Settings Check! Lightsheer, Type IV

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

Hello everyone,

I just had my first treatment on my underarms and wanted to ask if the settings seem ok. My hair is black and I have skin type IV (mixed descent). Unfortunately in Berlin there doesn’t seem to be a huge range of laser places so I settled for Laderma in Rosenthaler Strasse (near Hackescher Markt) as they at least have a Lightsheer Diode (I know YAG is probably best but I couldn’t find one).

Laderma’s set up is clean and professional and the practitioner explained the ins and outs clearly (in German). She explained the difference between IPL and laser and we agreed that the diode would be better for my skin. I didn’t feel rushed or pressured.

She started by shaving the area (she mentioned that I could probably shave same day, as the hair is course enough for her to see anyway) and then wiped everything clear. She put some gel on the skin and then used the laser. She started from the back, where I didn’t feel much as there wasn’t much hair, but by the time she got to hair-covered areas I definitely felt something happening. It wasn’t painful per se but it did feel like a slight burning sensation beneath the skin. Perhaps it is because I expected it, but it really did feel like lines of heat going down through the skin and culminating a little way beneath the surface.

I think, owing to the sensation I felt, that she used the correct settings, but the joules seemed a little low now that I look at the numbers. Should I ask her to crank it up next time, or would the diode/iv combination call for more caution? The skin felt a little sensitive for a few hours afterwards but not uncomfortably so.

The settings were:

18 Joules
30 ms
Lumenis Lightsheer

I’m afraid I don’t know what the spot size was, but it looked pretty small, about a centimetre. The practitioner seemed to be very thorough though so I think she got everything.

Glad to have anyone’s opinions/feedback.

:slight_smile:

#2

The spot size was obviously not 12mm*35mm since you say it looked pretty small (and I think you can’t get 18 joules on it). So it has to be either 9mm or 12mm. Irrespective, the settings are on the lower side. Effective laser treatments are pretty painful without a numbing cream. I wouldn’t suggest you be very aggressive with settings though since you’re skin type IV and Lightsheer is known to cause complications on people with dark skin. I had a patch test with it in November last year which gave me some hyperpigmentation and I still have it. It is veryyyy faded though (90% gone). I’m skin type IV-V. See how shedding goes.

#3

Hi, thanks for the advice. I had worried about hyper pigmentation but I figured that if it happened on my underarms, it would be better than the wreck my skin there currently is! It’s especially good that we have similar skin types, so you know my woes :slight_smile:

I’ve had some hair come out easily already, gripping them with my nails, so I hope that’s a good sign at least. If I don’t get a full shed, can you advise what settings I should ask the practitioner to move up to? I think raising the level each time is a bit of a waste - why not use the most effective (and bearable) settings from the start?

In terms of pain threshold, I guess some would call my experience painful, but I used to epilate, which always yanked my skin. I wouldn’t exactly do laser for fun, but the pain was tolerable!

My skin doesn’t feel scorched or appear to have suffered any adverse effect, so I hope this is a sign I can take a setting that’s a bit higher.

In other news I’ve found a GentleYAG but it’s over an hour away from where I live and it’s in a gym, which makes me wonder how specialised/well trained they are. If Lightsheer works for me I’ll probably stick with it, but I’m glad I’m not completely stuck for options.

#4

If you’re curious, I drive a little over an hour to get laser done because they use effective settings and they are a lot cheaper than where I live. In my opinion, driving an hour or do for good affordable laser treatments is well worth it. I don’t know what it’s like where you are, although a gym sounds odd. I generally almost always prefer to get treated at a dermatologist office. That being said, I am a big fan of candela products. Keep in mind you would only have to drive it once every 1.5-2 months. Just my two cents

#5

I am sorry I can’t advise exact settings especially on LightSheer. If you go through LAgirl’s posts, you’ll see she recommends at least 25J and pulse width 50ms or BELOW on both the spot sizes. According to me, even 100ms will work good if the hair is coarse and someone who is skin type 4 should not above 30J. If you decide to yank up the settings, ask for a patch test and wait for at least 1 week to see how your skin reacts (preferably 3 weeks)

I guess you’re treating your underarm and back hair. Is your back hair coarse and dense? If not, don’t treat it. You might stimulate more growth.

You should not need more than 3 good treatments with GentleYAG to achieve more than 70% reduction of your underarm hair. Plus, you need to space treatments on underarms at least 8 weeks apart and more like 10-12. So I think it would be OK to travel. I suggest you have a consultation and get a patch test there or at least talk to the technician on the phone to find out how well trained they are. They say you should not judge a book by its cover! :slight_smile:

#6

Thanks both of you for your input!

Brenton: I live fairly centrally in Berlin and I’m not accustomed to travelling more than 30 minutes on public transport to get anywhere! I think an hour’s travel for good treatment is definitely worth it, as you say, so I’ll check out the other place if my current shed doesn’t go well or if I later want to laser areas where I might tan and will definitely need a YAG.

mumbaigirl: I don’t know where you got the idea I’m treating back hair! I think I mentioned in my first post that she lasered my underarms, starting from the back, but I just mean the direction she moved in. If I had back hair I’d probably have sorted that out first. I’ve been wanting to try out laser for a while and thought I should start with a more typically suitable area and went for underarms.

Progress so far:
My first treatment was a mere five days ago, so I’m trying to be patient! I came up in pepperspots and these have disappeared after normal showering and exfoliation. I have had some hairs come out with no persuasion and they appear to be about 4-5mm in length. Most of the hair just looks like it’s growing like normal, so I’m hoping for some serious signs of progress over the next couple of weeks. Excited! :slight_smile:

#7

“She started from the back, where I didn’t feel much as there wasn’t much hair, but by the time she got to hair-covered areas I definitely felt something happening”

Nevertheless, I said I GUESS.

#8

Ok, well it’s been four weeks now, so I thought I would post a progress update for posterity!

Most of the hair (90%, I would say) shed within the first three weeks and the last few hairs weren’t going anywhere, so I shaved them. There is a definite, small stripe on one side where the practitioner clearly missed, but she refused to do a top up, saying the hair would be caught in a later session (yes, because I want to pay for extra sessions!). Alas, she was firm on this point.

I think the settings weren’t the most effective - I had expected all of the hair to fall out, but there was still some definitely growing upon close inspection. For now, there is no new growth, so I reckon a second treatment in mid July (8 weeks) is probably on the cards.

Looking forward to it!

#9

Update: Not enough hair at 8 weeks, waited until 11th week.

Technician wouldn’t up the settings, saying that any hotter and the hair would just melt, rather than sending the heat along to the root. Not sure if I buy that, but we’ll see.

Even at 11 weeks, the hair was definitely sparser, though I presume this is because there are now fewer hairs in dormant phases etc.

Though it hurt more than I remembered!

#10

Update: 8 weeks on from my second treatment, I didn’t shave AT ALL and the hairs that came through are barely noticeable, they’re so fine.

9th week is coming up and it doesn’t look like there’s enough hair to warrant treatment. I think I’ll hold out until 11th/12th week and see how it looks then.

I know underarm hair is generally suitable for laser, but is it possible that I’ll be done after three sessions? If so, I think I can put my budget to use on other areas this winter.

#11

Yes it is possible. Many people achieve 80%+ reduction in 3 treatments provided settings are good and spacing appropriate.

#12

Thanks Mumbaigirl :slight_smile: That’s great to know. I think I’ll still budget for a 4th session, but I’m about ready for the third now and the hair is very much lessened and pretty fine. I ideally would like 100% removal but if the new growth is any finer the laser might not get it. My skin is pretty prone to in-growns etc so if I never have to shave, that would be great!

Looking forward to the next (last?) session soon!