Monday, March 31, 2008

Hair Therapy

As you browse the aisles of your local drugstore, you may feel a little dizzy. Next to the dozens of products devoted to making the hair on your head thicker or shinier, you’ll see dozens more promising to get rid of unwanted hair. So which hair removal methods work best? And do you need any of them?

Different Types of Hair

Before removing hair, it helps to know about the different types of hair on our bodies. All hair is made of keratin, a hard protein that's also found in your fingernails and toenails. Hair growth begins beneath the surface of your skin at a hair root inside a hair follicle, a small tube in the skin.

You have two types of hair on your body. Vellus hair is soft, fine, and short. Most women have vellus hair on their chest, back, and face. It can be darker and more noticeable in some women than others, especially those with darker complexions. Vellus hair helps the body maintain a steady temperature by providing some insulation.

Terminal hair is coarser, darker, and longer than vellus hair. It's the type of hair that grows on your head. Around puberty, terminal hair starts to grow in the armpits and pubic region. On guys, terminal hair begins to grow on the face and other parts of the body such as the chest, legs, and back. Terminal hair is there to provide cushioning and protection.

In some cases, excess hair growth, called hirsutism (pronounced: hur-soo-tih-zum), may be the result of certain medical conditions. In girls, polycystic ovary syndrome and other hormonal disorders can cause dark, coarse hair to grow on the face, especially the upper lip and chin, as well as on the chest, belly, and back. Some medications, like anabolic steroids, also can cause hirsutism.

Getting Rid of Hair

Shaving

How It Works: Using a razor, a person removes the tip of the hair shaft that has grown out through the skin. Some razors are completely disposable, some have a disposable blade, and some are electric. Guys often shave their faces, and women often shave their underarms, legs, and bikini areas.

How Long It Lasts: 1 to 3 days

Pros: Shaving is fairly inexpensive, and you can do it yourself. All you need is some warm water, a razor, and if you choose, shaving gel or cream.

Cons: Razor burn, bumps, nicks, cuts, and ingrown hairs are side effects of shaving. Ingrown hairs can happen with close, frequent shaving. When the hair begins to grow, it grows within the surrounding tissue rather than growing out of the follicle. The hair curls around and starts growing into the skin, irritating it.

Tips: You'll get a closer shave if you shave in the shower after your skin has been softened by warm water. Go slowly, pulling looser areas of skin taut before running the razor over them. Change razors often to avoid nicks. Using shaving cream may also help protect sensitive skin, like the skin around the genitals. If you’re nervous about cutting yourself, you can try an electric razor instead.

Although most people shave in the opposite direction from the hair growth, if you want to avoid ingrown hairs it can help to shave in the direction the hair grows.

Dealing With Ingrown Hairs

Plucking

How It Works: Using tweezers, a person stretches the skin tightly, grips the hair close to the root, and pulls it out.

How Long It Lasts: 3 to 8 weeks

Pros: Plucking is time-consuming because you can only remove one hair at a time. However, it's inexpensive because all you need are tweezers.

Cons: Plucking can be painful, so it's best to do it only on small areas, such as the eyebrows, upper lip, and chin. If the hair breaks off below the skin, a person may get an ingrown hair. After plucking, you may notice temporary red bumps because the hair follicle is swollen and irritated.

Tips: Make sure you sterilize your tweezers with rubbing alcohol before and after use to reduce the chance of infection.

Depilatories

How They Work: A depilatory is a cream or liquid that removes hair from the skin's surface. They work by reacting with the protein structure of the hair, so the hair dissolves and can be washed or wiped away.

How Long They Last: Several days to 2 weeks

Pros: Depilatories work quickly, are readily available at drugstores and grocery stores, and are inexpensive. They're best on the leg, underarm, and bikini areas; special formulations may be used on the face and chin.

Cons: Applying depilatories can be messy and many people dislike the odor. If you have sensitive skin, you might have an allergic reaction to the chemicals in the depilatory, which may cause a rash or inflammation. Depilatories may not be as effective on people with coarse hair.

Tips: Read product directions carefully and be sure to apply the product only for the recommended amount of time for best results. Before using a depilatory on pubic hair, read product labels to find one that says it's safe to use on the "bikini" area or genitals.

Waxing

How It Works: A sticky wax is spread on the area of skin where the unwanted hair is growing. A cloth strip is then applied over the wax and quickly pulled off, taking the hair root and dead skin cells with it. The wax can be warmed or may be applied cold. Waxing can be done at a salon or at home.

How Long It Lasts: 3 to 6 weeks

Pros: Waxing leaves the area smooth and is long lasting. Waxing kits are readily available in drugstores and grocery stores. Hair regrowth looks lighter and less noticeable than it is after other methods of hair removal, such as shaving.

Cons: Many people say the biggest drawback to waxing is the discomfort: Because the treatment works by pulling hair out at the roots, it can sting a bit as the hair comes off — luckily that part is fast. People may notice temporary redness, inflammation, and bumps after waxing.

Professional waxing is more expensive than other hair removal methods. However, it can help to get a first waxing treatment done in a salon to watch how the professionals do it (because salon staff are used to waxing all parts of the male and female body there's no need to feel embarrassed!).

Teens who use acne medications such as tretinoin and isotretinoin may want to skip waxing because those medicines make the skin more sensitive. People with moles or skin irritation from sunburn should also avoid waxing.

Tips: For waxing to work, hair should be at least ¼ inch (about 6 millimeters) long. So skip shaving for a few weeks before waxing. Waxing works well on the legs, bikini area, and eyebrows.

Electrolysis

How It Works: Over a series of several appointments, a professional electrologist inserts a needle into the follicle and sends an electric current through the hair root, killing it. A small area such as the upper lip may take a total of 4 to 10 hours and a larger area such as the bikini line may take 8 to 16 hours.

How Long It Lasts: Intended to be permanent, but some people have regrowth of hair

Pros: Some people have permanent hair removal.

Cons: Electrolysis takes big bucks and lots of time, so it's usually only used on smaller areas such as the upper lip, eyebrows, and underarms. Many people describe the process as painful, and dry skin, scabs, scarring, and inflammation may result after treatment. Infection may be a risk if the needles and other instruments aren't properly sterilized.

Tips: Talk to your doctor if you're interested in this method. He or she may be able to recommend an electrologist with the proper credentials.

Laser Hair Removal

How It Works: A laser is directed through the skin to the hair follicle, where it stops growth. It works best on light-skinned people with dark hair because the melanin (colored pigment) in the hair absorbs more of the light, making treatment more effective.

How Long It Lasts: Intended to be permanent, but people often need to return every 6 months to a year for maintenance

Pros: This type of hair removal is long lasting and large areas of skin can be treated at the same time.

Cons: A treatment session may cost $400 or more. Side effects of the treatment may include inflammation and redness.

Tips: Using cold packs may help diminish any inflammation after treatment. Avoiding the sun before a treatment may make results more effective.

Prescription Treatments

A cream called eflornithine is available by prescription to treat facial hair growth in women. The cream is applied twice a day until the hair becomes softer and lighter — more like vellus hair. Side effects may include skin irritation and acne. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist if you are concerned about hair growth and removal.

Antiandrogen medications are another method that doctors prescribe to reduce the appearance of unwanted hair. Because androgen hormones can be responsible for hair growth in unwanted areas, these medications can reduce hair growth by blocking androgen production. Doctors often prescribe oral contraceptives in conjunction with these medications to enhance their effect, avoid pregnancy (since antiandrogens can be harmful to a developing fetus) and help regularize the menstrual cycle in girls who need it.

Deciding to remove body hair is a personal choice. Getting rid of body hair doesn't make a person healthier, and you shouldn't feel pressured to do so if you don't want to. Some cultures view body hair as beautiful and natural, so do what feels right to you!

Methods

Bleaching, Shaving, Plucking, Waxing, and Sugar Waxing

The desire to remove excess or dark hair usually begins in adolescence and seems to continue until the day we die. Whether it is hair on the face, armpits, legs, bikini line, or other body parts, many women AND men are intent upon having the hair on their scalp be the only visible hair on their bodies. With the emphasis on smooth, hairless skin, it is interesting to note that excess hair, especially in women, is still a taboo subject.

There are many options available to remove unwanted hair, but few options to get rid of hair permanently. The different methods of hair removal from the old stand-by, shaving, to the new treatments, lasers and Vaniqa, are discussed here. Each person should chose a method or combination of methods that works best for them depending on cost, time available, skin type, and the desired hair-free area.

Hair Growth
Understanding how hair grows helps us understand how to keep hair from growing. Each hair is contained in a pilosebaceous unit, which consists of a hair shaft, hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and erector pili muscle. Hair growth and shedding is a continuous cycle through 3 phases. The anagen phase is the growth phase, the catagen phase is a transitional state, and the telogen phase is the resting phase. Hairs spend a variable amount of time in each phase determined by genetics, hormones, and area of the body. Hair in the anagen phase is more susceptible to injury than hair in the telogen phase. All of these factors must be considered when choosing a method of hair removal.

Bleaching
Bleaching is actually not a hair removal method, but rather a way to make the hair less noticeable. This is especially useful for areas that already have thin but dark and therefore noticeable hair like the arms, face, or neck. Bleaching is performed by applying a chemical to the desired area, which removes the pigment from the hair.

Hair Removal with Shaving
Shaving is the most temporary method of hair removal because it merely cuts the hair off at the skin surface. Shaving does not make the hair shaft thicker, darker, or grow faster or slower. However, the short hair shaft may be more noticeable as it grows out because it has a blunt tip instead of the normal tapered tip. Shaving should be done after applying some type of moisturizer to the skin to help the razor glide over the skin, not cut or scrape it. Common moisturizers include water, shaving cream, hair conditioner, or body wash.

Physical Hair Removal
Physically pulling the hair out of the follicle is a common and fairly inexpensive method of hair removal. None of these methods changes the color, texture, or density of the hair. The hair takes longer to grow back because it must grow to the surface of the skin before it is noticed. Because hair grows at different rates, some of the hair that has been physically removed may take more time to grow back in. Repeatedly pulling hair out of the follicle may damage the follicle enough over time to keep it from producing more hair.

Physical Hair Removal - Plucking
Plucking hair with tweezers is an effective way to remove hair but can be very time consuming. The hair shaft must be long enough to grasp with tweezers.

Physical Hair Removal - Waxing
Waxing is an effective method of removing large amounts of hair at one time. In this method wax is warmed to allow it to be spread easily over the skin in the direction of hair growth. The hair becomes embedded in the wax, which cools and firms up grasping the hair. The wax is then quickly pulled off in the opposite direction of the hair growth, pulling the hairs out of the follicles. Cold waxes are available usually attached to strips, which are patted onto the skin. Wax that is still left on the skin must be peeled or scratched off. Caution must be used when heating wax so as not to burn the skin.

Physical Hair Removal - Sugar Waxing
Sugar waxing is a popular form of hair removal that works in the same way traditional waxing does. A thick sugary substance similar to caramel is spread on the skin in the direction of hair growth. The hair becomes embedded in the caramel. A cloth or paper strip is patted onto the caramel and then pulled off quickly in the opposite direction of the hair growth, pulling the hairs out of the follicles. The advantage of this method over traditional waxing is the clean up. The sugar substance is water-soluble and can be removed easier than wax by rinsing with water.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Body Hair

Excess Body Hair:

If you want smooth, flawless skin on your body, you have to tackle the ins and outs of removing hair.

Depilatory Creams:
If you're in a hurry to remove hair, depilatory creams are a good bet.They're easy to apply and effective in the short run by removing hair just below the skin's surface.Their disadvantage is that the chemicals that "burn off" hair can also cause skin irritation.Those with very sensitive skin may not be able to tolerate depilatory creams.(Never use them around the eye area.) For best results, first apply a warm washcloth to the area; this will soften the hair and open the follicles so the depilatory can be better absorbed.Never leave the cream on your skin longer than recommended.Instead of rinsing, wipe it off with the washcloth and then rinse.Test the cream on a patch on your forearm before using it to determine whether your skin reacts to it adversely (some cause skin discolouration or staining; others provoke allergies).If your skin breaks out, wash the area with an anti-bacterial solution (like Betadine) and consult a doctor.And never apply it on an area that has any cuts, scratches or other wounds.

Brazilian Waxing:
Waxing and sugaring are the best ways to remove hair from the bikini area.Thses methods give a clean, smooth surface and the longest-lasting results.Hair grows back finer because waxing pulls the hair out below the surface of the skin.Expect to be waxed to the max if you visit a salon for a Brazilian Treatment.It removes the hair from the entire pubic region, except for a small patch just above the vaginal area.The key to allowing wax to penetrate into the follicles (and provide the closest possible wax) is to relax.And many women claim the treatment is not nearly as painful as it sounds.

Sugaring:
And ancient method, its similar to waxing, although the sugar is only slightly warmed (never as hot as wax).As it tends to stick only to the hairs, not to the skin, it causes less discomfort.Warm sugar is applied to the skin and then removed with muslin strips.It takes a certain skill-nimble fingers-to perform this procedure, and some say sugaring is not as effective as waxing in the end.

Laser:
When used for hair removal, laser light passes through the skin to the hair follicle, where the hair absorbs it and is destroyed.Because the light is attracted to dark colours, those with light skin and dark hair often see the best results.Darker skin absorbs some of the laser light, which can cause burning.For these people, lower-level light is recommended, but often is less effective.Currently there is no guarantee that laser hair removal is permanent, but hair does tend to grow lighter each time.Laser treatment can be expensive so choose wisely, know what results to expect, and go to a reputable practitioner.

Shaving:
Shaving is the most easy and inexpensive way to remove body hair and is especially effective on the legs and underarms.Although safety razors provide a close shave (outperforming electric shavers by far), the results are temporary.Regrowth usually occurs within 2-3 days.For the smoothest, closest shave always use a new blade and a light touch.Wet the skin thouroughly and apply a shaving gel or cream (soap is too drying) to keep the skin soft and moist.This prevents nicks and makes it easier to shave the hair.Starting at the ankle, shave in the opposite direction of the hair growth, drawing the razor up the leg.Since underarm hair grows in many directions, you may have to stroke in several different directions.For the bikini area, pull the skin fairly taut with the fingers of your free hand so the surface is flat.If you need to shave a specific area twice, apply additional gel or cream.Rinse the skin and gently towel dry.Use oil or moisturizer to finish.Avoid shaving dry or sunburned skin.Dont shave before an exfoliating treatment (shaving itself is a form of exfoliation).Never use a blunt razor or share a razor with someone else (especially one that has been used on a beard).

Skin Irritations:
1.Unsightly Red Shaving Bumps:
These often occur because there are oil glands attached to nerve endings, which are easily irritated.To avoid this, try dissolving two aspirins (anti-inflammatory) and a drop of glycerine in one-fourth cup of distilled water; apply the mixture after removing hair.Using an antiseptic cream to calm the skin after shaving can also be helpful.
2.Razor Burn:This can occur when you're pressing too hard or if you shave with a dull blade or with a blade thats been left open in a bacteria encouraging puddle.The thing to do is change the blade at least once a week.Also, be sure to let warm water soften your skin and hair before getting started, and use plenty of moisturising shaving cream-not soap-as an added cushion.
3.Post Waxing Red Marks: The only thing more annoying than unwanted hair is getting rid of the post waxing red marks it leaves behind.Soothe the skin by applying cold compresses and keeping your skincare routine down to water and light moisturisers for a few days.Dont layer on products in the hope that one of them will do the trick; it will just exacerbate the situation.For a quick fix, apply some concealer and powder.The marks should disappear in a day or so.

Tips and Warning

  • You may wish to talk to your general physician or dermatologist for a recommendation of an appropriate hair-removal method.
  • Laser treatments and electrolysis can be expensive. Find out their levels of success before you invest.
  • Nearly all procedures for hair removal cause some kind of discomfort or skin reaction. Consider all options before proceeding.

Remove Instructions

Step 1:
Shave it. Shaving is a popular way to remove unwanted hair, although hair tends to grow back quickly.

Step 2:
Use a depilatory product, which temporarily removes hair by chemically dissolving it. When purchasing a depilatory product, be sure it is formulated for the area of the body on which you intend to use it. Do a sensitivity test before using it on large areas, and follow directions carefully.

Step 3:
Consider waxing every 4 to 6 weeks, in which you apply hot or cold wax to an area of the skin with unwanted hair. The hair adheres to the wax and is removed when the wax is peeled off. Because waxing removes hair at the root, regrowth occurs slowly.

Step 4:
Tweeze it. Tweezing removes hair at the root, but is not practical for large areas of hair.

Step 5:
Think about electrolysis. Using an electrical current, this process can remove some hair permanently by destroying the hair follicle. Home electrolysis devices are available, but most people opt for professional treatment. Large areas of unwanted hair may require several sessions.

Step 6:
Laser it. Laser treatment destroys hair follicles, but may not result in permanent hair removal. Laser treatments should be performed by a licensed professional.