Page 134 - Chapter 3 - Laser/IPL Hair Removal

Chapter 3 – Fundamentals of Laser/IPL Hair Removal 2nd Edition
But it must also be of the optimum wavelength to increase the absorption. Plus, the pulsewidth needs to be sufficiently short to minimise heat losses into the surrounding tissues.
Laser Plume in the Air
Plume is the technical name for particles of ‘stuff’ in the air. This stuff may be bits of hair, skin, clothing, burnt tissues, soot etc. When hair is treated by lasers/IPLs anything above the skin surface might be vapourised and carbonised. This will create a ‘puff of smoke’ – this is the plume!
Research in America has looked into the constituents of this plume using gas chromatography- mass spectrometry. What they found is disturbing. One set of researchers made this comment – the plume generated during laser/IPL hair removal must be considered a “biohazard, warranting the use of smoke evacuators, good ventilation, and respiratory protection.” Substances found in the plume include chemical such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide. In total, they found 377 chemical compounds, of which 20 are known environmental toxins and 13 are known or suspected carcinogens.
The researchers strongly suggested using proper ventilation and smoke evacuators to minimise any risk to both laser/IPL operators and patients/clients. They also found that levels of these harmful chemicals were present in waiting rooms and other areas of clinics.
However, they concluded that it was not possible to determine precisely how much more at risk laser/IPL operators were, compared with normal everyday activities. They also noted that there is no evidence of any increased numbers of lung diseases or respiratory problems among laser/IPL users, at present. However, this may change in the future.
At the recent BMLA meeting (2024) in Liverpool, there was a rather worrying presentation on plume. A study by the University of Loughborough looked at the risks associated with the plume (smoke) generated during laser hair removal procedures (Lewis et.al.). An air suction system was used to collect the smoke particles arising from patients undergoing laser hair removal.
________________________________________________________________________ 134 Chapter 3, Ed. 2.0 Laser/IPL Hair Removal
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