IPL & Cosmetic Laser User Groups > Do home pulsed light hair removal systems work?
In a word, no. To better understand the answer, you should examine 21 CFR 1040.10-11, the FDA's regulation on laser and light based devices. Any laser based technology involving hair removal is governed by this regulation, as it would require comparison to "like devices" regardless of the class of laser. The claim that this device can permanently reduce or remove hair has to be evaluated by the FDA before it can be considered truthful... as far as medical device commerce goes.
Even the low level light therapy systems for hair restoration which claim to be FDA approved- they are also lying. See, the claim is that they are FDA approved for home use. This is not true. They are FDA approved for COMMERCE as a laser or light based device governed by 21 CFR 1040.10-11. This means they have been compared to hair removal and hair restoration lasers, and have been approved for the commerce. The use, sale, distribution, and possession of any device governed by this regulation is limited to the order, supervision, and/or use of a physician.
Thanks for your insights Mickey.
Do these use any sort of UV light?
I am thinking if yes, it may be contraindicated for those with a history of skin cancer. Is it?
(A similar idea: I was told by a dentist, that some teeth whitening systems use UV light, & thus are contraindicated in patients with a history of skin cancer).
Most hair removal lasers operate in the near infra-red range (735-1064nm). Even so, there are no contraindications for UV lasers on patients with a history of skin cancer any more than a chest x-ray is contraindicated for a patient with a history of lung cancer.
Dermatologists use IPL in their offices for hair removal on light skinned patients. Not sure how the home unit compares to an office based
stumbled upon this study that home laser hair removal is effective for permanent hair reduction:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lsm.22051/abstract.
can anybody attest to this?
I have also recently been asked about home hair "laser" ILP removal systems and subsequently did some research. I found the results suggest favorable outcomes. The technology has been out for a number of years so, I imagine that some of these home units do work? Thoughts anyone?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921762/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17763608
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17659582
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19396717
Costco is selling a home hair removal system using pulsed light technology. Does anyone know if these things work?