IMPROVE INDOOR HAIR QUALITY
Laser hair removal is not only a way to remove unwanted hair but also compromises indoor air quality, which can pose a risk for clinicians.
Laser hair removal is third in non-invasive (doesn’t damage the skin) medical procedures.
A laser can be used to achieve smooth, hairless skin. It emits a powerful beam of light that passes through the area. The shafts are significantly damaged by the intense heat generated by the laser because the dark pigment in the hair absorbs the light’s heat.
Extreme high temperatures injure the hair follicles without causing any damage to the surrounding skin. This impairs their ability to regrow. Later, the follicles that were damaged will fall out. This is a win-win situation for the patient. What about the doctor performing laser hair removal? It’s not so.
To make laser hair removal effective, it is necessary to perform the thermal destruction (the “burning hair”) phase. This produces a smoke byproduct, commonly known as a surgical plume. It has been shown to contain many toxins and carcinogens.
This plume is only exposed to patients during treatment. Clinicians are exposed every day of the week, regardless of when they work.
The Journal of The American Medical Association published last year a study about the health effects of laser hair removal. Due to the many VOCs (volatile Organic compounds) that are released during laser hair removal, the plume of laser hair should be considered a health hazard. These findings revealed specific health risks from laser hair removal surgical fumes.
Many of the compounds in surgical plumes can be harmful when they are exposed. The 377 chemical compounds in the JAMA study include carbon monoxide, polyaromatic Hydrocarbons, and other toxic substances. 20 of these are known environmental toxins including toluene (a known carcinogen) and benzene.
According to the National Institutes of Health, acute exposure is associated with reduced breathing function and heart rate, and lung and upper respiratory inflammation. Myocardial infarctions can be a possibility for some patients. However, adverse health effects are rare in otherwise healthy patients.
However, this is not true for those who are exposed to the plume of laser hair removal. These workers are exposed to laser hair removal plumes for long periods.
The long-term outlook is good for workers in laser hair removal. According to the JAMA study, indoor air quality management can improve environmental conditions for specialists in laser hair removal.
The NIH recommends that patients not perform procedures in areas with poor ventilation. It also suggests that they wear personal protective gear. As with all laser-inducing procedures, smoke evacuation systems must be used.
Air Systems Inc is a company that provides indoor air quality management solutions and outstanding IAQ products to laser hair removal customers. Air Systems Inc’s air purification systems make it easy to breathe clean and safe air.
