Microwave hair removal Basic facts
Extremely limited data on safety and effectiveness (especially
for use on the face) make this a device to avoid until there's
more data.
Description
 Microwave radiation is sent through
a handpiece into the skin, where the energy causes thermal damage.
Advantages
Targets all colors of hair.
Disadvantages
Targets everything else in the skin,
too.
Not cleared for use on the face.
Not enough data on safety or effectiveness.
Quack claims
“Delivers precise, controlled
pulses to the hair follicle.” (Pulses are delivered all
tissue nonselectively.)
“Causes destruction of the follicle
without damage to the surrounding skin.” (There is no published
data showing this device causes destruction of the follicle,
let alone selective destruction. They offer no explanation why
the device will spare other moisture-containing structures and
substances in the skin.)
Background
This device uses microwaves like the kind used in a microwave
oven. Microwaves are just radio waves (within a certain frequency
range) that have an interesting property-- they are absorbed by
water, fats and sugars. When they are absorbed, they cause molecules
to vibrate, which results in heat.
Here's the problem and potential danger with microwaves: microwaves
can heat ALL the water and fat in your skin, not just the parts
near the hairs.
The primary difficulty in hair removal is delivering enough energy
to the hair structures to cause permanent damage without damaging
the surrounding tissue. Frequencies in the microwave range have
been shown to be effective when conducted down a metal probe.
This is how the type of needle epilation called thermolysis works.
The damage occurs only to the areas of the hair follicle right
around the metal probe.
Unlike lasers, a microwave does not rely on selective photothermolysis.
Microwaves don't heat up a target (like laser do to melanin) while
sparing other structures. This indiscriminate heating of all water
and fat in the skin is potentially problematic. To generate enough
heat to damage a hair follicle, a microwave might also generate
enough heat to destroy other things like blood and sweat or oil
glands needed to keep skin healthy. In addition, there is a very
real possibility of causing eye damage from microwaves directed
at the face. [1]
Until there is published data on these devices, the danger of
collateral skin damage represents an unknown risk. I urge all
consumers and practitioners to avoid using this device until there
is more information.
History
In 1999, FDA cleared these devices, but they specifically stated
they are not to be used on the face. [2] One company in the US
has been cleared to sell these devices, but they have sold very
few of them. [3]
Clinical data
There is no published clinical data on safety or effectiveness
of microwaves delivered in this manner for hair removal.
Again, I strongly recommend that consumers avoid microwave hair
removal until there is some published clinical data demonstrating
the devices are safe and effective for hair removal.
References
- Please see hairfacts.com for a list of the microwave medical literature.
- FDA Docket K991456. See summary (requires Adobe Acrobat).
- MWMD.OB SEC 10-KSB Annual Report, 2 April 2001.
|
