Diode LightSheer for Laser Hair Removal on Labia / Bikini Area

Leave the pubic area alone altogether. Who knows if you can get circulatory problems there (no blood flow) and you may not be able to have an orgasm.Just wax it.

Hi Half, Wondering if you have gleaned any good info from your endeavours here and in the clinic? Six days ago I had my first laser treatment for ears and boyzilian. Was a GentleYAG. Felt a bit hot on the ears, but actually felt great on the groin! I am all pale skin, mostly black hair, but some grays. The tech said their laser is not effective on the grays, so I went to another clinic 2 days ago...they used a diode...they did my neck and arm pits -- was darn painful, mostly in areas with coarser hair, which the tech said is expected. Not sure how to proceed. I doubt I can tolerate the pain of the diode on the groin. But the 2nd clinic said the YAG was only appropriate for darker skin tones. I've seen mixed info on whether the YAG is good for light skin. Some references say it is ok for all 6 skin types....very hard to get definitive information on best laser to use...all the clinics just want your $$. Any advice and/or commiseration would be greatly appreciated. pale dude

Hi, I've been to two laser clinics so far and read scientific literature on it as well as gotten some feedback from other laser doctors, and I can tell you that (1) no laser is effective on grays, (2) GentleYAG can be used on all skin types but to get good long term results and avoid skin damage then the settings (spot size, pulse duration, etc) must be changed for your specific skin tone. This is best achieved by an experienced laser specialist who has been around long enough to see the effects on his/her patients and know what setting is best for what skin tone *from experience* as well as their own formal training and education. I heard that YAG (at least Nd:YAG) is not so great for achieving good long-term results unless changing the settings as mentioned above-- make sure you're going to an experienced medical spa which has board-certified laser specialists. Ask for their years of experience, too. The huge "plus" for the YAG system particularly the GentleYAG is that it has a cooling system which allows for greater effectiveness and less pain than the diode Lightsheer. The Lightsheer's cooling system rather is basically a cooled tip rather than cooled air that's blown out, resulting in water condensation on the skin and less effectiveness of the laser at "penetrating to notice" the hair within the skin. This is what I read in scientific literature. I explained this to my tech and she was surprised I knew and she agreed. I started off with 3 diode laser treatments on my full bikini, but my first specialist wasn't doing a very good job on getting all the hairs particularly in the hard-to-reach areas, especially due to the design of the Lightsheer hand-piece. So then I switched to a different laser specialist who began using Alexandrite laser on my skin (I am also pale-skinned with dark hair). Alexandrite is more suitable and effective long-term for people with pale skin and dark hair. She adjusted the machine to Hispanic skin tone setting on my bikini area because I am more tan there. From the scientific literature, Alexandrite has slightly better effectiveness (like 87% compared to 85% hair reduction) than the diode, but many people say the diode can treat more ranges of skin types. Since you already have pale skin and dark hair anyway, try to find a place that is certified which has an experienced tech for Alexandrite laser, preferably the Apogee Elite which contains two laser systems - a 755nm Alexandrite laser and a high powered 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser - in one unit. It also has the better, optimal cooling-wind system rather than the diode Lightsheer's cooling system. This is just my opinion. So far I've gotten 3 diode treatments and one Alexandrite treatment on my full bikini & I've seen great results, almost 80% reduction already. I have a few white hairs which obviously are still growing but it provides a convenient measuring stick as to how long (length-wise) my black hair would've normally been growing if not treated with laser! I've also been getting my under-arms done with Alexandrite laser, two treatments so far, and great amount of reduction. This is the best place for Alexandrite laser for me, since the skin is very super pale and my hair is (was!) very coarse and dark here. Alexandrite is also good for fine dark hairs on light skin, so you could also have it used on your ears as well, BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE you put sunscreen on there because you don't want the skin to go dark and get messed up -- ears and face are commonly most exposed to the sun and should be protected especially during and after laser treatment. Bottom line: Alexandrite is best for pale skin/dark hair, diode is best for medium skin/dark hair, and Nd:YAG is best for medium/dark skin and dark/hair. Alexandrite can be tailored (settings-wise) as well as diode to be used on darker skin tones, but it's best suited for lighter skin tones. Therefore Alexandrite is probably the best choice (done by an experienced tech) for your skin and hair type. Hope this helps! Best wishes

In reply to deemar21, I had gotten my full bikini sugared once (waxing hurts way too much and actually pulls the skin as well as the hair, whereas sugaring just grabs the hair). This resulted in (1) ingrown hairs which left scarring, and (2) I don't like having hair down there in between my sugaring sessions. I decided to make an investment in laser hair removal down there & under my arms, because my bikini area and underarms are the most prone to painful and scarring ingrowns. (3) As far as laser hair removal interfering with blood circulatory problems, I disagree -- if you bruise your arm and have to put plastic-wrapped ice on there for 20 minutes, it does not ruin your ability to forever feel sensation on your arm again. My experience can also attest to that. I hope this clarifies. But thank you for your concern.

Excellent info, Half! Thanks so much. I'll look for a medical spa that's certified and has an experienced tech for Alexandrite laser, preferably the Apogee Elite. I'm actually in Austin....do you happen to know if there's such an animal here? pale.

Hi,
I'm in Houston searching for clinics for hair removal laser, and I found your review.
Would you send me the name of the clinic you did the treatment?
Thank you