A protocol for simulating hair removal was developed based on tetrahedral mesh. The relevance of the protocol was compared with results of other studies using similar simulation conditions. Surface temperature increase due to irradiation was also measured, experimentally. Results were then compared and confirmed with simulations. Different mesh models of skin with hair were used to analyse results of clinical studies on hair removal using Nd:YAG laser.
With the assessment of thermal injury with our numerical model we proved that a clinical outcome can be predicted to some extent. Higher energy of the pulse presents greater risk of irreversible damage of critical parts of hair. Forced cooling with cryogenic spray lowers the risk of damaging upper layer of skin.
At the same time, the impact of hair growth angle and the impact of adjacent hair were researched. It turns out that in cases where hair grows from skin vertically the damage on hair bulb is lower than in cases where hair grows at a greater angle. When a bunch of hair is irradiated in one pulse the thermal injury on central hair is reduced. If a bunch of hair is irradiated, the damage on hair on the periphery of the field will be lower. The final thermal injury is mostly dependent on time of irradiation and short relaxation time after pulse. Any further cooling does not contribute that much to the final result.
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