The patient’s skin type is determined using the Fitzpatrick skin type scale. The different skin types are classified from 1 (very light skin) to 6 (very dark skin). The MedioStar laser has stored appropriate presets for energy density and pulse duration for all skin types and will automatically adjust these values according to the selected skin type. The pigmentation value indicates the amount of melanin contained in the skin in relation to the skin type. The higher the patient’s “pigment level,” the lower the energy values automatically preset by the MedioStar system. The exact specification of the patient’s hair color is also important because it indicates the presence or absence of melanin and indicates which proportions of melanin (eumelanin or pheomelanin) are contained in the hair.
Eumelanin is found mainly in dark, brown, black-brown, or black hair. Phaeomelanin, on the other hand, is found in blond and red hair. Finally, white or gray hair grows when there are no longer any melanocytes in the hair or when they no longer produce melanin.
Eumelanin is mainly found in dark, brown, black-brown, or black hair. Phaeomelanin, on the other hand, is found in blonde and red hair. Finally, white or gray hair grows when there are no longer any melanocytes in the hair or when they no longer produce melanin.
The treatment The best treatment results are achieved with permanent hair removal of dark hair on light skin. With blonde or slightly red hair, the lower melanin content in the hair makes photothermolysis more difficult because the heat is not transported as well as in dark hair. This is why laser hair removal is not as successful with light hair as it is with dark hair. Gray and white hair contains no melanin at all and therefore cannot be treated effectively without further measures.
