How long to persevere with Philips lumea

[thenewaveragebear1983]

I have a PL comfort which I use on my face as I have pcos. I downloaded the app and followed its programme, which was basically once every 2 weeks for four weeks. It's just flashed up 'congratulations, you've completed the programme, enjoy your beautiful hair free skin' (or similar) and I am left wondering if perhaps it is just not going to work as I have seen very little difference. I have noticed almost complete hair loss on my upper lip, which proves that it does work, but virtually no difference on my chin. Not even slower regrowth. I suppose my question is, to anyone who may have used one, if it hasn't worked yet does that mean it won't ever? Is it just not compatible with my hair/skin type (I am white with very dark hairs, so it should be ideal). Is it not compatible with pcos?

Has anyone found that after continuing the programme (maybe more frequently than once a fortnight/week?) the hair has eventually responded?

Looking for advice before buying an at-home IPL device? You’ve come to the right place. Check out our guide to buying and using a Philips Lumea - complete with FAQS, tips, and recommendations from the most discerning shoppers out there: Mumsnetters. MNHQ.

That doesn't sound right. You normally use a Lumea fortnightly for 8-10 weeks, not 4. I would keep using it every 2 weeks, it won't do you any harm.

Oh and using it more often won't make much difference due to hair growing cycles.

Yes, I thought it seemed a bit quick. This was the actual Philips app though? I will carry on for a few more weeks, I can't really afford to just waste the machine so I want to give it a good chance to work, but wondered if it was simply a case of 'it won't ever work if it hasn't by now'

Have you used one flis? Did you get good results?

Haven't done my face yet, but definitely took longer than 4 weeks to get results on my legs. Now largely hair free though, so I'd say keep going with it.

I've got pcos too. I'd keep going, those chin hairs are stubborn buggers.

Yes, two to three months is more like it. I don’t use it on my face much but my underarms and legs are 85% clear and bikini line even better. Do persevere!

It took me a year to get hair free. Every two weeks seems a bit too frequent though - I did mine every 3 to 4 weeks

Yes I have used one! I used it every fortnight for 3 months and was virtually fair free on my legs and armpits! That was 3 years ago and barely any has grow back, I just get the odd patches of a few hairs on my legs so do the occasional top up.

This is all very reassuring, thank you.

It was an expensive purchase and I was gutted it hadn't worked, but will definitely persevere!

I also have PCOS, and own a Lumea and use it only for the body. I had proper laser done professionally and it took twice the amount of normal sessions and I still need to go back once a year. I was told all of this in advance as it's tough to tackle hormonal hair growth on the face. I personally wouldn't think a Lumea is up to the job, it inhibits hair growth where laser permanently removes it at a high 90s percentage.

Also, those without PCOS that use it on the face have very mixed results, where the body gets more universal praise. For me on the body it works well except for the hormonal areas (I have a line on my belly, quite common in PCOS and bikini and armpit hair it just barely touches) but I also needed twice the amount of sessions to get similar results as a non PCOS sufferer for the non hormonal areas.