elôs stands for Electro-Optical Synergy. It is the cornerstone of the eLight system for hair removal, skin rejuvenation and skin tightening treatments. Electro represents the bipolar radiofrequency current (RF), while Optical represents the pulsed light or optical energy. Both the RF and pulsed light energies are emitted from a chilled handpiece tip. The synergy that occurs between the RF and light offers a remarkable new way for treatment of cutaneous skin indications.

Traditional laser or light-source has long been used for thermolysis of targets in the skin. Hair removal, pigmented lesion removal, vascular lesion removal, non-ablative skin renewal or dermal remodeling are examples of indications that are successfully treated by a variety of wavelengths and filtered spectrum light. A common issue in treatments done by traditional laser or light-source is two-fold:
1. Not enough light energy absorbed by targets means less efficacy
2. Too much light energy absorbed by non-targets means collateral damage or unwanted side effects, usually to epidermis or dermis
elôs presents a solution for both problems. Since the light and the RF play equal but different roles in the formula, efficacy will not be compromised for safety, and safety will not be compromised for efficacy. How can this be achieved?

Pulse light is selectively absorbed by the target and is converted to thermal energy, which heats the target to a higher temperature. The objective is to heat up the target (hair follicle, vascular or pigmented lesion), which will lower the impedance or resistance of that target. RF current flows from one electrode to another, and will gently heat up everything in its pathway.

RF current, like all other electrical energies, will travel along the path of least resistance. When targets are pre-heated by the pulsed light, they have lowered impedance or low resistance. The RF current density will be higher in those areas of lower impedance (pre-heated targets), resulting in further thermal injury to the target. This completes the thermolysis that is necessary for the desired biologic effect – follicles to stop growing hair, or vascular and pigmented lesions to fade.

In addition to contributing to thermolysis of dermal targets, the RF current also acts as an indirect “thermometer” in the dermis. During the application of RF energy, the device measures changes in the skin impedance. There is an inverse relationship between changes in temperature and impedance; rising temperature correlates with drop in impedance. This allows the eLight to perform active dermal monitoring for hair removal and skin rejuvenation applications which makes it a smart device with a unique safety mechanism.