What causes Acne?
Acne is commonly  caused by a build up of dead skin cells, oil secretion, an accumulation of bacteria and androgenic hormones.
Other factors, such as cosmetics with comedogenic -- or pore clogging -- ingredients, hormone fluctuations and selected chemicals may aggravate the condition.

What is pigmentation?
Hyper pigmentation modifies the colouring of the skin because of an excess of pigment known as hyper pigmentation or, conversely, a lack of pigmentation known as hypo pigmentation.

What does Glycolic Acid do?
Glycolic acid works by dissolving the natural glue that holds the dead skin together reducing acne flares and skin irritation. It is also an effective tool for treating the visible signs of
sun-damage and ageing skin due to its ability to peel back the years of dead skin cells -- revealing smoother, younger-looking skin.
Fantastic for smokers skin and sun bed and sun worshipers.

What does Salicylic Acid do?
Salicylic acid works by having a whirlpool cleaning effect on the skin.  It will exfoliate the surface of the skin and have a pain reducing effect on painful blemishes.

How does IPL hair removal work?
Controlled pulses of light penetrate the upper skin layer and are absorbed by one of the body's own natural chemicals, melanin.
This converts the light energy into heat which is transferred to the hair follicle. This destroys the hair follicle, leaving it unable to produce a new hair.

How many treatments do I need for IPL hair removal to work?
The treatment is only effective on growing hairs as these are still attached to the follicle. The majority of our hair is in the resting phase which explains why more than one treatment is necessary. A minimum of six treatments are required, one every four to eight weeks.

How does Ellipse acne treatment work?
Energy from the light source is absorbed by the target chromophore (oxy-haemoglobin and haemoglobin) in the blood. The filters used ensure the best possible uptake by oxy-haemoglobin, with minimal absorption by melanin and water.
The light energy is converted into heat energy. The purpose is to eliminate the blood capillaries that are supplying the sebaceous glands and thereby slow down the overproduction of oil that leads to acne.

Is any pre-treatment necessary?
One month prior or at least from the start of Ellipse treatment, the patients apply adapalene (in most countries branded Redap / Differin) cream or gel on the acne affected area every evening.
Adapalene makes the skin thinner and thereby helps opening the sebaceous ducts enabling secretion of oil and fatty acids produced by the sebaceous glands.

What are the side effects of Acne treatments?
Immediately after treatment a stinging sensation and erythema are common. On day two and three oedema may be present. Also during the first day a “dirty look” of mottled superficial brownish pigmentation may appear. This peels off spontaneously after 3-14 days depending on how severe the melanin pigmentation was before the treatment. This pigmentation consists mainly of photo-oxidised melanin and may be covered with make-up. (Histology reveals a phototoxic reaction in the vesicles that contain melanin).

Which conditions can be treated?
The Ellipse photo rejuvenation is indicated for treatment of sun-damaged skin to reduce pigment and vascular disturbances, and to improve skin texture. The following conditions are treatable:

• Superficial pigmented lesions (ephelides, solar lentigines, epidermal melasma)
• Facial telangiectasias
• Poikiloderma of Civatte

Facial treatments are most popular, but all parts of the body can be treated.

Is permanent hair removal possible?
Nobody knows for sure. Hair management and hair reduction are increasingly the terms used. After the first treatment most patients get significant reduction in hair density. Hairs which re-grow tend to become finer and lighter in colour. It is important to know and to inform patients that the first treatment is believed to synchronise the growth phase of the non-growing hairs. This causes what seems to be re-growth – but what happens is that the remaining “resting” hairs start growing at the same time.

Is hair removal possible if the client is pregnant?
If a client is pregnant, it is suggested that she waits until 2-3 months after she has given birth to begin treatment. At this time hair growth is synchronised, which means that she has an increased number of visible hairs, making the treatment much more effective.

Does the patient need to shave prior to Ellipse hair reduction treatment?
It is better if the patient arrives with the areas to be treated unshaved. The hairs need to be at least 1mm long to be seen clearly. This enables the area needing treatment to be marked out, using a red pen. The area to be treated should then be shaved before starting treatment, to ensure best results. Remove the shaved hairs from the skin to ensure that they do not stick to the applicator.

Why do hairs appear to grow after the treatment?
Unlike laser treatment, hairs are not evaporated during Ellipse treatments. The hair follicles are destroyed but the hairs remain in the follicles and are often attached to the epidermis. They will fall out after 1-3 weeks as the epidermis is renewed. During this period it will seem that the hairs are growing as the epidermis pulls them out. It is possible to show that the hair will fall out, by easily lifting it out with tweezers. This is important information to your patients, and they should be advised not to expect an instantaneous result.