Technology guide
Contact cooling in laser hair removal
Cooling the skin at the moment of the pulse protects the epidermis and improves comfort. The different methods and their advantages.
Definition
Contact cooling keeps the skin surface at a low temperature at the moment of the laser pulse. The epidermis is protected from the heat, while the light continues to reach the follicle.
Methods
Sapphire: a cooled crystal window in contact with the skin, which conducts cold well and lets light through. Peltier: a thermoelectric plate, precise and adjustable. Cryogen: a spray of refrigerant gas, very effective but with a consumable cost. Pulsed cold air: economical, but less powerful.
Why it matters
Without cooling, the risk of burns and discomfort increase markedly. Good cooling does not reduce effectiveness on the follicle: it only protects the surface.
Maintenance
The sapphire window should be cleaned regularly and replaced if scratched.
In Neocure devices
The EpilPro II combines a Peltier plate and a sapphire tip, with contact down to -5 °C. The EpilPro MAX claims cooling down to -25 °C.