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Ultimate Light™ or Pulsed Light (IPL)

Machines: EpiLight, PhotoDerm, Quantum, Aculight, or Vasculight.

These systems deliver the widest range of light; 515 nm to 1200 nm (including yellow, green, red, and infrared light).

The quality of the light delivered can vary significantly from very short (1millisecond) to very long (1200 milliseconds) total durations and from 1 to 4 pulses or segments of light.

The capabilities of each of these machines vary. EpiLight is the most specific and advanced for hair removal. PhotoDerm is the original machine developed for successfully treating facial Rosacea, facial blood vessels, leg veins, and other blood vessels.

EpiLight is a specialized improvement of PhotoDerm developed to specifically treat unwanted hair. I was one of the three original EpiLight users (beginning July 5, 1996 along with Drs. Weiss and Gold) whose clinical research led to the FDA's licensure of EpiLight for hair removal in July 1997. I am currently using one of only three SuperFast EpiLight machines in the world developed a few years ago to DOUBLE the speed of EpiLight (from 3.0 to 1.5 seconds between pulses). The SuperFast EpiLight is currently the fastest machine available for hair removal. The SuperFast EpiLight combined with my Ultimate Light™ method enable me to treat an entire back in approximately 30 minutes with gentle, fast, effective, and long-term results.

The Quantum or Aculight version of the EpiLight is a simplified version designed to make it easier for novices or for non-physicians to operate EpiLight. However, similar to the simplified "presets" on the EpiLight or PhotoDerm machines, the even more limited settings on "Quantum" or "Aculight" attempt to limit the potential damage caused by novice operators by simply giving them fewer choices. In my opinion, limited flexibility only serves to allow less experienced operators to utilize a technology whose main strength is the flexibility and customizability of the system. The net effect is a weaker and less effective machine whose success or failure still hinges on the operator's skills, technique, and selectivity. The expert operator clearly delivers better and safer results using the system (such as Ultimate Light™ pulsed light) with the widest range of settings. The amateur operator should treat patients only under the close supervision of an expert physician until he or she masters the wide range of potential settings. Additional training and experience produce better results. "Training wheels", "presets", and "governors" merely embolden inexperienced users and help to put more machines and unsuspecting patients in the hands of novice operators. When placed in the hands of novices, the strength of pulsed light becomes its greatest weakness and, in my opinion, accounts for the wide range of reported treatment successes and failures. Complexity and customizability go hand in hand when delivering the best and safest results with Ultimate Light™ pulsed light.

Ultimate Light™ pulsed light can safely and effectively treat ALL skin types ranging from white to black. All skin colors and hair colors, except white hair, respond to Ultimate Light™ treatment. Patients find Ultimate Light less painful than laser treatment, electrolysis, and waxing. In five years I have never needed to use local anesthesia or pain medication of any form when treating patients with Ultimate Light™ pulsed light!

Side effects in my hands are very rare (less than 1% of patients). Side effects usually involve a temporary change of skin color (lightening or darkening) that can last for several weeks or months. At the time of treatment, all patients should be at their lightest skin color. It is safer to treat the darkest skinned patient who is at his lightest than to treat a light skinned patient that has been recently tanned!

My Ultimate Light™ method has produced a 50% hair reduction after an average of one to two treatments. Hair colors ranging from black, brown, red, and blond respond to treatment. The densest areas of hair respond best. Each treatment can be given at three week or longer intervals. Patients report that hair that is reduced for three to four months is staying away for four years and counting. Ingrown hairs and their associated pimples and darkening produce the most dramatic treatment results for my patients. For more information please visit my websites www.md-laserderm.com and www.ingrownhairs.com.

- Harvey H. Jay, M.D.
 
   
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The information on this site is provided as our analysis and opinions as of April 2007. For more specific information contact Dr. Harvey H. Jay at (212) 755-2237. The results with each machine vary with the skill of the physician operator. No blanket endorsement of one machine or method is possible or intended.