permanent when performed correctly. You have to shop around to find the most effective electrologist. Newer devices in the hands of a skilled operator can remove lots of hair speedily.

You can post pictures of the areas you want to treat, and we can tell you if they are amenable (ie, coarse and dark enough) for laser. You don’t want to treat areas with fine hair, because you can induce MORE growth.

Usually, most women don’t have laser-friendly hair all over their bodies. If they do, it is often due to some hormonal disorder. That skews progress with laser/electrolysis, because while hairs present at treatment are killed, new growth continues to develop. Laser and electrolysis can only kill the hair present at the time of treatment; they can’t stop new growth from materializing.

#5

The reason I’m not posting pictures is that I don’t have any hair grown out, so it wouldn’t be helpful. How much would it need to grow out for you to have a useful photo?

Hmm, I do have PCOS, which is why I have so much hair, but it’s currently being treated with Yaz. Other bc pills (the standard treatment for PCOS), like the one I was on when I had electrolysis many years ago, did nothing to curb the hair growth. Yaz - which I was on when I had my facial hair removed - seems to prevent new growth. I think my leg and underarm hair must be very coarse because the stubble feels like a wire brush. My arm hair is finer - maybe I’ll let that grow out a bit for a pic.

Re: skin type, I think I must still not be communicating well. I absolutely tan like a Type V. I once played in a pool for three hours at noon on a cloudless day without sunscreen and got two blisters. Still, if I go outside for (literally) 5 minutes without sunscreen or sleeves on my arms (which I try not to do), I develop a shade of tan color without turning red.

Currently my skin is very fair, all over (even though my arms have a tiny bit of color, they’re still well below “tan”). But the tanning potential is still there. The nurse who did my face just talked about my being fair, as if that was all that counted for her to get the settings she needed on the laser.

Another question: did you recommend the GentleLASE because it gives better results than other machines recommended for types I and II? I’ve gotten that impression from reading around here (that all things being equal, GentleLASE is the best, but the skill of the technician is very important too). Is that right?

#6

Skin type is based on your skin color when it’s not tanned. If it’s tanned, it technically shouldn’t be treated. If you don’t have Asian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic or Black heritage, you’re probably somewhere between II and III.

I would call your old clinic and ask whether they used an alex or a yag on you. I would guess it’s the alex. And if so, go with GentleLASE or Apogee alex lasers.

#7

You cant be a skin type V, not if you are white of British descent. Its just not possible with Anglo Skin, even in you tan well. You said you blister so that means you burned. You are probably II or III. Type V skin would be someone with skin like Indian, Greek, Middle eastern, Hispanic people.

I am skin type II. I am white of Irish descent. I have fair/pale skin with dark brown hair and brown eyes. I burn if I don’t wear sunscreen initially and remain in the sun for a while (30 mins or more), and then will tan pretty well. My initial burns depend on how long I remain in the sun. When I tan, I look very tan but no where near a Hispanic person or Indian person without a tan.

Try this chart. http://www.hollywoodtansatlanta.com/The_Fitzpatrick_Skin.pdf answer the questions and find what number you are. Then you can determine what your skin type is.

#8

@ LAGirl: the records are in storage, and they won’t get them out, but if the nurse remembers, she’ll call me next Thursday (I’m not thrilled with this response). I have a feeling I must be Type 3. But…

@ LD27: …that chart puts me solidly in Type IV. :confused:

When I said I blistered, that was the only time in my life I have ever sunburned, and that was with 3 hours, completely unprotected, in as powerful sunlight as you get.

My answers to the chart questions:

What is the colour of your eyes? Dark Brown (3)
What is the natural colour of your hair? Chestnut (2)
What is the colour of your skin (non exposed areas)? Pale with Beige tint (2)
Do you have freckles on unexposed areas? none (4)

Total 11

What happens when you stay in the sun too long? Rare burns (3)
To What degree do you turn brown? Tan very easy (3)
Do you turn brown within several hours after sun exposure? Always (4)
How does your face react to the sun? Never had a problem (4)

Total: 14

When did you last expose your body to sun (or artificial sunlamp/tanning cream)? More than 3 months ago (0)
Did you expose the area to be treated to the sun? Sometimes (2)

Total: 2

Total: 27 Type IV

When I was young, even my unexposed skin was darker than it is now. Back then, I didn’t often sunbathe, but I also didn’t wear sunscreen or try to avoid it. Once I started trying to avoid all sun exposure, I was stunned how pale my skin got. I don’t supposed hormone changes or medications could affect overall skin tone?

#9

I would be surprised if you turned brown after several hours in the sun. I have two 1/2 Mexican nephews who turn brown on the first day of summer every year. They remain that way until Christmas. I would doubt that you turn brown if you are as pale as you say you are. Most white people turn some degree of tan but not brown. You might tan easily but not like someone who has Hispanic, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Middle Eastern, Indian etc descent.

I would also doubt that your face has no reaction when you are in the sun if the rest of you tans as dark as you say. That would look pretty weird with a white face and brown body.

If you look at the pictures of the women on this page, I think you will have a better idea of what skin tone you might be. http://www.mirabellabeauty.com/fitzpatrick-landing

#10

If you’re saying that brown really means “brown” and not just “whatever color you turn when tanning” (which is how I was thinking of it), then I never get brown. I plateau at a sort of deep gold which is not comparable to the “brown” shade the people you mention turn when they tan. That knocks 4 points off and puts me as a Type 3. And the Mirabella images make me think 2-3, so it’s what LAGirl said: GentleLASE or Apogee alex lasers.

Is the Cynosure Elite one of the Apogees that will work? It sounds like it from this:

La Vie Privee

They have some affordable packages going on, and good reviews on Yelp. But I’m going to follow the instructions in the FAQ about how to find a good place - while I want to save money, there’s no point spending a dime unless the results are going to be worth something.

#11

The Elite is good, but Elite MPX or GentleLASE would be faster and more effective since they have an 18mm spot size.

#12

I think you’re giving this a bit too much thought. If you’re Caucasian, you’re likely either III or maybe between III and IV. Skin types are approximate anyhow.

Apogee Elite is a combo Alex and Yag machine like GentleMAX, only max spot size is 15mm instead of 18mm. It’s worth checking out along with other places.

Get test spots with good settings on an alex and if your skin can handle it fine, you’re good to go.

#13

Thanks for all your help!

Well, now I can’t believe I’ve just spent a good 6 hours searching for places in the west LA area that have GentleLASE or EliteMPX, using the recommended search tips for this forum, Google, yelp, etc. Everybody’s going to the LightSheer or a Yag - even clinics that recently had one of the others.

So far, my options are the clinic I linked above, Dr. Babapour, and this GentleLASE clinic with suspiciously low prices and no Yelp reviews:

http://www.losangeleshairreduction.com/index.php

I talked to the receptionist, who says the LHR is done by two gynecologists who founded the place, and he says the prices are low because they’re accommodating people hit by the recession. I’ve scheduled a consult and will ask a lot more questions, but there’s always a chance it’s just a new business undercutting others to get customers, right? :smiley:

#14

Have you looked into Dr Hamilton? We’ve had good reports about his services. I think he has two locations.

There is also a recommendations or a clinic in Downtown LA that uses GentleMAX and has good prices. Search for the name in posts by bryce on this forum.

Write down the settings at the consultations. That’s how you’ll know whether they’re good.

Dr Babapour is very nice. I had my treatments there. However, his prices are relatively high for large areas and he’s not super aggressive with settings (he was with me because I asked and he trusted me).

#15

I wouldn’t worry about the lack of Yelp reviews. Lots of those are planted anyway, so it can be hard to tell.

Interestingly, I know of a similar setup (gynos doing reasonably priced LHR with GentleLASE) in another state.

Can’t hurt to go in for the consult there to check things out. Better to have more options to choose from.

#16

The link Bryce gives is dead, so I Googled the name of the clinic and found this one:

http://dpmgi.net/index.htm

I see no mention of LHR. I’m finding a lot of people who used to do it have stopped.

Is this the Dr. Hamilton you mean? http://www.douglashamiltonmd.com/html/laser.html#hair

I’ll call him tomorrow. I did read about your success with Dr. Babapour, LAGirl, but his prices would limit how much I can get done. Still, if I can’t find someone cheaper that I trust, I’ll keep him in mind.

My consultation will include a spot treatment, and I’ll get the settings from them and report back.

True about Yelp reviews. I think they’re getting better at filtering out the fakes lately, but it’s really just a starting point for research. I get the feeling this is a new business, because when I called today to see if I should shave a spot for my spot treatment but leave some hair so they can look at it, he knew who I was as soon as I told him my consultation was for Saturday. :wink:

#17

Yep. That’s the correct Dr Hamilton. We’ve had several reports from his patients. He’s willing to be aggressive with settings, which is good.

#18

I didn’t get a chance to call Hamilton yesterday - today no one’s answering the phone as of 10:10.

I did get my old settings from Laurie Wieder of Joshua Wieder’s dermatology. She used the GentleMAX on Alexandrite settings: my lip got a 12 mm spot with 25 joules, and my chin for a 15mm spot with 30 joules. I know those settings worked very well without any burns or problems, so that should be helpful.

I’ve also scheduled a consult with Epione in BH:

#19

For your reference, max on 12mm is 40J (so that one was low), but max on 15mm is 30J (so that one was high). Pulse width is adjustable on that machine, so that’s a factor as well. The lowest is 3ms.

#20

Oh, thanks. Are the settings the same on the GentleLASE, which is what I’m looking for now? And would the settings for my chin what I need on areas like legs? The hair there was pretty coarse.