Harmony®XL  for IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) / Laser Treatments

Acne Vulgaris
Acne is a condition characterized by obstructed sebaceous glands, pimples, and sometimes deeper cysts or nodules that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms. Acne begins in adolescence and usually affects most teenagers at some time. However, adults too, can suffer with acne. When severe, acne can often result in scarring. Even less severe cases can lead to scarring, if not properly treated.

The most common form of acne is called acne vulgaris and is characterized by inflammatory lesions (pimples) that develop when sebaceous glands become obstructed and there is an abnormal proliferation of propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes bacteria).

Until recently, patients with persistent, moderate acne have been treated with only topical or sometimes systemic antibiotics. Recent studies have demonstrated however that certain discrete spectra can trigger endogenic porphyrins that naturally destroy P. acnes bacteria... and in just a fraction of the time it typically takes for antibiotics to work! Eight, brief treatments over just four weeks is all it takes to significantly improve a patient's acne. This is three times faster than common antibiotics.

Cutaneous Lesions
Several other raised or indented, cutaneous lesions such as warts, scars and striae have been shown to respond to pulsed, broadband light such as that emitted by Harmony's unique AFT treatment heads. While complete flattening of these lesions is uncommon, many patients experience significant improvement after several treatments. In cases where the lesion has also become depigmented, combination therapy with Harmony's Long-Pulse Nd:YAG have produced even better cosmetic results.

Hair Removal/Reduction
Photoepilation, or 'hair removal using light,' has gained dramatic popularity over the past several years. While many methods can eliminate unwanted hair, very few can eliminate hair re-growth while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged. Both men and women can benefit from laser hair removal. Women often choose to have hair removed from the upper lip or chin, armpits, bikini area or larger areas like the legs. Men often choose to remove hair from their backs or stomach. Any area can be done safely and quickly by either the IPL or laser.

Lasers and light sources use the principle of selective photothermolysis to eliminate hair and its potential re-growth without damaging the surrounding skin. During a treatment, light passes through the skin and is absorbed by the melanin in the hair shaft. This absorption raises the temperature of the hair follicle and thermally destroys the cells responsible for re-growth. The attributes of the light (wavelength, pulse duration and power) are chosen to ensure damage to these cells and not the rest of the skin.

Leg Veins
The non-invasive treatment of unsightly leg veins is one of the most requested, yet challenging of aesthetic procedures. Because of the various diameters, depths and pressures found with these vessels, their treatment often requires a wide range of wavelengths, pulse widths and fluences.

In accordance with the principle of selective photothermolysis, these vessels can be selectively heated and collapsed without damaging surrounding, healthy tissue. Depending on the nature of the vessels, either the Nd:YAG or an AFT treatment head could be used to produce the desired effect.

Pigmented Lesions
Nearly 100% of humans have one or more pigmented lesions. Some are caused by sun exposure, others by aging. Still others are congenital. Regardless of the cause, pigmented lesions are simply spots on the skin where there is a higher concentration of melanin. Some lesions are flat; others are raised. In most cases, pigmented lesions are merely a cosmetic concern, but in some cases, they can be an early sign of skin cancer.

For most benign pigmented lesions that are of a cosmetic concern, there is a non-surgical option using light. By exposing a pigmented lesion to short-pulses of visible light, the temperature in the highly-concentrated melanin can be raised sharply; enough to shatter the cells containing the melanin. The body then replaces these cells with new cells generated by the surrounding, untreated area.

Skin Rejuvenation
As the last of the Baby Boomers (those born 1946 to 1964) recently turned 40, the popularity of aesthetic procedures that aim to turn back the clock is skyrocketing. Brown spots, broken capillaries and other fallout from photoaging are easy targets for systems that use broadband light to repair these defects through a process called photorejuvenation. Additionally, facial wrinkles can now be treated non-ablatively, contributing to a more youthful appearance.

Using relatively low-energy, short-pulse broadband light, imperfections such as erythema of rosacea, superficial telangiectasia, dyschromia, age spots and other discolored signs of photoaging can be gently heated and eliminated, replaced by newer, younger looking skin.

Using 1064-nm, infrared laser energy to heat the skin's microvasculature and provide dermal heating that stimulates the growth of new collagen, facial wrinkles can be eliminated easily and non-ablatively.

Vascular Lesions
Some vascular lesions are visible at birth, while others are acquired as a person ages. Chances are, either type can be treated using light. In accordance with the principle of selective photothermolysis, blood vessels in these lesions can be selectively heated and destroyed without damaging surrounding, healthy tissue.
For more information and before and after photos of all of these different capabilities, go to www.almalasers.com