The Pulsar system is the latest generation in intense pulsed light hair removal, with distinct advantages over lasers. The system uses a filtered white light as the energy source, pulsed to optimise the hair removal properties.

 Principles and operation of the system.

This technical term used for the operation of the system is ‘selective photo-thermolysis which means, selectively heating certain mater by using intense pulses of light. The natural colouring of the hair, the melanin, is used to act as an absorber or chromophore for the applied light which, by means of absorption causes it to heat up. By conduction, this heat will be transferred to adjacent cells, including those of the papilla and the bulge, which contain the growth cells of the hair itself. If we ensure that enough light is applied to the area the temperature rise will be sufficient to cause the surrounding cells to die, and therefore stop the follicle from being capable of producing further hairs, i.e. effectively killing the hair growing potential of the follicle.
There are a number of lasers used for , most of which suffer from severe side effects including scarring or pigmentation changes. The efficacy of lasers is based on the same theory of absorption by the melanin in the hair as the Pulsar, but the crucial difference is that the laser systems employ a single pulse to heat the site whereas the Pulsar uses a multi-pulse. The problems occur due to the melanin in the skin, which also absorbs the light and heats up. In the case of single pulse lasers, the hair is heated, but so is the epidermis. In the case of a multi-pulse system the advantage lies in the difference between the cooling times of the hair shaft and the epidermis. Due to the thinness of the basal layer the heat in this region is lost very quickly, in comparison the more substantial hair shaft takes longer to cool. Therefore, if a short period of time is allowed between each pulse the skin temperature is able to drop whilst the hair effectively retains it’s heat. It can now be envisaged that the difference between the final temperature of the skin and hair large enough to ensure follicle death without damage to the skin.
The efficacy of this system is dependent on the difference in the melanin content between the skin and the hair of the patient. The greater the difference, i.e. with the hair being darker than the skin, the more effective the treatment. If the hair is particularly light, or the skin dark then the percentage of hair removed on each treatment may be reduced. If the hair contains no melanin then the treatment would not be recommended.