Hair is your crowning glory. It is also your body’s barometer indicating good health or the lack of it. Hair’s primary function is protection but in today’s modern day world, we are living in an era of diminishing returns as far as hair is concerned.
Fashion and stress have become the modern day barometers. Modern lifestyle has its own unique consequences on hair.
Travel
World has become a very small place to live in. Since the airfares have reduced drastically people have started air travel very frequently.
This takes a toll on the hair due to increased humidity levels. While most of us commute to work or college everyday, our work often takes us far from home.
Our hair may be the first to react to climatic changes. Travelling in air-conditioned buses and trains and living in the comfort of A/C hotel rooms might add that extra luxury to your trip but it can take its toll on your hair due to the increased humidity levels.
If you find that your hair has suddenly become sticky and hard to dress, the problem could lie with the water you are washing it with. Hard water causes calcium and magnesium deposits to cling to the hair shaft. To remove hard water deposits, add a little lemon juice to the water while rinsing.
Smoking
According to recent studies, smoking can increase almost all the major androgenic hormones, which are closely linked to hair loss. If you are not predisposed to losing hair, you needn’t worry. But if you are, smoking will increase the rate at which your hair falls.
Diet
The current obsession with losing weight might wreak havoc on your hair. Our hair is often the first to be affected by a lack of some nutrient. It may be the only sign that something is wrong. So, we may feel quite healthy, but if we find our hair suddenly looking dull or falling excessively, we should not ignore it. It could simply be our body telling us to eat better. Since our hair is made up primarily of proteins, make sure you include enough proteins in your diet, whether in the form of fish, meat or pulses. Our hair also requires minerals like zinc, magnesium, iron etc in the right proportions. Of course, only a trichologist could tell you which minerals your hair is lacking in.
Fashion
Tough as it is, hair cannot cope with some of today’s beauty treatments and most of the commercial treatments can ruin you hair.
Hot rollers and dryers destroy the hair’s elasticity and strength. Metal combs and sharp bristled brushes displace the cuticle plates, making hair dull. Permanent chemical dyes damage hair by breaking through the cuticle to invade the cortex.
Petroleum-based jellies; sprays and permanent waves depend on distorting the hair’s keratin structure to succeed. Chemical processes such as perming, colouring, bleaching and straightening, remove all protein and moisture out of hair, leaving it fragile, porous, brittle; the scalp irritated and flaky.
Stress
Hair follicles are surrounded by and invaded by a network of nerve cells. Potentially, any adverse chemical activity in the nervous system might send adverse signals to the hair follicles. Hair loss may develop and become noticeable a few weeks to four months after the initial stress episode. Stress increases the cortico-steroids level in the body which leads to auto immune disorder ‘Alopecia’.
Heart Problems
The link that has been established between hair loss and heart disease is not new. The amount of hair loss seems to coincide with the likelihood of a heart disease victim.
But there are other causes of hair loss, so don’t panic - just because you may be suffering from male or female pattern hair loss does not mean that you will suffer a heart attack. As per a research, it has been found out that men who are balding from the vertex region are seventy times more susceptible to cardiac diseases.
One should learn to maintain a healthy lifestyle to have healthy hair which includes healthy hair food like Almonds, milk palak and paneer, one should have atleast 2 litres of water everyday, to maintain a healthy scalp one needs to oil the scalp regularly atleast 2-3 times a week and de-stressing activities like yoga, listening to music and meditation.
In this modern world, like one does a regular body check similarly one has to do a regular Hair check up. You never know what you will discover.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Hard hair wings
When I talk about hard hair I both mean hair that's hard - like squirrel and polar bear - and hair that's hard to tie in on the hook. We all know the problem: not only is squirrel wings hard as #"¤%&/ to place properly on top of the shank, but they also sometimes seem to fall off for nothing. Take an old squirrel hair streamer and pull the wing. It's very likely that it will come off easily. Mine used to do that. And If I didn't pull them, a bit of fishing could do the job. A couple of casts and the wing would come apart.
A little routine
I have come upon a little routine that almost eliminates this problem. It uses a couple of tricks to accomplish two things: keep the bundle of hair neatly together and secure it fairly well on the top of the shank.
The procedure is as follows:
1. Cut a bunch of hair.
2. Remove underfur
3. The bunch should not exceed approx. the double shank diameter when it's hard compressed
4. Stack the hair if needed
5. Trim the hair to a suitable length
* Either trim to excact length leaving nothing to cut afterwards
* Or cut a bit longer than needed and trim afterwards
The first method makes tying in the wing a bit harder, while the second leaves the very hard and dense stumps to cut when finished. Use the methods according to taste and application.
6. Wind the thread to the spot where the wing is to be tied in
7. Spin the thread in a counterclockwise direction giving it a tendency to coil backwards
8. Grab the hair over the point where it will be tied in
9. Hold it a bit above the shank to the back of the hook
10. Pass the thread over the bunch
11. Pass the thread under the bunch but over the hook shank back to your own side
12. Now pass the thread once more over the hairs. The thread coil should keep the thread pressed against your left hand fingers and keep it from 'falling over the edge' of the hair bases
13. You might want to repeat the step above and make one more turn over the hair and over the hook shank as shown
14. Now guide the hair and thread lightly down to the shank while slowly tightning the thread.
15. Hold the hair firmly on your side while pulling the loop tight
16. The hair should now be one tight bundle on top of the shank, pulled slightly towards you
17. Now pass the thread over the hair again and under the hook shank in the normal manner. This should gather the few hairs on your side of the hook shank
18. Take the thread under the shank and tighten on the upwards movement on your own side
19. Spin the thread and flatten it again to remove the coil
20. Make shure that the wing is properly placed and take a couple more tight turns in front of the first. Leave a bit of the hair bases uncovered.
21. Varnish the visible basis of the hairs. Thin cellulose based or flexible varnishes like Dave's Flexament work well.
22. Trim the stubs after the varnish is dry if needed.
A little routine
I have come upon a little routine that almost eliminates this problem. It uses a couple of tricks to accomplish two things: keep the bundle of hair neatly together and secure it fairly well on the top of the shank.
The procedure is as follows:
1. Cut a bunch of hair.
2. Remove underfur
3. The bunch should not exceed approx. the double shank diameter when it's hard compressed
4. Stack the hair if needed
5. Trim the hair to a suitable length
* Either trim to excact length leaving nothing to cut afterwards
* Or cut a bit longer than needed and trim afterwards
The first method makes tying in the wing a bit harder, while the second leaves the very hard and dense stumps to cut when finished. Use the methods according to taste and application.
6. Wind the thread to the spot where the wing is to be tied in
7. Spin the thread in a counterclockwise direction giving it a tendency to coil backwards
8. Grab the hair over the point where it will be tied in
9. Hold it a bit above the shank to the back of the hook
10. Pass the thread over the bunch
11. Pass the thread under the bunch but over the hook shank back to your own side
12. Now pass the thread once more over the hairs. The thread coil should keep the thread pressed against your left hand fingers and keep it from 'falling over the edge' of the hair bases
13. You might want to repeat the step above and make one more turn over the hair and over the hook shank as shown
14. Now guide the hair and thread lightly down to the shank while slowly tightning the thread.
15. Hold the hair firmly on your side while pulling the loop tight
16. The hair should now be one tight bundle on top of the shank, pulled slightly towards you
17. Now pass the thread over the hair again and under the hook shank in the normal manner. This should gather the few hairs on your side of the hook shank
18. Take the thread under the shank and tighten on the upwards movement on your own side
19. Spin the thread and flatten it again to remove the coil
20. Make shure that the wing is properly placed and take a couple more tight turns in front of the first. Leave a bit of the hair bases uncovered.
21. Varnish the visible basis of the hairs. Thin cellulose based or flexible varnishes like Dave's Flexament work well.
22. Trim the stubs after the varnish is dry if needed.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
A Dermatologist Comments on Hair Removal Methods
Question 1: I am a 55-year-old woman with facial hair. Originally, I used depilatories (like Nair), but they irritate my light, sensitive skin. I don't think shaving is practical and I'm concerned that electrolysis would be painful. What do you suggest?
Question 2: I'm tired of shaving my legs. In a previous column, you answered a question about electrolysis. What about laser? Is one better than the other? If I try laser or electrolysis, will the hair just grow back thicker anyway?
Dr. Mitchell answers:
Thick, dark hair above a woman's lip or on her chin can sometimes run in families. However, this nuisance should first be distinguished from abnormal hair growth due to a medical problem like polycystic ovary syndrome or a testosterone-producing tumor. Treating the underlying medical problem, when it exists, will treat the excess facial hair.
If you do indeed have a benign form of hair overgrowth, Dr. Janet Fairley, a Medical College of Wisconsin Professor of Dermatology who practices at the Zablocki VA Medical Center, lists several options: shaving, tweezing, waxing, chemical removal like depilatories, and permanent removal (electrolysis or laser). A prescription cream called Vaniqa (eflornithine) can also chemically inhibit hair growth. Remember that for any product applied to the skin, be it wax, depilatory, or prescription cream, first test the product on a small area to be sure you do not have an allergic reaction or display hypersensitivity and, of course, follow the package directions.
Electrolysis applies electric current to individual hairs and destroys the hair root. However, because sometimes the electrolysis needle isn't on target, you often need several treatment sessions to completely remove all hair in a particular area. If you are using electrolysis for a large area, like your legs, you may require many months of weekly appointments. Dr. Fairley warns that this may become costly.
For a small area like your face, electrolysis may be an option. Make an appointment to discuss what your treatment plan would be. Choose an electrologist wisely to minimize risks of infection and scarring. In Wisconsin, electrologists must be licensed by the state board of cosmetology, but there are no national standards. Look for members of the International Guild of Hair Removal Specialists, the American Electrology Association or the Society for Clinical and Medical Hair Removal.
Dr. Fairley tells me that laser is a more effective way to remove hair from large areas such as the legs. Laser works by killing hair follicles with heat. First a black-colored solution is applied to the legs, and this solution is absorbed by the hair follicles. The laser then targets its heat to the black spots.
But laser is relatively more expensive, and it still isn't perfect. A recent study showed that laser therapy removed about 30% of hair in about two-thirds of people undergoing treatment. So again, multiple visits may be necessary. Most people decide how to treat excess hair based on cost, convenience, and/or a nearby or recommended practitioner.
Dr. Fairley also clears up a myth: no method of hair removal has ever been shown to result in an increase in hair growth. Shaven hairs sometimes appear thicker than hair that has been allowed to grow, and thus, with time, have a weakened shaft and softer ends, but they aren't actually any thicker.
Question 2: I'm tired of shaving my legs. In a previous column, you answered a question about electrolysis. What about laser? Is one better than the other? If I try laser or electrolysis, will the hair just grow back thicker anyway?
Dr. Mitchell answers:
Thick, dark hair above a woman's lip or on her chin can sometimes run in families. However, this nuisance should first be distinguished from abnormal hair growth due to a medical problem like polycystic ovary syndrome or a testosterone-producing tumor. Treating the underlying medical problem, when it exists, will treat the excess facial hair.
If you do indeed have a benign form of hair overgrowth, Dr. Janet Fairley, a Medical College of Wisconsin Professor of Dermatology who practices at the Zablocki VA Medical Center, lists several options: shaving, tweezing, waxing, chemical removal like depilatories, and permanent removal (electrolysis or laser). A prescription cream called Vaniqa (eflornithine) can also chemically inhibit hair growth. Remember that for any product applied to the skin, be it wax, depilatory, or prescription cream, first test the product on a small area to be sure you do not have an allergic reaction or display hypersensitivity and, of course, follow the package directions.
Electrolysis applies electric current to individual hairs and destroys the hair root. However, because sometimes the electrolysis needle isn't on target, you often need several treatment sessions to completely remove all hair in a particular area. If you are using electrolysis for a large area, like your legs, you may require many months of weekly appointments. Dr. Fairley warns that this may become costly.
For a small area like your face, electrolysis may be an option. Make an appointment to discuss what your treatment plan would be. Choose an electrologist wisely to minimize risks of infection and scarring. In Wisconsin, electrologists must be licensed by the state board of cosmetology, but there are no national standards. Look for members of the International Guild of Hair Removal Specialists, the American Electrology Association or the Society for Clinical and Medical Hair Removal.
Dr. Fairley tells me that laser is a more effective way to remove hair from large areas such as the legs. Laser works by killing hair follicles with heat. First a black-colored solution is applied to the legs, and this solution is absorbed by the hair follicles. The laser then targets its heat to the black spots.
But laser is relatively more expensive, and it still isn't perfect. A recent study showed that laser therapy removed about 30% of hair in about two-thirds of people undergoing treatment. So again, multiple visits may be necessary. Most people decide how to treat excess hair based on cost, convenience, and/or a nearby or recommended practitioner.
Dr. Fairley also clears up a myth: no method of hair removal has ever been shown to result in an increase in hair growth. Shaven hairs sometimes appear thicker than hair that has been allowed to grow, and thus, with time, have a weakened shaft and softer ends, but they aren't actually any thicker.
Oral Medications inhibit hair growth
If none of these hair removal methods seem to address your particular problems, ask your doctor about oral medications to inhibit hair growth.
There is a topical cream called Vaniqa, recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the slowing of facial hair growth in women. This cream slows growth, but will not remove the hair.
There is a topical cream called Vaniqa, recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the slowing of facial hair growth in women. This cream slows growth, but will not remove the hair.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Razor to Laser
Hair Removal
Woman's LegsFor many years the beauty industry has been offering a variety of hair removal or depilation treatments, ranging from waxing and sugaring to electrolysis. However, the biggest revolution in the field of depilation came with the introduction of light-based devices, such as laser and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL); designed to effectively and safely target the hair and literally ‘zap’ it away.
Now, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), almost 1.5 million laser hair removal procedures were performed in clinics and salons in the USA in 2006, making it the 3rd most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment behind Botox® and dermal filler injections.
According to sk:n, the UK’s largest chain of specialist laser clinics, nearly 70,000 people were treated with laser hair removal in their clinics in 2004-2005, rising to over 110,000 in the period 2006-2007. Jane Lewis, Development Director for sk:n, notes; “Of the 20,000 clients treated every month at sk:n’s 25 clinics nationwide over 50% have laser hair removal. The male:female split is 60:40 and women aged between 18-50 tend to make up most of the client base.”
“Women tend to be motivated primarily by facial hair and once they’ve seen the results move on to other areas, particularly the underarm and bikini line areas. Men tend to be aged between mid-twenties to mid forties and the most popular treatment areas are backs and chests”; concludes Jane Lewis.
In this month’s feature article we look at the evolution of light and its use for hair removal, some of the new and advanced machines now available and discuss the impact of home use devices now being launched in the UK.
Background on the Use of Light for Hair Removal
The general rule for light based treatments for hair removal is that the hair colour should be darker than the skin colour, due to the absorption of light by the melanin or pigmentation (present in both skin and hair), which acts as the chromophore or target of the light. Treatment is most effective where there is a good contrast between the skin and hair colour, making dark hair on pale skin an ideal candidate and making the treatment of lighter hair colours and darker skin tones somewhat trickier if not contraindicated in some cases due to non-responsiveness and an increased risk or scarring or burns.
The effect of light based hair removal is most obvious during what is known as the ‘anagen’ phase of hair growth. That is when new hairs start to grow. During this period of growth, the hair follicle has increased pigmentation or melanin and growth of new cells that makes it more open to damage from light treatment. Hence, due to this natural growth cycle, treatments with any light based device will be scheduled into several repeat sessions, at frequent time intervals, to catch each individual hair at its optimum growth phase.
The absorption of light by melanin (without absorption of the light by other surrounding tissues such as haemoglobin or blood) is best created with wavelengths or colours of light between 650 – 1200nm, i.e. from red light to infra-red light.
The first light based devices to be used for hair removal were lasers (Light Amplified by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation), and specifically the type of laser known as a Ruby laser (a 694nm wavelength with a deep red light). However, later research proved them to only be safe for use on light skin tones, making them much less popular for hair removal treatments nowadays due to the variety of skin types in this country.
Then came the Alexandrite laser (a 755nm wavelength with near infra red light) which was safer for use on darker skin types than the Ruby laser, and which proved to be very effective, despite the unreliability of early models.
Further developments came along with the Nd:YAG (a 1064nm wavelength with near infra red light) and Pulsed Diode (an 810nm wavelength with near infra red light) lasers which although slower, and often with a smaller treatment zone, had the advantage of being able to safely treat darker skin as well as light to medium tones. These two lasers were subsequently heavily marketed for hair removal treatments in clinics and beauty salons.
In the late 1990s, the LightSheer™ from Lumenis, a pulsed diode laser with an 800nm wavelength became the first laser to receive FDA approval in America for ‘permanent hair reduction’. Since then, many more devices have been approved for this treatment and this ‘qualification’ has proved to be the gold standard in light-based hair removal, as to date no light-based device has been proved to produce ‘permanent hair removal‘, hence device claims are strictly vetted, both in the US and UK.
Following on from lasers came the development of IPL or Intense Pulsed Light technology. Unlike lasers which deliver one single wavelength or colour of light, an IPL device which is based on a flash lamp can produce a wide spectrum of wavelengths which can then be filtered to produce the same wavelengths as the different laser types. This allows the operator to treat a variety of skin types by switching the filters to create the best wavelength type for the skin type that they are treating, although caution is still needed with IPL and very dark skin types due to the risk of hyper- or hypo–pigmentation. IPL devices are also marketed using terms such as broadband light or Light Heat Energy (LHE) which uses a longer pulse of light to create a thermal effect but is still pulsed light.
Most large medical aesthetic clinics offering laser hair removal tend to favour having a multi-device offering including an Alexandrite and Diode laser and an IPL system. This way they are able to target many of the skin and hair types of those who request treatment with the most effective modality.
Many smaller clinics and beauty salons however tend to opt for an Intense Pulsed Light system, primarily due to cost constraints, as a single IPL device still enables them to treat a variety of different patient types safely and relatively effectively.
The increase in the availability of laser/IPL hair removal treatments, primarily due to the increased uptake of IPL devices within the beauty salon trade, has lead to the cost of treatment falling for the consumer due to this increased competition. In fact, according to results from the Guild News magazine’s Beauty Industry Survey, (carried out annually based on a poll of its subscribers), the average price of a laser/IPL hair removal treatment has fallen from £128.88 in 2002 to just £39.10 in 2005; although this has seen a rise again in 2006 to an average of £59.22, demonstrating a drop in the cost of laser/IPL treatments of 46% over 4 years. Good news for the consumer!
“Hair removal has come of age; it is no longer seen as a ‘space-age’ treatment sold as a novelty and based on the perception of the ‘laser’ as a Tomorrow’s World miracle available only to the jet-set. 21st century hair removal is now seen as a scientifically based, clinically demonstrated and publicly accepted solution for the age-old problem of unwanted hair”; comments Paul Stapleton, Managing Director of The Mapperley Park Clinic in Nottingham.
Combining Modalities for Improved Treatment
More recently manufacturers have been combining different light and electrical modalities in an attempt to produce better and longer lasting results for hair removal treatments, along with the ability to treat a wider variety of hair and skin colours, including red, blonde, grey and white hair, which as they do not contain any pigment for the light to target have historically been unresponsive. Additionally the holy grail of pain-free treatment is sought by many device manufacturers.
Syneron mode of actionSuch examples come from Syneron, who have combined both a pulsed diode laser (810nm) and an IPL system (680-980nm) with bi-polar radiofrequency (RF) to produce their eLaser™ and eLight™ systems based on proprietary elos™ (electro-optical synergy) technology. By combining the light source with RF the devices are able to preheat the hair follicle using the light or optical energy, which creates a thermal path for the bi-polar RF to travel along, thus meaning that the RF travels directly to the hair follicle which then cannot further conduct the energy to the surrounding skin etc. This build up of energy in the hair follicle causes it be become terminally disabled and damaged. Unlike with laser where the hair is effectively ‘singed’ away at the root, the RF energy simply disengages the follicle at the root, leaving the hair shaft itself intact which will then shed over time or can indeed be pulled out without resistance.
Although these devices claim to treat white, blonde, grey and red hair they do require multiple passes of the device set at maximum RF energy settings to achieve results, compared to darker hairs. Coarse white, red and grey hairs seem to respond better than fine blonde hair with this device, as the company notes that approximately 3 in 10 patients may not have a reduction on blonde hair, which is normally confirmed after 3 treatment sessions.
At this time there is little in the way of robust theory or clinical evidence to suggest that RF mediated devices are any better than the same device without the RF component.
PPX Photopneumatic Therapy - mechanism of action
PPX Itellitip
PPx™ Photopneumatic Therapy from Aesthera combines IPL (400-800nm) broadband light (“photo”) with pressure (“pneumatic”) modalities in a device which draws the area of skin (and hair) being treated up into the treatment tip to bring the hair follicles closer to the surface of the skin and reduce the blood concentration in the area, before the light energy is applied. This means that the energy applied is concentrated in the target area only thus eliminating the heat spread to surrounding normal tissues. The manufacturers state that by using this combination they are able to use a reduced amount of light energy leading to a gentler and pain-free treatment compared to existing laser/IPL devices.
The downside for clinicians and consumers alike, who will share the cost, is the per-patient disposable treatment tips or Intellitip™, available in various sizes for treating different areas of the face and body.
What’s New in Lasers & IPL?
Despite the relative usefulness of an IPL based device in being able to treat a broad range of skin and hair types, it is still considered to be somewhat of a compromise over a more targeted laser device producing one particular light wavelength; hence manufacturers are now investing more and more in the development of yet more powerful and less painful lasers, along with improving the existing IPL technology to compete with the laser platforms. The Holy Grail as such has yet to be found it seems but here are some of the newest laser and IPL technologies now available to treat unwanted hair.
The Soprano™ XL continuous wave long pulse diode (810nm) laser from Alma Lasers markets itself with the line “virtually painless laser hair removal”, due it says to its revolutionary new delivery method which dramatically changes the way laser hair removal has been performed for the last 15 years. Soprano
The device offers a dual mode application of pulse diode laser energy for hair removal, known as Hair Removal (HR) and Super Hair Removal (SHR) modes. The HR mode offers treatment with the standard technique employed for this type of laser, whereby a single pulse of high fluence (energy) laser light is delivered to target the hair follicles. The SHR mode meanwhile uses a lower fluence, high repetition pulse rate, (10 pulses per second – the fastest on the market) which is applied to the treatment area with the hand piece in motion. It is this new technique, whereby the hand piece is constantly being moved by the operator whilst the laser energy is fired, which results in a more gradual heat build up and a less painful treatment. The in-motion delivery use the chromophores in the surrounding tissue as reservoirs to effectively heat up the hair follicle, along with the heat energy which is actually absorbed in the normal way directly by the hair follicle itself. This combined gradual heating damages the follicle and prevents re-growth, without damaging the epidermis (skin’s surface). Alma Lasers state that the Soprano is safe and effective for all skin and hair types, including tanned skin, which is often noted as a contra-indication for laser hair removal treatment, due to the absorption of heat by the epidermis.
In 1998, Deka was the first company to launch a long pulse (LP) Nd: YAG (1064nm) laser device for hair removal. Now in 2007, they have launched a new multi-laser/IPL platform called the Synchro HP which offers the same LP Nd:YAG but uniquely with a spot (or treatment area) size of up to 20mm – the largest on the market today – which allows for much quicker treatment times. The manufacturers state that this laser is ideal for treating all skin types, especially darker tones, and also claims to treat all hair colours, except white.
iPulse i300 unitClaiming to be a major breakthrough in Intense Pulsed Light technology is the iPulse™ (530 – 1200nm) from Cyden Ltd. This is due it says to a unique and patented way of delivering the micro-pulses of light, known as the ‘square pulse’, which produces an effective clinical performance but with a lower energy requirement, leading to a lower running cost for clinics and less painful treatments for consumers.
In conventional IPL devices, the electric current surges through the flash lamp in a wave and the wavelengths of light vary during this pulse. At its peak, the energy is too high and produces more blue light that must be filtered out. Much of the energy is therefore lost so to be effective treatments are carried out at wastefully high energy levels that can be uncomfortable, as well as costly. iPulse technology solves this problem with unique circuitry that creates a constant input current of energy to the lamp generating a constant wavelength of light, in a ‘square pulse’, meaning that effective treatment can be carried out at lower energy levels (which also means that it requires less contact cooling than other IPL devices) and without the need for additional filters for the device for treating different skin types. Additionally, the iPulse device used multiple lamps which allow it to have a large spot or treatment size leading to much quicker treatment times, especially for large areas. For clinicians this technology also means that the device is much smaller thus taking up less room within a clinic.
Home Use Lasers
In December 2006, Palomar Medical Technologies announced that it had become the first company to receive US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval for an over-the-counter, home use, light-based hair removal device, allowing the device to be sold directly to consumers in the United States upon launch. The device, registered with the FDA as the ‘ABC Hair Removal System’ is composed of a base unit, umbilical cord, hand piece, chiller system with chiller coolant, cleaning wipes, ABC lubricant, power supply and safety components. It is rumoured to be a diode laser which will cost in the region of $1,200 (approx. £600) and is being developed by Palomar and commercialised in conjunction with The Gillette Company, already famous as the leading manufacturer of razors. So far, no device has actually been launched but is anticipated sometime in 2008.
Tria - at home laser hair removalIn 2003, a team of American dermatologists, engineers, and executives, who were previously behind the development of the Lumenis diode laser LightSheer™ back in the early 1990s, went on to found SpectraGenics. They then began the development of its flagship diode laser device for home use, TRIA™, which was subsequently launched in the UK in early 2007.
The device which is compact, hand-held and rechargeable offers 3 settings (high, medium and low) for the level of energy delivered, which can be chosen by the user based on their own comfort levels, although the higher setting is likely to produce the better results. There is no requirement for gels or chilling components.
So far TRIA™ is only available in the European countries of Italy, Spain and the UK, plus in Japan where it has sold over 12,000 units in the last year under the brand name i-epi™. The company report that product acceptance in both Asia and Europe has been positive to date and they plan to commercialise the product in the USA soon.
A recent clinical trial showed that the device was not only safe and effective for home use, but that users experienced both excellent short-term, single-treatment hair removal and excellent sustained hair removal with periodic treatments. The only observed side effect was mild-to-moderate redness, which typically resolved in less than 30 minutes, and slight pain during treatment.
The TRIA™ currently retails in the UK for £695.00. Although, when The Consulting Room™ recently conducted a small online poll of 75 people and asked them how much they would be prepared to spend on an at-home laser hair removal device, we noted that the majority, 40%, were only prepared to invest less than £100, with 29% prepared to go up to £250, and 23% up to £550, with few willing to pay above that price. It seems that the public will still need some convincing as to the long-term cost savings available with this device. However, Spectragenics claims that based on national averages, a woman can expect to spend between £1,500 and £4,500 for hair-free underarms, bikini line, upper lip and chin over the next ten years, making the TRIA™ a cost effective solution to unwanted hair. TRIA™ can also be effectively sold by clinics to patients as a method of managing unwanted strands of re-growth following a hair removal treatment course.
Body Hair Removal
Body Hair Removal is a personal choice made by both male and female. There is no right or wrong area for wanting to rid yourself of un-wanted hair rather, it is a matter of where you would like to stop the hair from growing which can be practically anywhere on the body from the top of your toes, legs, fingers, groin or pelvic area, face to on top of your head!
To start, there are many Laser Hair Removal treatment guidelines. The most important of these guidelines is determining the type of skin you have as well as the type of hair. In doing this you will have more awareness of what to look for in shopping for a clinic and what your price range will be. A practical way in which you can establish your settings for the Body Laser Hair Removal process is by searching online to find a clinic of interest and filling out the online evaluation form which will provide feedback from a laser specialist given the information you have entered. For example, if you are light skinned and have relatively dark hair and you explain what part of the body you would like treatment; our specialist will know what category you fall in (type I, II or III) and have the ability to better choose the right laser machine specifically for you. There are a series of questions you will respond to concerning your nationality/race, if you tan or burn easily and what your hair color is.
These common questions fit into a scale known as the “Fitzpatrick Phototype” which is broken down into type I, type II type III, type IV, Type V and type VI. Types I- III are most likely going to achieve the best results since they are fair skin and dark hair. Melanin needs to be absorbed by the laser in the hair follicle where there is pigmentation (melanin). Worst results occur when types V –VI are candidates with black skin and/or gray hair in which case the laser cannot depict the melanin in the hair’s root since the pigment of the skin also carries melanin which distracts the laser light and gray hair is so light it will not indicate any traces of melanin. However, do not be discouraged if you are darker toned, there is a machine known as the yag that may be able to work fairly on this skin type.
To start, there are many Laser Hair Removal treatment guidelines. The most important of these guidelines is determining the type of skin you have as well as the type of hair. In doing this you will have more awareness of what to look for in shopping for a clinic and what your price range will be. A practical way in which you can establish your settings for the Body Laser Hair Removal process is by searching online to find a clinic of interest and filling out the online evaluation form which will provide feedback from a laser specialist given the information you have entered. For example, if you are light skinned and have relatively dark hair and you explain what part of the body you would like treatment; our specialist will know what category you fall in (type I, II or III) and have the ability to better choose the right laser machine specifically for you. There are a series of questions you will respond to concerning your nationality/race, if you tan or burn easily and what your hair color is.
These common questions fit into a scale known as the “Fitzpatrick Phototype” which is broken down into type I, type II type III, type IV, Type V and type VI. Types I- III are most likely going to achieve the best results since they are fair skin and dark hair. Melanin needs to be absorbed by the laser in the hair follicle where there is pigmentation (melanin). Worst results occur when types V –VI are candidates with black skin and/or gray hair in which case the laser cannot depict the melanin in the hair’s root since the pigment of the skin also carries melanin which distracts the laser light and gray hair is so light it will not indicate any traces of melanin. However, do not be discouraged if you are darker toned, there is a machine known as the yag that may be able to work fairly on this skin type.
Facial Hair Removal
Facial Hair Removal is a universal procedure for men and women equally. For some women, facial hair can be seen on the surface as very thick and dark hair. Sometimes this is hereditary; it can however be a hormonal or a distinct cultural representation and for many it is embarrassing. Men also have facial hair which is mostly common, but can be demanding and at times painful to maintain with methods such as shaving and/or waxing. All points lead to ridding the face of unwanted hair. Laser is a popular way in which one can achieve this desire in a short, safe and very effective way.
Generally, laser treatment can be applied to all parts of the body excluding the eyelashes and for some clinics, the brow area. Rather than putting your skin through a tremendous amount of ‘guinea pig’ work using harsh methods like waxing, tweezing, bleaching or shaving and resulting in a denser re- growth of hair, painful irritations and damaging the skin in some cases, why not be good to your skin and consider laser facial hair removal?
The effects are profound for removing the unwanted hair. Side effects may involve something comparable of a mild sun burn which takes very little time to subside. The most fashionable areas for treatment on the face are: the chin and upper lip. Although these are common areas, the brows, forehead, sideburns, jaw line and space in- between the brows also referred to as the glabella are other treatable locations. We, as laser specialists are aware of your personal needs such as confidentiality and do what we can to ensure your privacy as well as address any concerns you may have before beginning a procedure. As a patient, you will be guided through the process and we will share in the joy of your life changing appearance as you find your skin to be smooth and more defined. Each individual consultation will include the safest and most effective FDA approved machine to use with regard to your own personal needs.
Generally, laser treatment can be applied to all parts of the body excluding the eyelashes and for some clinics, the brow area. Rather than putting your skin through a tremendous amount of ‘guinea pig’ work using harsh methods like waxing, tweezing, bleaching or shaving and resulting in a denser re- growth of hair, painful irritations and damaging the skin in some cases, why not be good to your skin and consider laser facial hair removal?
The effects are profound for removing the unwanted hair. Side effects may involve something comparable of a mild sun burn which takes very little time to subside. The most fashionable areas for treatment on the face are: the chin and upper lip. Although these are common areas, the brows, forehead, sideburns, jaw line and space in- between the brows also referred to as the glabella are other treatable locations. We, as laser specialists are aware of your personal needs such as confidentiality and do what we can to ensure your privacy as well as address any concerns you may have before beginning a procedure. As a patient, you will be guided through the process and we will share in the joy of your life changing appearance as you find your skin to be smooth and more defined. Each individual consultation will include the safest and most effective FDA approved machine to use with regard to your own personal needs.
Pubic Hair Removal
Pubic Hair Removal is a new trend which has superseded its taboo. Many women and men are enjoying the freedom of removing unwanted hair in this private area. Pubic hairs are generally thicker, coarser hairs which can be unmanageable for some or simply undesired for others. Today, there is a new procedure known for making shaving, sugaring or waxing a thing of the past. This new and highly favored procedure is known as Laser Hair Removal! Pubic Laser Hair Removal is safe and virtually painless.
The procedure is done with a laser machine which has undergone tremendous research in finding an effective, secure ray of light to be used in firing or “pulsing” through a piece of glass attached to a comfortable hand piece onto the skin’s surface for a quick and easy method in removing unwanted hair from just about anywhere on the body. With that said, there are many who want to liberate themselves and have fun with decorating this area for their significant other. Laser is the way to go! Razors are time consuming and can leave irritated bumps, cuts and itchiness from the hair re- growth. Lasers work to give whatever effect you want such as the full or partial “Brazilian” for both men and women which is far less painful that a “Brazilian” wax, the “landing strip”, bikini line (a popular procedure) and the infamous heart shape.
Some may wonder why you would want to spend forty or up to fifteen hundred dollars on a procedure just to remove hair? The answer is really quite simple; laser has long-term results and gives a spotless look. In the event of sensitivity in working with the laser in this area, there are creams and anesthetics recommended by treatment centers to apply to the skin for reducing any sensations during the procedure. Side effects to this area are the same as any treated area consisting of redness and sensitivity for a couple minutes to hours or possibly a few days depending upon your skin type.
There is no reason to feel humiliated or embarrassed, some men may experience an erection and both men and women may have uncontrolled gas, which is something your laser professional is aware of. In some locations, clinics do not offer or perform this type of hair removal procedure. Therefore, you should inquire about it before setting up your first scheduled visit.
The procedure is done with a laser machine which has undergone tremendous research in finding an effective, secure ray of light to be used in firing or “pulsing” through a piece of glass attached to a comfortable hand piece onto the skin’s surface for a quick and easy method in removing unwanted hair from just about anywhere on the body. With that said, there are many who want to liberate themselves and have fun with decorating this area for their significant other. Laser is the way to go! Razors are time consuming and can leave irritated bumps, cuts and itchiness from the hair re- growth. Lasers work to give whatever effect you want such as the full or partial “Brazilian” for both men and women which is far less painful that a “Brazilian” wax, the “landing strip”, bikini line (a popular procedure) and the infamous heart shape.
Some may wonder why you would want to spend forty or up to fifteen hundred dollars on a procedure just to remove hair? The answer is really quite simple; laser has long-term results and gives a spotless look. In the event of sensitivity in working with the laser in this area, there are creams and anesthetics recommended by treatment centers to apply to the skin for reducing any sensations during the procedure. Side effects to this area are the same as any treated area consisting of redness and sensitivity for a couple minutes to hours or possibly a few days depending upon your skin type.
There is no reason to feel humiliated or embarrassed, some men may experience an erection and both men and women may have uncontrolled gas, which is something your laser professional is aware of. In some locations, clinics do not offer or perform this type of hair removal procedure. Therefore, you should inquire about it before setting up your first scheduled visit.
Permanent Hair Removal
Hair Removal has been an ongoing pandemic for centuries. There have been many techniques in ridding the body of un wanted hairs in areas such as the brows, armpits, bikini area, and face just to name a few. Men and women have been fighting this battle using repeated methods encompassing threading, waxing, plucking, shaving and a popular procedure referred to as electrolysis. Most of these sources for abolishing hair are very time consuming and becoming outdated. A new clinical advance on the market has emerged the Laser beam. In many developing studies, research shows laser light to be secure and valuable in treating persons with removing un-wanted hair from the body.
To better understand Hair Removal we must first recognize the basics of hair. Hair comes to us in different types known as vellus and terminal. Vellus hair is consistent mainly on women working to manage the body’s insulation and assisting in the regulation of a steady body temperature. These hairs are commonly fine, short and soft. In addition, vellus can be seen on the chest, face and back. Second, terminal hair is much coarser, darker and longer generally located on the top of your head, armpits as well as in the pubic area. Terminal hair serves as a protective cushioning in these regions mentioned along with growth on the chest, legs and back. For some, man or woman can experience an extreme hair spurt referred to as hirsutism and may in fact be the result in a medical condition. Certain medications such as steroids will also play a role in this condition creating a hormonal disorder making way for a surge of hair to grow in an unwanted area. Fortunately, there are methods in which this problem can be treated securing a more confident self. Hirsutism does not have to be the only reason for utilizing hair removal. One can simply prefer to in no way desire to be bothered with hair on the surface electing toward a hair and hassle free life. Hair Removal is an exceedingly widespread theory many are finding to be beneficial towards enhancing their physical appearance creating a healthier emotional balance between the mind and body.
To better understand Hair Removal we must first recognize the basics of hair. Hair comes to us in different types known as vellus and terminal. Vellus hair is consistent mainly on women working to manage the body’s insulation and assisting in the regulation of a steady body temperature. These hairs are commonly fine, short and soft. In addition, vellus can be seen on the chest, face and back. Second, terminal hair is much coarser, darker and longer generally located on the top of your head, armpits as well as in the pubic area. Terminal hair serves as a protective cushioning in these regions mentioned along with growth on the chest, legs and back. For some, man or woman can experience an extreme hair spurt referred to as hirsutism and may in fact be the result in a medical condition. Certain medications such as steroids will also play a role in this condition creating a hormonal disorder making way for a surge of hair to grow in an unwanted area. Fortunately, there are methods in which this problem can be treated securing a more confident self. Hirsutism does not have to be the only reason for utilizing hair removal. One can simply prefer to in no way desire to be bothered with hair on the surface electing toward a hair and hassle free life. Hair Removal is an exceedingly widespread theory many are finding to be beneficial towards enhancing their physical appearance creating a healthier emotional balance between the mind and body.
Before The Treatment
Try to avoid sun exposure. Hair can be more aggressively treated without a fresh tan. Having hair is essential to having a successful treatment. You can not wax, tweeze, thread or have electrolysis for 4 weeks before a treatment. The best way to manage hair before is to shave, trim, bleach or use cream depilatories. The day of your treatment the hair will need to have been freshly shaved. If you suffer from coldsores often and are having your mouth area treated you will need to get a prescription for Acyclovir or Zovarix and take as directed by your technician. Usually it is 2 days before and 3 days after the treatment. Purchase either Aloe, vitamin E gel or sunburn creams and keep them in your fridge ready to go for after your treatment.
Hair Removal in Ancient History
The pursuit of a hair-free body may be as old as the cavemen. Archaeologists have evidence that men shaved their faces as far back as twenty thousand years ago, using sharpened rocks and shells to scrape off hair. The Sumerians removed hair with tweezers. Ancient Arabians used string. Egyptians, including Cleopatra, also did it -- some with bronze razors they took to their tombs, some with sugar and others with beeswax. The Greeks, who equated smooth with civilized, did it, too. Roman men shaved their faces until Emperor Hadrian -- although Julius Caesar is said to have had his facial hairs plucked. Roman ladies also plucked their eyebrows with tweezers. Another primitive method of hair removal, actually used by women as late as the 1940s, involved rubbing off the hair by rubbing skin with abrasive mitts or discs the consistency of fine sandpaper.
As an alternative, there were lotion and cream depilatories (from the Latin d_pil_re: d_-, completely + pil_re, deprive of hair), which dissolved--and still do--hair above the surface of the skin. (It should be noted here that while the term depilatory has seemingly meant cream and lotion forms of hair removal, by definition it technically includes wax and sugar, as well.) Early depilatories were made from such choice ingredients as resin, pitch, white vine or ivy gum extracts, ass's fat, she-goat's gall, bat's blood and powdered viper. Evidence of depilatory use dates as far back as 4000-3000 B.C., when women used a depilatory ("rhusma turcorum") containing orpiment (natural arsenic trisulphide), quicklime (used to make cement) and starch made into a paste. Clearly, throughout history there have been drastic lengths to which people would go to eliminate body hair.
The Middle East
Among the ancient Egyptians, a clean-shaven face was a symbol of status. According to Herodotus, 'Egyptians are shaven at other times, but after a death they let their hair and beard grow.' They used depilatory creams, razors and pumice stones for this purpose. Both sexes shaved themselves bald and wore elaborate wigs. The practice of removing hair was not limited to the face and head. Egyptian women beeswaxed their legs. They also used depilatories made of starch, arsenic and quicklime.
This obsession with hairlessness probably had as much to do with hygiene as with ideals of beauty and fashion. The hot Middle Eastern climate encouraged germs and diseases to breed, and the removal of all body hair was a preventive measure against infection.
No doubt Middle Easterners used a hair removal process called body sugaring, involving the application of a natural, sugar-based paste (usually sugar, lemon and other natural ingredients cooked to the consistency of soft taffy) that was either rubbed or pulled off in the opposite direction of hair growth. The high sugar content inhibited bacterial growth in the region's hot environs. The method reputedly was born out of a Middle Eastern bridal ritual. The night before a wedding, Lebanese, Palestinian, Turkish and Egyptian brides had all body hair, except eyebrows and the hair on their heads, removed by the bridal party. According to lore, the bride maintained her hairless body throughout her marriage as a symbol of cleanliness and respect for her husband.
Not all eyebrows were left intact. Art and artifacts indicate that the Mesopotamians trimmed superfluous hair from their brows with tweezers. During the excavation of Ur, capital city of the Chaldeans, tweezers were found in a tomb dating back to about 3500 BC.
The hair removal process we call threading, comes from Arabia, where women laced cotton string through their fingers and ran it briskly over their legs to encircle and pull out the hair.
The Near East
In the Indus River Valley of Pakistan, hygiene was a religious imperative for the ancient Hindus. In ancient India, chest and pubic hair was shaved, and the chin and upper lip hair was shaved every fourth day.
Europe
An absence of body hair has been a European ideal since the Greeks and Romans. In Roman times, the first shave of a youth came to be regarded as the arrival of masculine adulthood and was offered as a token to his favorite god.
During the Middle Ages, upper class European women wanted to be pale. A 13th century French verse lists some of the requirements of a lady's toilette supplied by a traveling merchant; among the things are "razors and forceps."
The puritan element in the medieval church prevented most Englishwomen from using cosmetics. The Church believed that the use of cosmetics tampered with man's--and, therefore, God's--image. Indeed, in The Romaunt of the Rose, Chaucer personifies 'Beautee' as a woman who uses no 'peynte' and who leaves her brows unplucked.
Anglo Saxons did eventually use tweezers for plucking superfluous hairs from eyebrows and other body parts. By the mid-15th century, it was fashionable to have plucked eyebrows and a very high, shaved forehead.
High foreheads continued to be the fashion through Elizabethan times. If a woman didn't have a high forehead, she plucked her front hair to get one. It is said that mothers often used walnut oil on their children's foreheads in hopes of preventing hair growth. They also used bandages impregnated with vinegar and cat's dung.
It is also said that the Duke of Newcastle paid 40 pounds to have his wife's facial hair permanently removed, yet in a letter dated 1755, Horace Walpole refers to the Duke's retirement, saying that he can now 'let his beard grow as long as his Duchess's.'
There were many alternative methods of hair removal, ranging from pulverized egg shells to a mixture of cat's dung and vinegar. In the early 18th century (1700-1737) Lemery's Curiosa Arcana, published in 1711, gives a recipe for the complexion: To remove hair, one was instructed to 'Take the shells of 52 eggs, beat them small and distill them with a good fire.' Then, with the water, 'Anoint yourself where you would have the Hair off.' For ladies with more cats than chickens, Lemery recommended beating 'hard, dry Cats-dung...to a powder' and tempering it with strong vinegar for the same effect. Other homemade depilatories contained quick-lime.
It wasn't until the 18th century that the first instrument specifically designed as a safety razor appeared. Invented in 1762 by a French barber, Jean Jacques Perret, it employed a metal guard placed along one edge of the blade to prevent the blade from accidentally slicing into the shaver's skin.
North America
Native Americans tweezed their whiskers, hair by hair, between halves of a clam shell, and circa 1700 American women applied poultices of caustic lye to burn away hair.
There is evidence of the marketing of powdered depilatories in the United States by 1844. Writing about New York City in that year, Lydia Maria Child cited the case of the advertisements of a Dr. Gouraud, the maker of a depilatory powder, who promoted his product by linking it to the Queen of Sheba. Gouraud's ad claimed that Solomon, the Queen's famed paramour, invented a highly beautifying powder the secret of which died with Solomon until it was rediscovered by Dr. Gouraud, whose 'Poudre Subtile will effectually remove every appearance of beard from the lips.'
South America
Waxing has always been a rite of passage for Brazilian women, who used to use secretions from the Coco de Mono tree to remove hair. Today, mothers introduce their daughters at age 15 to the "aesthetic clinics" that do depilacao, using the cold wax method. Depiladoras (literally, wax women) even make house calls.
As an alternative, there were lotion and cream depilatories (from the Latin d_pil_re: d_-, completely + pil_re, deprive of hair), which dissolved--and still do--hair above the surface of the skin. (It should be noted here that while the term depilatory has seemingly meant cream and lotion forms of hair removal, by definition it technically includes wax and sugar, as well.) Early depilatories were made from such choice ingredients as resin, pitch, white vine or ivy gum extracts, ass's fat, she-goat's gall, bat's blood and powdered viper. Evidence of depilatory use dates as far back as 4000-3000 B.C., when women used a depilatory ("rhusma turcorum") containing orpiment (natural arsenic trisulphide), quicklime (used to make cement) and starch made into a paste. Clearly, throughout history there have been drastic lengths to which people would go to eliminate body hair.
The Middle East
Among the ancient Egyptians, a clean-shaven face was a symbol of status. According to Herodotus, 'Egyptians are shaven at other times, but after a death they let their hair and beard grow.' They used depilatory creams, razors and pumice stones for this purpose. Both sexes shaved themselves bald and wore elaborate wigs. The practice of removing hair was not limited to the face and head. Egyptian women beeswaxed their legs. They also used depilatories made of starch, arsenic and quicklime.
This obsession with hairlessness probably had as much to do with hygiene as with ideals of beauty and fashion. The hot Middle Eastern climate encouraged germs and diseases to breed, and the removal of all body hair was a preventive measure against infection.
No doubt Middle Easterners used a hair removal process called body sugaring, involving the application of a natural, sugar-based paste (usually sugar, lemon and other natural ingredients cooked to the consistency of soft taffy) that was either rubbed or pulled off in the opposite direction of hair growth. The high sugar content inhibited bacterial growth in the region's hot environs. The method reputedly was born out of a Middle Eastern bridal ritual. The night before a wedding, Lebanese, Palestinian, Turkish and Egyptian brides had all body hair, except eyebrows and the hair on their heads, removed by the bridal party. According to lore, the bride maintained her hairless body throughout her marriage as a symbol of cleanliness and respect for her husband.
Not all eyebrows were left intact. Art and artifacts indicate that the Mesopotamians trimmed superfluous hair from their brows with tweezers. During the excavation of Ur, capital city of the Chaldeans, tweezers were found in a tomb dating back to about 3500 BC.
The hair removal process we call threading, comes from Arabia, where women laced cotton string through their fingers and ran it briskly over their legs to encircle and pull out the hair.
The Near East
In the Indus River Valley of Pakistan, hygiene was a religious imperative for the ancient Hindus. In ancient India, chest and pubic hair was shaved, and the chin and upper lip hair was shaved every fourth day.
Europe
An absence of body hair has been a European ideal since the Greeks and Romans. In Roman times, the first shave of a youth came to be regarded as the arrival of masculine adulthood and was offered as a token to his favorite god.
During the Middle Ages, upper class European women wanted to be pale. A 13th century French verse lists some of the requirements of a lady's toilette supplied by a traveling merchant; among the things are "razors and forceps."
The puritan element in the medieval church prevented most Englishwomen from using cosmetics. The Church believed that the use of cosmetics tampered with man's--and, therefore, God's--image. Indeed, in The Romaunt of the Rose, Chaucer personifies 'Beautee' as a woman who uses no 'peynte' and who leaves her brows unplucked.
Anglo Saxons did eventually use tweezers for plucking superfluous hairs from eyebrows and other body parts. By the mid-15th century, it was fashionable to have plucked eyebrows and a very high, shaved forehead.
High foreheads continued to be the fashion through Elizabethan times. If a woman didn't have a high forehead, she plucked her front hair to get one. It is said that mothers often used walnut oil on their children's foreheads in hopes of preventing hair growth. They also used bandages impregnated with vinegar and cat's dung.
It is also said that the Duke of Newcastle paid 40 pounds to have his wife's facial hair permanently removed, yet in a letter dated 1755, Horace Walpole refers to the Duke's retirement, saying that he can now 'let his beard grow as long as his Duchess's.'
There were many alternative methods of hair removal, ranging from pulverized egg shells to a mixture of cat's dung and vinegar. In the early 18th century (1700-1737) Lemery's Curiosa Arcana, published in 1711, gives a recipe for the complexion: To remove hair, one was instructed to 'Take the shells of 52 eggs, beat them small and distill them with a good fire.' Then, with the water, 'Anoint yourself where you would have the Hair off.' For ladies with more cats than chickens, Lemery recommended beating 'hard, dry Cats-dung...to a powder' and tempering it with strong vinegar for the same effect. Other homemade depilatories contained quick-lime.
It wasn't until the 18th century that the first instrument specifically designed as a safety razor appeared. Invented in 1762 by a French barber, Jean Jacques Perret, it employed a metal guard placed along one edge of the blade to prevent the blade from accidentally slicing into the shaver's skin.
North America
Native Americans tweezed their whiskers, hair by hair, between halves of a clam shell, and circa 1700 American women applied poultices of caustic lye to burn away hair.
There is evidence of the marketing of powdered depilatories in the United States by 1844. Writing about New York City in that year, Lydia Maria Child cited the case of the advertisements of a Dr. Gouraud, the maker of a depilatory powder, who promoted his product by linking it to the Queen of Sheba. Gouraud's ad claimed that Solomon, the Queen's famed paramour, invented a highly beautifying powder the secret of which died with Solomon until it was rediscovered by Dr. Gouraud, whose 'Poudre Subtile will effectually remove every appearance of beard from the lips.'
South America
Waxing has always been a rite of passage for Brazilian women, who used to use secretions from the Coco de Mono tree to remove hair. Today, mothers introduce their daughters at age 15 to the "aesthetic clinics" that do depilacao, using the cold wax method. Depiladoras (literally, wax women) even make house calls.
Q&A
Is it effective?
Yes, the technology is backed by world wide clinical research studies with proven results.
The most effective results have been achieved on fair skin and darker hair. It is not suitable for black or sun tanned skin. The treatment is also unlikely to work for blond or grey hair.
How many treatments are needed?
Laser only destroys hairs when they are in the growth phase. At any one moment 20% of hairs are resting or dormant. Repeated sessions will treat these hairs when they re-enter the growth phase. Generally all areas will require at least six to eight treatments.
This depends on many factors including your skin and hair type, ethnic background, hormonal balance and skin sensitivity. It is not possible to categorically state how many treatments an individual will need, however this will be discussed at your consultation.
What parts of the body can be treated?
Laser can treat all external areas of the body and face.
What does a treatment involve?
A cool gel is applied to the area to be treated. The Laser handpiece is placed gently against the skin and pulses of intense light are delivered into the hairs. At the time of the treatment some of the hairs are wiped off, however it can take up to two weeks for all the treated hairs to fall out.
Yes, the technology is backed by world wide clinical research studies with proven results.
The most effective results have been achieved on fair skin and darker hair. It is not suitable for black or sun tanned skin. The treatment is also unlikely to work for blond or grey hair.
How many treatments are needed?
Laser only destroys hairs when they are in the growth phase. At any one moment 20% of hairs are resting or dormant. Repeated sessions will treat these hairs when they re-enter the growth phase. Generally all areas will require at least six to eight treatments.
This depends on many factors including your skin and hair type, ethnic background, hormonal balance and skin sensitivity. It is not possible to categorically state how many treatments an individual will need, however this will be discussed at your consultation.
What parts of the body can be treated?
Laser can treat all external areas of the body and face.
What does a treatment involve?
A cool gel is applied to the area to be treated. The Laser handpiece is placed gently against the skin and pulses of intense light are delivered into the hairs. At the time of the treatment some of the hairs are wiped off, however it can take up to two weeks for all the treated hairs to fall out.
Hair Removal Warning!
Any and all treatments for hair removal are contraindicated after any facial peel or laser procedure. It can take six to eight weeks for the skin to completely heal after a peel. Any trauma to the skin during the recovery period can cause discoloration or even scarring.
Hair removal is also extremely problematic if you are using AHAs, BHA, topical retinoids, azelaic acid, or taking Accutane. These treatments can make skin more susceptible to tears, wounds, and irritation. This can all prove damaging and uncomfortable.
Hair removal is also extremely problematic if you are using AHAs, BHA, topical retinoids, azelaic acid, or taking Accutane. These treatments can make skin more susceptible to tears, wounds, and irritation. This can all prove damaging and uncomfortable.
Home Electrolysis
Technically, these devices work the same way as those for professional usage do (they also carry the same health risks). However, the risks for the home machines are not very great because the voltage is fairly low, which means they also aren't as effective. We've all seen the machines you can buy via mail order (for about $100) that claim to remove hair painlessly and permanently. The chances of operating these devices successfully are at best slim. You would probably end up just tweezing instead of zapping the hair because getting the device to work right is extremely tricky. Given the time it takes for a hair to grow back, it could take months before you knew if it was really working (Source: FDA Consumer magazine, September 1996).
Perhaps the most advertised at-home product is IGIA's Hair Removal System ($119). It is supposed to be a "painless home electrolysis system that helps keep hair from growing back! Unlike common [tweezing] and depilatory devices that can cause skin irritation, this system uses mild radio frequency pulses that is absolutely safe and is delivered through the tweezers to remove hair without touching the skin." Well that much is true. This overpriced machine delivers low-voltage radio waves through the hair shaft. Does that kill a hair follicle? There is no research indicating that these machines do anything but tweeze the hair. The low voltage makes these machines extremely low risk, but also ineffective. Still, in comparison to the other IGIA products, this one is the safest in the bunch.
Perhaps the most advertised at-home product is IGIA's Hair Removal System ($119). It is supposed to be a "painless home electrolysis system that helps keep hair from growing back! Unlike common [tweezing] and depilatory devices that can cause skin irritation, this system uses mild radio frequency pulses that is absolutely safe and is delivered through the tweezers to remove hair without touching the skin." Well that much is true. This overpriced machine delivers low-voltage radio waves through the hair shaft. Does that kill a hair follicle? There is no research indicating that these machines do anything but tweeze the hair. The low voltage makes these machines extremely low risk, but also ineffective. Still, in comparison to the other IGIA products, this one is the safest in the bunch.
Sugar Forms of Waxing
The best known "sugaring" method of hair removal is Nad's Gel Hair Removal ($29.95 for one kit). What makes this different is that it literally uses sugar instead of wax. Having a thick, caramel-like consistency, it works exactly like waxing, but instead of spreading a wax substance over the skin, you're spreading caramel.
This is one of the first products I've ever run into where the claim of being 100% natural and organic is 100% true. Nad's ingredients are honey, molasses, fructose, vinegar, lemon juice, water, alcohol, and food dye. Now that's what I call natural. But does that make it better than waxing, as the company claims? As far as hair removal is concerned the effect is identical. You spread Nad's gel over the hair you want removed, then you rip it off and out comes the hair.
Sugaring has two things going for it. First, sugaring's mess washes away while wax has to be peeled or scratched off. Second, sugar doesn't have to be heated while wax often does, and that is much less damaging to skin! Easy cleanup and a relatively easier application are the benefits of sugaring.
But before you jump on the sugaring bandwagon, you should know a few details about some of the untrue claims that accompany Nad's. Nad's states, "when you use Nad's, the hair is extracted, including the roots so re-growth is softer, finer and slower." That isn't true. Hormones and genetics determine hair growth and hair thickness. Anytime you pull hair out it is removed closer to the root so the new hair takes longer to grow back to the surface.
Nad's also claims sugaring will prevent ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs occur because a hair that has been removed sometimes has trouble finding its way back to the surface. That applies to hair removal in general, regardless of whether you shave, tweeze, sugar, or wax.
Another claim: "Because of the natural substances in Nad's, there is little chance of irritation." Natural or not, ripping out hair hurts, and for some skin types that can be a problem.
This is one of the first products I've ever run into where the claim of being 100% natural and organic is 100% true. Nad's ingredients are honey, molasses, fructose, vinegar, lemon juice, water, alcohol, and food dye. Now that's what I call natural. But does that make it better than waxing, as the company claims? As far as hair removal is concerned the effect is identical. You spread Nad's gel over the hair you want removed, then you rip it off and out comes the hair.
Sugaring has two things going for it. First, sugaring's mess washes away while wax has to be peeled or scratched off. Second, sugar doesn't have to be heated while wax often does, and that is much less damaging to skin! Easy cleanup and a relatively easier application are the benefits of sugaring.
But before you jump on the sugaring bandwagon, you should know a few details about some of the untrue claims that accompany Nad's. Nad's states, "when you use Nad's, the hair is extracted, including the roots so re-growth is softer, finer and slower." That isn't true. Hormones and genetics determine hair growth and hair thickness. Anytime you pull hair out it is removed closer to the root so the new hair takes longer to grow back to the surface.
Nad's also claims sugaring will prevent ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs occur because a hair that has been removed sometimes has trouble finding its way back to the surface. That applies to hair removal in general, regardless of whether you shave, tweeze, sugar, or wax.
Another claim: "Because of the natural substances in Nad's, there is little chance of irritation." Natural or not, ripping out hair hurts, and for some skin types that can be a problem.
Is it Painful?
In one pulse, the GentleLase laser removes all the hair on a patch of skin the size of a nickel. The pulse, lasting only millionths of a second, is no more painful than plucking a single hair. It is important to choose only the highest quality laser treatment system. The GentleLase system uses a precise frequency of light that is finely tuned and optimized to effect only the hair shaft and root. The tissue surrounding the follicle is not irritated by the laser. The GentleLase system is manufactured to provide the highest degree of accuracy available to maintain the precise frequency of light beam to remove the entire hair root without heating the surrounding skin. Other models of laser hair removal systems, some more expensive than GentleLase, do not maintain the same level of precision. Even the smallest variations in frequency or duration of the pulse cause irritation to the skin and possible complications.
As an additional design benefit, the GentleLase system combines a pulse of cooling spray that dissipates the small level of heat generated by the laser. This makes GentleLase the most effective and most pleasant technique available for hair removal.
You will see and feel the real benefits to the GentleLase technique after the treatment. Unlike tweezers, chemicals or needles, no irritation occurs after the treatment. The skin is left smooth and silky with minimal side effects.
As an additional design benefit, the GentleLase system combines a pulse of cooling spray that dissipates the small level of heat generated by the laser. This makes GentleLase the most effective and most pleasant technique available for hair removal.
You will see and feel the real benefits to the GentleLase technique after the treatment. Unlike tweezers, chemicals or needles, no irritation occurs after the treatment. The skin is left smooth and silky with minimal side effects.
Remove Hair Growth
Hair Removal techniques involve a variety of methods to temporarily or permanently remove unwanted body hair.
About
There are a number of commonly used techniques for Hair Removal. A beauty therapist can advise people about and perform temporary and permanent Hair Removal. There are some methods of temporary Hair Removal which can be performed at home. The products required can be found in your Pharmacy and can be used safely and
These methods include:
SHAVING - Removing unwanted body hair with a razor is a quick and simple technique which is cost effective and requires little effort.
There are two main types of razors: electric shavers designed for use on dry skin and blade razors for use on wet skin after soap lather, shaving cream or foam has been applied to help soften the skin and provide a slippery protective barrier for the sharp blade to glide over.
Before using a blade razor, always keep the skin lubricated. Some women and men prefer to shave in the shower or bath for that reason. Apply a moisturiser to the skin before using a razor so that there is less risk of the blade catching on some dry skin which may cause a razor nick or burn. To successfully remove the hair, draw the razor against the direction of the hair. Razors are now being designed with flexible heads, in styles for both women and men, to follow the contours of the body and lubricating strips which dissolve a protective film onto the skin when wet. The razor blade should be kept wet during shaving to activate any lubricating strips to help stop the blade catching on and cutting the skin.
Areas of the body where the skin is usually more sensitive e.g., the bikini line and underarms can become red and irritated after shaving from the friction of the blade against the skin and tiny nicks that can be caused by the sharp blade. It is a good idea to use a moisturiser before shaving to help soften and protect the skin from the sharp blade and afterwards as shaving can leave the skin feeling dry. After shave lotion helps tone the skin while its antiseptic ingredients help combat infection which may be caused by razor nicks. It can be applied by splashing over the face after shaving.
EPILATORS - Epilators work like a pair of large tweezers. They are generally hand held electric devices with rotating metal spirals which twist a bunch of hairs together and pluck them out from the roots. The hair is removed from the root which can help to slow down the rate and lessen the amount of hair regrowth usually making it softer than before. This method can sometimes be quite painful.
WAXING - Waxing is another method of Hair Removal which plucks hairs out from the root. Each time a hair is pulled out by the roots its follicle, or bed, is slightly damaged which can result in the hair not regrowing or a weaker regrowth. There are two types of waxing treatments used for Hair Removal; cold wax and warm wax. The cold wax method involves the use of strips of wax which are laid on the skin over the hairs to be removed. The hairs then adhere to the wax and the hair can then be removed from the roots with a firm tug against the direction of the hair growth.
The warm wax method involves heating the wax until it becomes warm and is applied with a spatula in a thin film to the skin in the direction of the hair growth. A cotton strip is then placed firmly over the area, the skin is held taut with one hand and the other hand peels the cotton strip off backwards in a quick movement against the direction of hair growth.
This method is a little more complicated as it is necessary to monitor the temperature of the wax carefully as hot wax can burn the skin. Peeling the cotton strip off too slowly or upwards away from the skin may be painful and cause bruising. A soothing after-wax lotion or gel should be applied to the skin after the hair has been removed to help reduce any redness or irritation that may have resulted from the waxing.
It is best to not use any form of Hair Removal on the area for 2 to 3 weeks before the waxing treatment which allows the hair to grow long enough to stick to the wax.
DEPILATORIES - This chemical Hair Removal method is simple and easy to use and is available as a cream, foam or lotion. Before applying the depilatory to a large area of skin for the first time it is a good idea to try a 'patch test' first. Apply a small amount of the cream, foam or lotion to a hairless part of the arm and leave it on the skin for 7 to 10 minutes then wash it off. If there is no irritation after 24 hours it may be used on the rest of the body.
The cream, foam or lotion is applied to clean, dry skin in a thick layer over the hair that is to be removed. To protect hair that does not need removal the surrounding area can be covered with a barrier cream e.g., Vaseline. After 7 to 10 minutes the depilatory should be washed off with warm water. Finally, pat the skin dry trying not to rub it too hard and apply a soothing cream or lotion to the skin to reduce any possible inflammation that may have been caused by the chemical depilatory.
About
There are a number of commonly used techniques for Hair Removal. A beauty therapist can advise people about and perform temporary and permanent Hair Removal. There are some methods of temporary Hair Removal which can be performed at home. The products required can be found in your Pharmacy and can be used safely and
These methods include:
SHAVING - Removing unwanted body hair with a razor is a quick and simple technique which is cost effective and requires little effort.
There are two main types of razors: electric shavers designed for use on dry skin and blade razors for use on wet skin after soap lather, shaving cream or foam has been applied to help soften the skin and provide a slippery protective barrier for the sharp blade to glide over.
Before using a blade razor, always keep the skin lubricated. Some women and men prefer to shave in the shower or bath for that reason. Apply a moisturiser to the skin before using a razor so that there is less risk of the blade catching on some dry skin which may cause a razor nick or burn. To successfully remove the hair, draw the razor against the direction of the hair. Razors are now being designed with flexible heads, in styles for both women and men, to follow the contours of the body and lubricating strips which dissolve a protective film onto the skin when wet. The razor blade should be kept wet during shaving to activate any lubricating strips to help stop the blade catching on and cutting the skin.
Areas of the body where the skin is usually more sensitive e.g., the bikini line and underarms can become red and irritated after shaving from the friction of the blade against the skin and tiny nicks that can be caused by the sharp blade. It is a good idea to use a moisturiser before shaving to help soften and protect the skin from the sharp blade and afterwards as shaving can leave the skin feeling dry. After shave lotion helps tone the skin while its antiseptic ingredients help combat infection which may be caused by razor nicks. It can be applied by splashing over the face after shaving.
EPILATORS - Epilators work like a pair of large tweezers. They are generally hand held electric devices with rotating metal spirals which twist a bunch of hairs together and pluck them out from the roots. The hair is removed from the root which can help to slow down the rate and lessen the amount of hair regrowth usually making it softer than before. This method can sometimes be quite painful.
WAXING - Waxing is another method of Hair Removal which plucks hairs out from the root. Each time a hair is pulled out by the roots its follicle, or bed, is slightly damaged which can result in the hair not regrowing or a weaker regrowth. There are two types of waxing treatments used for Hair Removal; cold wax and warm wax. The cold wax method involves the use of strips of wax which are laid on the skin over the hairs to be removed. The hairs then adhere to the wax and the hair can then be removed from the roots with a firm tug against the direction of the hair growth.
The warm wax method involves heating the wax until it becomes warm and is applied with a spatula in a thin film to the skin in the direction of the hair growth. A cotton strip is then placed firmly over the area, the skin is held taut with one hand and the other hand peels the cotton strip off backwards in a quick movement against the direction of hair growth.
This method is a little more complicated as it is necessary to monitor the temperature of the wax carefully as hot wax can burn the skin. Peeling the cotton strip off too slowly or upwards away from the skin may be painful and cause bruising. A soothing after-wax lotion or gel should be applied to the skin after the hair has been removed to help reduce any redness or irritation that may have resulted from the waxing.
It is best to not use any form of Hair Removal on the area for 2 to 3 weeks before the waxing treatment which allows the hair to grow long enough to stick to the wax.
DEPILATORIES - This chemical Hair Removal method is simple and easy to use and is available as a cream, foam or lotion. Before applying the depilatory to a large area of skin for the first time it is a good idea to try a 'patch test' first. Apply a small amount of the cream, foam or lotion to a hairless part of the arm and leave it on the skin for 7 to 10 minutes then wash it off. If there is no irritation after 24 hours it may be used on the rest of the body.
The cream, foam or lotion is applied to clean, dry skin in a thick layer over the hair that is to be removed. To protect hair that does not need removal the surrounding area can be covered with a barrier cream e.g., Vaseline. After 7 to 10 minutes the depilatory should be washed off with warm water. Finally, pat the skin dry trying not to rub it too hard and apply a soothing cream or lotion to the skin to reduce any possible inflammation that may have been caused by the chemical depilatory.
Monitoring Hair Growth
Monitoring Hair Regrowth
Day 1 - Shaving and Nair have a small amount of stubble, although it is barely noticeable. The waxing sections are still red, but hair free. The laser reduction and electrolysis sections show no change.
Day 2 - Shaving and Nair have more stubble. No hair in waxing sections, although I have little ingrown hairs in the at-home sections. No change in the laser hair reduction or electrolysis sections.
Day 3 - Nair and shaving have light-colored stubble. No new hair in waxing area, but bumps continue. No change in laser or electrolysis sections.
Day 4 - There is visible hair in the Nair and shaving sections. The hair missed by the wax that I did at home is making it hard to judge if there is new hair, but I have concluded that there is no new hair growth yet.
Day 5 - There is now stubble where I did the at-home cold wax on my leg. The Nair and shaving sections have longer hair that is not clearly visible unless looked at very closely. Neither hot wax area has stubble or any hair growth yet.
Day 6 -Shaving and Nair hair still growing, along with cold wax. Laser and hot wax (at-home and salon) have no changes that I can see yet.
Day 7 - There is no hair or markings in my laser, electrolysis and hot wax sections. Nair, cold wax, and shaving are all growing hair as usual.
Day 15 - Hair is growing back in all of the sections except for the electrolysis area. There is also some new hair growth in the laser area but hair has been reduced overall.
Day 1 - Shaving and Nair have a small amount of stubble, although it is barely noticeable. The waxing sections are still red, but hair free. The laser reduction and electrolysis sections show no change.
Day 2 - Shaving and Nair have more stubble. No hair in waxing sections, although I have little ingrown hairs in the at-home sections. No change in the laser hair reduction or electrolysis sections.
Day 3 - Nair and shaving have light-colored stubble. No new hair in waxing area, but bumps continue. No change in laser or electrolysis sections.
Day 4 - There is visible hair in the Nair and shaving sections. The hair missed by the wax that I did at home is making it hard to judge if there is new hair, but I have concluded that there is no new hair growth yet.
Day 5 - There is now stubble where I did the at-home cold wax on my leg. The Nair and shaving sections have longer hair that is not clearly visible unless looked at very closely. Neither hot wax area has stubble or any hair growth yet.
Day 6 -Shaving and Nair hair still growing, along with cold wax. Laser and hot wax (at-home and salon) have no changes that I can see yet.
Day 7 - There is no hair or markings in my laser, electrolysis and hot wax sections. Nair, cold wax, and shaving are all growing hair as usual.
Day 15 - Hair is growing back in all of the sections except for the electrolysis area. There is also some new hair growth in the laser area but hair has been reduced overall.
Treatment
To start my process, I called a salon, a laser treatment facility and an electrologist. I waited about a day after leaving a message and received no response. Deciding it must have been the words I used in the message, I left a second message at each place. I spoke to someone at a laser treatment place and someone at a salon, left my phone number and then waited about a week for a return call, but I never received one. Not one person called me back, which made me a little sad. I may be a teenager, but can't they take me seriously?
Disappointed, I went through the yellow pages again, and found other places to call, including the Berman Skin Institute on Welch Road that specializes in laser hair reduction, Cindy Greene, an electrologist, and another waxing place. I left a message at each office.
The first to call me back was Cindy Greene, and I set up an appointment with her for the upcoming Friday afternoon. The next to call me back was the Berman Skin Institute. I also set up a time to do a consult with them. The salon also called me back. However, they would not do the section of my leg reserved for the hot salon wax because they only treated whole legs. Two days later, we went to Longs and bought cold wax strips, hot wax, Nair, shaving cream and a razor (my mom loves these experiments).
I got to the Berman Skin Institute at 10:15 a.m. and was given some paperwork to fill out. After, I was taken to a room with a round table. I spoke with a nurse named Annabel and asked her some questions about laser hair reduction. She said that it was called reduction because the laser targets the dark pigments found in hair follicles, but doesn't completely get rid of it. Even if the majority of the hair doesn't come back, some new hair does grow, and so at least five treatments are necessary. She said that she didn't recommend laser hair reduction for anyone under 16; however, they had done the treatment on 14- and 15-year-olds teens before. Annabel also said that when you come in for laser treatments, you should have shaved the area you are treating because otherwise, the hair burns and could damage the skin. They use two lasers: one for people with lighter skin and one for people with darker skin. Because the laser can hurt, they use a cream that numbs the skin. Even so, there can still be burning and possibly blistering. She treated a small portion of my leg (near my ankle). It felt a little like a rubber band was snapping against my skin every once in a while, it was not that painful overall.
Next, I went to the electrologist's office, but I had to reschedule for another day, which I did. My mom and I stopped by another salon called NTT Skin (on Cambridge Avenue), and the lady there, Nellie, did a hot wax strip on my leg. It didn't really hurt much, but I was shocked when she pulled the wax off because I didn't expect it. When I got home, my mom, little sister and I completed the different at-home processes to remove the hair on my legs. First we did the cold wax strips, which made me jump with every strip causing my little sister to laugh gleefully each time. The strips also missed some hairs, so we had to redo several spots. It was pretty cheap, about $7, but you would need about 12 boxes to do both of your legs completely. Also, in the days that followed, I had ingrown hairs on this section of my leg. Ingrown hairs are little zit-like bumps that hurt.
The Nair is applied as foam from the can. I left the foam on my leg for about ten minutes and then wiped it off with a washcloth. The process is a little stinky, but effective. My leg was hairless. All of the hair had been removed from it, leaving the leg clean and smooth. Nair was painless, fairly easy to use, and inexpensive.
Then I shaved a part of my leg. Because my leg hair was long, the process took a long time. But when I finished, my legs were smooth. Because I used shaving cream and was careful, I didn't cut my leg or get razor burn. Razors and shaving cream can be either cheap or expensive, depending on what brand you use and where you purchase the items. In addition, shaving doesn't last long, a few days at most, so if you want your legs to be smooth all the time, you would have to shave every day.
The at-home hot wax really hurt when I peeled it off, and a lot of the wax was left over. There was a lot of hair left behind and my legs were sticky. The wax was tough to get off and the process was a little painful. After we waxed my leg with the hot wax, it was red and hurt a lot. There were also a lot of red bumps that annoyed me. The kit was about $10 and would have done both of my lower legs. Waxing is supposed to last a long time, so it might be worth it, but I couldn't do it again because it really hurt. Also, in the places where my skin rubbed against other skin, I got ingrown hairs.
Finally, I went to Cindy Greene, an electrologist, and had roughly a circular inch on my leg done with two different methods. Thermolysis (short wave), is used on fine or blonde hair. Blend, which uses a combination of two currents and requires the person to be grounded or holding onto something, is good for dark, course body hair. There is a third method, multineedle, which is an older method that is no longer common. Blend is a chemical reaction that destroys the hair and Thermolysis is a heat reaction that does the same. The number of treatments you have to get depends on how long your session is, how big the area being treated is, and many other variables. Also, the length of time in between treatments varies. If you are doing the same area, you might need to stick to weekly treatments, but if you are doing different areas, you can have daily treatments.
Some of the most common areas done with electrolysis include the upper lip, chin, chest, stomach and bikini line. Cindy said that most of her patients are women, although men are beginning to use her services more frequently. A topical anesthetic cream can be used to reduce the pain. She noted that the upper lip is the most common area the cream is used. Electrolysis lasts forever, so you never have to come back for retreatment for a specific hair follicle. However, due to the stages of growth that hair goes through, there may be new hair that begins to grow after you have had a specific area treated. Also, a drawback to electrolysis is that after you have the area done, you have to avoid direct sunlight on that area for about two days. A person must be at least 14 years of age to receive electrolysis treatments.
When I had the electrolysis, it hurt like there was heat under my skin and there were painless red bumps for a little while afterwards.
Prices for sessions vary depending on the area and the electrologist, but Cindy Greene's prices are:
15 minutes = $48
30 minutes = $60
45 minutes = $70
1 hour = $80
If you use an electrologist, he or she should be California licensed and have a framed certificate on the wall. In addition, he or she should use disposable probes. Whether or not the probes are gold does matter unless you are allergic or have a special preference.
Disappointed, I went through the yellow pages again, and found other places to call, including the Berman Skin Institute on Welch Road that specializes in laser hair reduction, Cindy Greene, an electrologist, and another waxing place. I left a message at each office.
The first to call me back was Cindy Greene, and I set up an appointment with her for the upcoming Friday afternoon. The next to call me back was the Berman Skin Institute. I also set up a time to do a consult with them. The salon also called me back. However, they would not do the section of my leg reserved for the hot salon wax because they only treated whole legs. Two days later, we went to Longs and bought cold wax strips, hot wax, Nair, shaving cream and a razor (my mom loves these experiments).
I got to the Berman Skin Institute at 10:15 a.m. and was given some paperwork to fill out. After, I was taken to a room with a round table. I spoke with a nurse named Annabel and asked her some questions about laser hair reduction. She said that it was called reduction because the laser targets the dark pigments found in hair follicles, but doesn't completely get rid of it. Even if the majority of the hair doesn't come back, some new hair does grow, and so at least five treatments are necessary. She said that she didn't recommend laser hair reduction for anyone under 16; however, they had done the treatment on 14- and 15-year-olds teens before. Annabel also said that when you come in for laser treatments, you should have shaved the area you are treating because otherwise, the hair burns and could damage the skin. They use two lasers: one for people with lighter skin and one for people with darker skin. Because the laser can hurt, they use a cream that numbs the skin. Even so, there can still be burning and possibly blistering. She treated a small portion of my leg (near my ankle). It felt a little like a rubber band was snapping against my skin every once in a while, it was not that painful overall.
Next, I went to the electrologist's office, but I had to reschedule for another day, which I did. My mom and I stopped by another salon called NTT Skin (on Cambridge Avenue), and the lady there, Nellie, did a hot wax strip on my leg. It didn't really hurt much, but I was shocked when she pulled the wax off because I didn't expect it. When I got home, my mom, little sister and I completed the different at-home processes to remove the hair on my legs. First we did the cold wax strips, which made me jump with every strip causing my little sister to laugh gleefully each time. The strips also missed some hairs, so we had to redo several spots. It was pretty cheap, about $7, but you would need about 12 boxes to do both of your legs completely. Also, in the days that followed, I had ingrown hairs on this section of my leg. Ingrown hairs are little zit-like bumps that hurt.
The Nair is applied as foam from the can. I left the foam on my leg for about ten minutes and then wiped it off with a washcloth. The process is a little stinky, but effective. My leg was hairless. All of the hair had been removed from it, leaving the leg clean and smooth. Nair was painless, fairly easy to use, and inexpensive.
Then I shaved a part of my leg. Because my leg hair was long, the process took a long time. But when I finished, my legs were smooth. Because I used shaving cream and was careful, I didn't cut my leg or get razor burn. Razors and shaving cream can be either cheap or expensive, depending on what brand you use and where you purchase the items. In addition, shaving doesn't last long, a few days at most, so if you want your legs to be smooth all the time, you would have to shave every day.
The at-home hot wax really hurt when I peeled it off, and a lot of the wax was left over. There was a lot of hair left behind and my legs were sticky. The wax was tough to get off and the process was a little painful. After we waxed my leg with the hot wax, it was red and hurt a lot. There were also a lot of red bumps that annoyed me. The kit was about $10 and would have done both of my lower legs. Waxing is supposed to last a long time, so it might be worth it, but I couldn't do it again because it really hurt. Also, in the places where my skin rubbed against other skin, I got ingrown hairs.
Finally, I went to Cindy Greene, an electrologist, and had roughly a circular inch on my leg done with two different methods. Thermolysis (short wave), is used on fine or blonde hair. Blend, which uses a combination of two currents and requires the person to be grounded or holding onto something, is good for dark, course body hair. There is a third method, multineedle, which is an older method that is no longer common. Blend is a chemical reaction that destroys the hair and Thermolysis is a heat reaction that does the same. The number of treatments you have to get depends on how long your session is, how big the area being treated is, and many other variables. Also, the length of time in between treatments varies. If you are doing the same area, you might need to stick to weekly treatments, but if you are doing different areas, you can have daily treatments.
Some of the most common areas done with electrolysis include the upper lip, chin, chest, stomach and bikini line. Cindy said that most of her patients are women, although men are beginning to use her services more frequently. A topical anesthetic cream can be used to reduce the pain. She noted that the upper lip is the most common area the cream is used. Electrolysis lasts forever, so you never have to come back for retreatment for a specific hair follicle. However, due to the stages of growth that hair goes through, there may be new hair that begins to grow after you have had a specific area treated. Also, a drawback to electrolysis is that after you have the area done, you have to avoid direct sunlight on that area for about two days. A person must be at least 14 years of age to receive electrolysis treatments.
When I had the electrolysis, it hurt like there was heat under my skin and there were painless red bumps for a little while afterwards.
Prices for sessions vary depending on the area and the electrologist, but Cindy Greene's prices are:
15 minutes = $48
30 minutes = $60
45 minutes = $70
1 hour = $80
If you use an electrologist, he or she should be California licensed and have a framed certificate on the wall. In addition, he or she should use disposable probes. Whether or not the probes are gold does matter unless you are allergic or have a special preference.
Laser Removal
Laser Hair Removal: We are one of the best in world
Laser Cure clinics offer you a brand new research technology (PDT hair removal ---substantial reduction in just two or three visits), which no clinic in India or abroad can offer. The method saves lot of money and time of the patients and very suitable for those who come from outstations.
Understanding the significance of unwanted hair (hirsutism) in women:
Women generally do not have hair on some body parts e.g. upper lip, chin, cheek, sub mandibular ( under chin) region, near ears ,around nipples, on bust line or sternum, just below umbilicus (upper pubic triangle), anterior thighs, extremities and back etc. The hair growth on these locations is dependent largely on androgen -male hormone testosterone, and sometimes on genes. Therefore in women, hair on these locations is “unwanted hair”.
Apart from cosmetic reasons, such hair alarm physician, something is abnormal at hormone levels in a woman having such hair growth; especially so if she has irregular, scanty or heavy monthly periods (menses). Women having unwanted hair, together with history of acne and/ or menstrual problems or tendency to put on weight are more likely to have hormonal problem. Excess or deficient thyroid function can also cause hirsutism.
Doctor must observe or Women should report to the doctor about signs of defeminization: viz: amenorrhea, reduction in breast size, Loss of female body contour
Doctor must observe or Women should report to doctor about signs of virilization: viz: enlargement of clitoris, deepening of voice, coarse skin, male pattern baldness
P.C.O.D.: A COMMON CAUSE OF SECRETION OF MALE HORMONE TESTESTERONE IN WOMAN’S BODY:
Ovaries exhibit multiple cysts in disorder called as P.C.O.D. (POLY CYSTIC OVARIAN DISORDER). These multiple cysts are capable of secreting male hormone testosterone. In these cases if only hair removal is attempted without attempting to correct P.C.O.D. will not yield good results.
In case of P C O D, the treatment is like swimming against the stream. Laser therapist attempts to reduce unwanted hair, while cysts favor them by excessive secretion of testosterone. Therefore women having P C O D require almost double the treatment.
P C O D should be suspected in women who come for:
1.Unwanted hair
2.Acne
3.Tendency to put on weight
4.Increase in girth of lower abdomen, hips and thighs
5.Irregular, scanty or profuse monthly periods (menses)
6.Family history of diabetes, obesity, heart disease or hypertension
But do not get nervous. P C O D can be effectively treated in few months with PANYED, although your gynecologist or endocrinologist may tell you it is difficult to treat.
We must attend P C O D in time because if untreated, it may lead to sterility, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Allopathic treatment alone is not effective here therefore we opt for Laser Therapy +Ayurveda + Applied nutrition +Exercise+ minimum Drugs in all cases of P.C.O.D. for few months.
CAUSES OF HIRSUTISM ( unwanted hair in woman):
A.Without virilization:
Stress
Puberty
Pituitary: Cushing’s
Allopathic Drugs: like systemic steroids, ACTH
Pregnancy
Menopause
Hypo/Hyperthyroidism
B.WITH OR WOTHOUT VIRILIZATION:
Pituitary: hyperprolactinemia, Acromegaly
Adrenal: Adult onset (delayed) adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing’s,
Adrenal adenoma, and rarely adrenal carcinoma
Ovarian: P C O D, tumors
Allopathic drugs: anabolic steroids, Progestins
C.WITH VIRILIZATION:
Adrenal: congenital or child hood onset hyperplasia & nest tumor
Ovarian: Hilar cell hyperplasia, ovarian hyperthecosis
Allopathic drugs: Testosterone, synthetic androgens
UNWANTED HAIR IN MEN:
Man can normally be hairy. However too much of hair may look sometimes ugly. Therefore excessive hair on back, on earlobes, eyebrows could bother a man who wants to look more sober and not primitive. Sometimes their wives or girl friends insist their removal. Therefore this hair needs laser hair removal as “unwanted hair”.
HOW MANY LASER TREATMENTS REQUIRED?
Women having normal hormones should require approximately 5 to 6 visits at interval of few weeks whereas the women with hormonal problems may require 10 plus visits (treatments). Men require only 4 to 7 treatments because they are happy with substantial reduction in density of unwanted hair(whereas women seek their total removal).
SCHEDULE OF TREATMENT:
1.Upper lip: every 3-5 weekly
2.Chin & Cheeks: every 4-6 weekly interval
3.Other body parts: 8 to 12 weekly
N.B. Should you have enough hair growth before your schedule date of the next treatment , you may go for your laser visit( treatment) before date .
IS LASER CURE TEMPORARY?
No, it is not temporary. Here we are discussing permanent hair reduction only and not temporary results. But failure to offer permanent reduction may be due to non performance of diet, medicines , or if internal chemistry (hormones) is unattended.
CLINICAL EXAMINATION:
It is very important to examine a woman coming for unwanted hair, and see if she has signs of virilization ( enlarged clitoris ) & /or signs of defeminization ( less feminine curves ). Therefore enlargement of clitoris, lack of breast development etc needs to be considered before finalizing treatment for unwanted hair. Moreover assessment of thyroid function is must before finalizing the line of treatment Look for clinical features of PCOD (Acne, obesity /tendency to put on weight , irregular or painful menses, family history of diabetes and unwanted hair.
INVESTIGATIONS:
Usually following investigations are done, only in females:
1.USG :Ultra sonography of ovaries ,for P.C.O.D., cyst and thyroid:
2.Blood testosterone levels
3.T.S.H. (thyroid stimulating hormone)
4.DHEAS
5.Testosterone
6.L H /FSH
7.Prolactin
Are there any side effects?:
There are no side effects in almost all cases done with lasers. The only side effect one may occasionally encounter can be superficial burns, which needs ointment application for 1 to 3 days. You must use good sunscreen for about a week after the laser treatment. Only Laser Cure clinic offers all four highly efficient methods for permanent hair reduction/removal varieties of lasers ( Altus N.D.Yag –US FDA approved, diode , IPL , PDT ) in the Indian subcontinent. Therefore a lady can be prescribed the method best in her individual case. Leave it to our doctors , they will do their best.
HOW LASERS DO THEIR JOB?
The light energy thrown by laser is absorbed by melanin (black or brown) pigment in the shaft of the hair. The light is thrown precisely for few milliseconds. Like a cable wire, hair shafts carry its energy deep inside to the hair follicle and inactivate them by photothermolysis. The laser treated hair follicles will not grow hair again.
AFTER CARE:
Sunscreen of 28 –35 SPF should be applied to treated area for few weeks. It should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure and to be reapplied in case you wash it.
Laser Cure clinics offer you a brand new research technology (PDT hair removal ---substantial reduction in just two or three visits), which no clinic in India or abroad can offer. The method saves lot of money and time of the patients and very suitable for those who come from outstations.
Understanding the significance of unwanted hair (hirsutism) in women:
Women generally do not have hair on some body parts e.g. upper lip, chin, cheek, sub mandibular ( under chin) region, near ears ,around nipples, on bust line or sternum, just below umbilicus (upper pubic triangle), anterior thighs, extremities and back etc. The hair growth on these locations is dependent largely on androgen -male hormone testosterone, and sometimes on genes. Therefore in women, hair on these locations is “unwanted hair”.
Apart from cosmetic reasons, such hair alarm physician, something is abnormal at hormone levels in a woman having such hair growth; especially so if she has irregular, scanty or heavy monthly periods (menses). Women having unwanted hair, together with history of acne and/ or menstrual problems or tendency to put on weight are more likely to have hormonal problem. Excess or deficient thyroid function can also cause hirsutism.
Doctor must observe or Women should report to the doctor about signs of defeminization: viz: amenorrhea, reduction in breast size, Loss of female body contour
Doctor must observe or Women should report to doctor about signs of virilization: viz: enlargement of clitoris, deepening of voice, coarse skin, male pattern baldness
P.C.O.D.: A COMMON CAUSE OF SECRETION OF MALE HORMONE TESTESTERONE IN WOMAN’S BODY:
Ovaries exhibit multiple cysts in disorder called as P.C.O.D. (POLY CYSTIC OVARIAN DISORDER). These multiple cysts are capable of secreting male hormone testosterone. In these cases if only hair removal is attempted without attempting to correct P.C.O.D. will not yield good results.
In case of P C O D, the treatment is like swimming against the stream. Laser therapist attempts to reduce unwanted hair, while cysts favor them by excessive secretion of testosterone. Therefore women having P C O D require almost double the treatment.
P C O D should be suspected in women who come for:
1.Unwanted hair
2.Acne
3.Tendency to put on weight
4.Increase in girth of lower abdomen, hips and thighs
5.Irregular, scanty or profuse monthly periods (menses)
6.Family history of diabetes, obesity, heart disease or hypertension
But do not get nervous. P C O D can be effectively treated in few months with PANYED, although your gynecologist or endocrinologist may tell you it is difficult to treat.
We must attend P C O D in time because if untreated, it may lead to sterility, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Allopathic treatment alone is not effective here therefore we opt for Laser Therapy +Ayurveda + Applied nutrition +Exercise+ minimum Drugs in all cases of P.C.O.D. for few months.
CAUSES OF HIRSUTISM ( unwanted hair in woman):
A.Without virilization:
Stress
Puberty
Pituitary: Cushing’s
Allopathic Drugs: like systemic steroids, ACTH
Pregnancy
Menopause
Hypo/Hyperthyroidism
B.WITH OR WOTHOUT VIRILIZATION:
Pituitary: hyperprolactinemia, Acromegaly
Adrenal: Adult onset (delayed) adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing’s,
Adrenal adenoma, and rarely adrenal carcinoma
Ovarian: P C O D, tumors
Allopathic drugs: anabolic steroids, Progestins
C.WITH VIRILIZATION:
Adrenal: congenital or child hood onset hyperplasia & nest tumor
Ovarian: Hilar cell hyperplasia, ovarian hyperthecosis
Allopathic drugs: Testosterone, synthetic androgens
UNWANTED HAIR IN MEN:
Man can normally be hairy. However too much of hair may look sometimes ugly. Therefore excessive hair on back, on earlobes, eyebrows could bother a man who wants to look more sober and not primitive. Sometimes their wives or girl friends insist their removal. Therefore this hair needs laser hair removal as “unwanted hair”.
HOW MANY LASER TREATMENTS REQUIRED?
Women having normal hormones should require approximately 5 to 6 visits at interval of few weeks whereas the women with hormonal problems may require 10 plus visits (treatments). Men require only 4 to 7 treatments because they are happy with substantial reduction in density of unwanted hair(whereas women seek their total removal).
SCHEDULE OF TREATMENT:
1.Upper lip: every 3-5 weekly
2.Chin & Cheeks: every 4-6 weekly interval
3.Other body parts: 8 to 12 weekly
N.B. Should you have enough hair growth before your schedule date of the next treatment , you may go for your laser visit( treatment) before date .
IS LASER CURE TEMPORARY?
No, it is not temporary. Here we are discussing permanent hair reduction only and not temporary results. But failure to offer permanent reduction may be due to non performance of diet, medicines , or if internal chemistry (hormones) is unattended.
CLINICAL EXAMINATION:
It is very important to examine a woman coming for unwanted hair, and see if she has signs of virilization ( enlarged clitoris ) & /or signs of defeminization ( less feminine curves ). Therefore enlargement of clitoris, lack of breast development etc needs to be considered before finalizing treatment for unwanted hair. Moreover assessment of thyroid function is must before finalizing the line of treatment Look for clinical features of PCOD (Acne, obesity /tendency to put on weight , irregular or painful menses, family history of diabetes and unwanted hair.
INVESTIGATIONS:
Usually following investigations are done, only in females:
1.USG :Ultra sonography of ovaries ,for P.C.O.D., cyst and thyroid:
2.Blood testosterone levels
3.T.S.H. (thyroid stimulating hormone)
4.DHEAS
5.Testosterone
6.L H /FSH
7.Prolactin
Are there any side effects?:
There are no side effects in almost all cases done with lasers. The only side effect one may occasionally encounter can be superficial burns, which needs ointment application for 1 to 3 days. You must use good sunscreen for about a week after the laser treatment. Only Laser Cure clinic offers all four highly efficient methods for permanent hair reduction/removal varieties of lasers ( Altus N.D.Yag –US FDA approved, diode , IPL , PDT ) in the Indian subcontinent. Therefore a lady can be prescribed the method best in her individual case. Leave it to our doctors , they will do their best.
HOW LASERS DO THEIR JOB?
The light energy thrown by laser is absorbed by melanin (black or brown) pigment in the shaft of the hair. The light is thrown precisely for few milliseconds. Like a cable wire, hair shafts carry its energy deep inside to the hair follicle and inactivate them by photothermolysis. The laser treated hair follicles will not grow hair again.
AFTER CARE:
Sunscreen of 28 –35 SPF should be applied to treated area for few weeks. It should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure and to be reapplied in case you wash it.
Dermatologist Comments
A Dermatologist Comments on Hair Removal Methods
Question 1: I am a 55-year-old woman with facial hair. Originally, I used depilatories (like Nair), but they irritate my light, sensitive skin. I don't think shaving is practical and I'm concerned that electrolysis would be painful. What do you suggest?
Question 2: I'm tired of shaving my legs. In a previous column, you answered a question about electrolysis. What about laser? Is one better than the other? If I try laser or electrolysis, will the hair just grow back thicker anyway?
Dr. Mitchell answers:
Thick, dark hair above a woman's lip or on her chin can sometimes run in families. However, this nuisance should first be distinguished from abnormal hair growth due to a medical problem like polycystic ovary syndrome or a testosterone-producing tumor. Treating the underlying medical problem, when it exists, will treat the excess facial hair.
If you do indeed have a benign form of hair overgrowth, Dr. Janet Fairley, a Medical College of Wisconsin Professor of Dermatology who practices at the Zablocki VA Medical Center, lists several options: shaving, tweezing, waxing, chemical removal like depilatories, and permanent removal (electrolysis or laser). A prescription cream called Vaniqa (eflornithine) can also chemically inhibit hair growth. Remember that for any product applied to the skin, be it wax, depilatory, or prescription cream, first test the product on a small area to be sure you do not have an allergic reaction or display hypersensitivity and, of course, follow the package directions.
Electrolysis applies electric current to individual hairs and destroys the hair root. However, because sometimes the electrolysis needle isn't on target, you often need several treatment sessions to completely remove all hair in a particular area. If you are using electrolysis for a large area, like your legs, you may require many months of weekly appointments. Dr. Fairley warns that this may become costly.
For a small area like your face, electrolysis may be an option. Make an appointment to discuss what your treatment plan would be. Choose an electrologist wisely to minimize risks of infection and scarring. In Wisconsin, electrologists must be licensed by the state board of cosmetology, but there are no national standards. Look for members of the International Guild of Hair Removal Specialists, the American Electrology Association or the Society for Clinical and Medical Hair Removal.
Dr. Fairley tells me that laser is a more effective way to remove hair from large areas such as the legs. Laser works by killing hair follicles with heat. First a black-colored solution is applied to the legs, and this solution is absorbed by the hair follicles. The laser then targets its heat to the black spots.
But laser is relatively more expensive, and it still isn't perfect. A recent study showed that laser therapy removed about 30% of hair in about two-thirds of people undergoing treatment. So again, multiple visits may be necessary. Most people decide how to treat excess hair based on cost, convenience, and/or a nearby or recommended practitioner.
Dr. Fairley also clears up a myth: no method of hair removal has ever been shown to result in an increase in hair growth. Shaven hairs sometimes appear thicker than hair that has been allowed to grow, and thus, with time, have a weakened shaft and softer ends, but they aren't actually any thicker.
Question 1: I am a 55-year-old woman with facial hair. Originally, I used depilatories (like Nair), but they irritate my light, sensitive skin. I don't think shaving is practical and I'm concerned that electrolysis would be painful. What do you suggest?
Question 2: I'm tired of shaving my legs. In a previous column, you answered a question about electrolysis. What about laser? Is one better than the other? If I try laser or electrolysis, will the hair just grow back thicker anyway?
Dr. Mitchell answers:
Thick, dark hair above a woman's lip or on her chin can sometimes run in families. However, this nuisance should first be distinguished from abnormal hair growth due to a medical problem like polycystic ovary syndrome or a testosterone-producing tumor. Treating the underlying medical problem, when it exists, will treat the excess facial hair.
If you do indeed have a benign form of hair overgrowth, Dr. Janet Fairley, a Medical College of Wisconsin Professor of Dermatology who practices at the Zablocki VA Medical Center, lists several options: shaving, tweezing, waxing, chemical removal like depilatories, and permanent removal (electrolysis or laser). A prescription cream called Vaniqa (eflornithine) can also chemically inhibit hair growth. Remember that for any product applied to the skin, be it wax, depilatory, or prescription cream, first test the product on a small area to be sure you do not have an allergic reaction or display hypersensitivity and, of course, follow the package directions.
Electrolysis applies electric current to individual hairs and destroys the hair root. However, because sometimes the electrolysis needle isn't on target, you often need several treatment sessions to completely remove all hair in a particular area. If you are using electrolysis for a large area, like your legs, you may require many months of weekly appointments. Dr. Fairley warns that this may become costly.
For a small area like your face, electrolysis may be an option. Make an appointment to discuss what your treatment plan would be. Choose an electrologist wisely to minimize risks of infection and scarring. In Wisconsin, electrologists must be licensed by the state board of cosmetology, but there are no national standards. Look for members of the International Guild of Hair Removal Specialists, the American Electrology Association or the Society for Clinical and Medical Hair Removal.
Dr. Fairley tells me that laser is a more effective way to remove hair from large areas such as the legs. Laser works by killing hair follicles with heat. First a black-colored solution is applied to the legs, and this solution is absorbed by the hair follicles. The laser then targets its heat to the black spots.
But laser is relatively more expensive, and it still isn't perfect. A recent study showed that laser therapy removed about 30% of hair in about two-thirds of people undergoing treatment. So again, multiple visits may be necessary. Most people decide how to treat excess hair based on cost, convenience, and/or a nearby or recommended practitioner.
Dr. Fairley also clears up a myth: no method of hair removal has ever been shown to result in an increase in hair growth. Shaven hairs sometimes appear thicker than hair that has been allowed to grow, and thus, with time, have a weakened shaft and softer ends, but they aren't actually any thicker.
May be this Cost?
Worth the Cost
While laser hair removal can be costly, many patients find the treatment's lasting effects and reduced hair growth more than worth the cost. The cost of a laser hair removal treatment varies depending on the area being treated, the physician performing the treatment, the number of treatments in a package, and other considerations. Since all individuals have their own unique pattern of hair growth, it is difficult to give a precise estimate of the number of treatments needed to completely eliminate your problem hair, or the exact cost of doing so. The safest approach is to set up a consultation with a physician in order to better understand prices for your particular case.
Consult a Physician for Exact Estimates
For many patients, three treatments may be enough to provide hair removal for many months. For others it may take more or less than three laser hair removal treatments. Many offices will offer a package of treatment sessions at a discount. Below find two charts with pricing estimates by region and body area being treated. Please note that these are estimates and in no way represent exact pricing at any location.
Pricing Chart
Region Average Cost for 1 treatment
Midwest
$450
East
$425
South
$400
West
$420
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the national average cost for laser hair removal is $429. Fees within various cities may vary depending on whether the doctor's practice is in an urban, suburban or rural area. This fee only covers the doctor's costs, and does not include other miscellaneous costs.
Area
Average Cost for 1 treatment
Bikini $350 to $500
Back Hair $600 to $900
Lower Legs $600 to $850
Upper Legs $600 to $850
Arms $350 to $500
Chest $350 to $600
Under Arms $250 to $350
Face & Neck $600 to $900
Last Modified: Febuary 21, 2008
While laser hair removal can be costly, many patients find the treatment's lasting effects and reduced hair growth more than worth the cost. The cost of a laser hair removal treatment varies depending on the area being treated, the physician performing the treatment, the number of treatments in a package, and other considerations. Since all individuals have their own unique pattern of hair growth, it is difficult to give a precise estimate of the number of treatments needed to completely eliminate your problem hair, or the exact cost of doing so. The safest approach is to set up a consultation with a physician in order to better understand prices for your particular case.
Consult a Physician for Exact Estimates
For many patients, three treatments may be enough to provide hair removal for many months. For others it may take more or less than three laser hair removal treatments. Many offices will offer a package of treatment sessions at a discount. Below find two charts with pricing estimates by region and body area being treated. Please note that these are estimates and in no way represent exact pricing at any location.
Pricing Chart
Region Average Cost for 1 treatment
Midwest
$450
East
$425
South
$400
West
$420
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the national average cost for laser hair removal is $429. Fees within various cities may vary depending on whether the doctor's practice is in an urban, suburban or rural area. This fee only covers the doctor's costs, and does not include other miscellaneous costs.
Area
Average Cost for 1 treatment
Bikini $350 to $500
Back Hair $600 to $900
Lower Legs $600 to $850
Upper Legs $600 to $850
Arms $350 to $500
Chest $350 to $600
Under Arms $250 to $350
Face & Neck $600 to $900
Last Modified: Febuary 21, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
About Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is done by beaming a specified wavelength of light from a handpiece into the skin, where it targets dark material (usually the pigment in hair). This is intended to cause thermal and/or mechanical damage to a hair follicle while sparing surrounding tissues. Some consumers experience permanent hair reduction, but there are limited data on how often that occurs, how long hair reduction usually lasts, and how much reduction is typical.
Advantages
* Some consumers have experienced long-lasting hair removal or permanent hair reduction.
* Considered safe if performed properly.
* Useful for large areas such as backs or legs.
* Regrowth can come back lighter in color or finer in texture.
* Light-skinned consumers with dark hair have the best results.
Disadvantages
* Long-term data on safety and effectiveness have not been accurately established.
* Response rates have not been established.
* Regrowth rates have not been accurately established and cannot be predicted due to numerous variables.
* Generally not as effective on unpigmented (gray) hairs and red or blonde hair.
* Must be used very cautiously (if at all) on darker skin tones or on consumers who tan themselves.
* Improper treatment can cause burns, lesions, skin discoloration lasting several months, or patchy/patterned regrowth.
* Recent data suggest other skin structures are often affected by laser irradiation, and long term effects of this constitute an unknown risk.
* Requires eye protection.
* Can be expensive.
* Some find treatment painful.
* Regulation varies by state, so inadequate controls exist to ensure competent practitioners.
* Some consumers, even ideal candidates, do not respond to treatment.
Advantages
* Some consumers have experienced long-lasting hair removal or permanent hair reduction.
* Considered safe if performed properly.
* Useful for large areas such as backs or legs.
* Regrowth can come back lighter in color or finer in texture.
* Light-skinned consumers with dark hair have the best results.
Disadvantages
* Long-term data on safety and effectiveness have not been accurately established.
* Response rates have not been established.
* Regrowth rates have not been accurately established and cannot be predicted due to numerous variables.
* Generally not as effective on unpigmented (gray) hairs and red or blonde hair.
* Must be used very cautiously (if at all) on darker skin tones or on consumers who tan themselves.
* Improper treatment can cause burns, lesions, skin discoloration lasting several months, or patchy/patterned regrowth.
* Recent data suggest other skin structures are often affected by laser irradiation, and long term effects of this constitute an unknown risk.
* Requires eye protection.
* Can be expensive.
* Some find treatment painful.
* Regulation varies by state, so inadequate controls exist to ensure competent practitioners.
* Some consumers, even ideal candidates, do not respond to treatment.
Electric Tweezers
Electric tweezers and treatments with them should be avoided by all consumers. They are often promoted as permanent, though data has proven otherwise. In this process, an electric current is applied to a hair through an electrified tweezer. The tweezer grasps the hair above the skin's surface and holds it anywhere from 15 seconds to several minutes. Promoters claim (without adequate proof) that the electricity travels down the hair and permanently damages the hair root.
Advantages:
* Some find treatment has less associated pain and side effects compared to ordinary tweezing
* Safe if performed properly
Disadvantages:
* No published clinical proof of claims that they can achieve permanent hair removal
* No published clinical proof that electricity can travel through a hair and cause permanent damage to the root
* Up to 100 times slower than ordinary tweezing
* Can be expensive despite no published proof of permanence
Costs: Between $100.00 to $5,000.00+
Accessories Required: Some brands sell items like conductive gels, humidifiers, or pre and post-treatment products to "increase effectiveness".
Advantages:
* Some find treatment has less associated pain and side effects compared to ordinary tweezing
* Safe if performed properly
Disadvantages:
* No published clinical proof of claims that they can achieve permanent hair removal
* No published clinical proof that electricity can travel through a hair and cause permanent damage to the root
* Up to 100 times slower than ordinary tweezing
* Can be expensive despite no published proof of permanence
Costs: Between $100.00 to $5,000.00+
Accessories Required: Some brands sell items like conductive gels, humidifiers, or pre and post-treatment products to "increase effectiveness".
Vaniqa
Vaniqa is a prescription cream applied to the skin for the reduction of unwanted facial hair in women ages 12 and older. However, for unknown reasons, Vaniqa does not work for everyone. A prescription is needed from the doctor and insurance policies do not cover Vaniqa.
Effectiveness: About 58% of women who tried Vaniqa in clinical trials had improvement. The other 42% had no improvement.
The medication simply retards hair growth to improve the condition and the appearance of some consumers. An individual will still need to continue using a hair removal method along with Vaniqa. It usually takes about two months of treatment before the results are obvious. If you stop taking Vaniqa, your hair may come back to previous levels within two months after stopping.
The active ingredient in Vaniqa is eflornithine hydrochloride, which inhibits an enzyme that affects hair growth, called ornithine decarboxylase ( ODC ).
Vaniqa should not be used:
* By men
* By women who are pregnant or nursing
* By females under age 12
* Anywhere except on the face and chin
* In the eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina
* If you have severe acne or broken skin
Vaniqa (pronounced “VAN-i-ka”) is a prescription cream applied to the skin for reducing unwanted facial hair in women ages 12 and older. For unknown reasons, Vaniqa does not work for everyone, and some insurance policies do not cover it.
This medication is not a depilatory, but rather appears to retard hair growth to improve the condition and the appearance of some consumers. You will probably need to continue using a hair-removal method (e.g., shaving, plucking) with Vaniqa. It usually takes 2 months to judge whether or not it is working. If you stop taking it, your hair may come back to previous levels within 2 months after stopping.
Vaniqa should not be used:
* By men. It has not been tested on men.
* By women who are pregnant or nursing. Vaniqa has not been tested to see if whether causes birth defects and miscarriages in humans.
* By females under age 12.
* Anywhere except on the face and chin. It has not been tested elsewhere.
* In the eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina.
* If you have severe acne or broken skin.
Background
Hair growth cells and cancer cells share some interesting characteristics: rapidly dividing with multiple potentials for differentiation. This is one reason chemotherapy and radiation can result in hair loss: they disrupt the same kinds of cellular activity. It has been theorized that some cancer drugs may be used to induce a controlled amount of hair loss or reduction. Vaniqa's active ingredient, eflornithine hydrochloride, has antitumor activity. It is the first commercially available topical preparation to come out of this sort of research.
Vaniqa became available in the U.S. on July 31, 2000, and is made by Bristol-Myers Squibb in a partnership with Gillette.
Clinical data
Eflornithine hydrochloride inhibits an enzyme that affects hair growth in rats. Regulation of this enzyme, called ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), was later shown to reduce hair growth in mice and sheep . Recent studies suggest that observations in certain types of mice may have parallels in humans .
This drug has been found to be an astonishingly effective cure for some types of African "sleeping sickness," even able to cause a rapid and complete recovery in comatose patients. Clinical reports show that taking it orally to treat sleeping sickness can induce hair loss as a side effect.
One large published study on safety found the product rarely caused significant side effects such as acne, follicle irritation, itching, or dryness. This corroborates unpublished data submitted to FDA showing that about 2% of subjects discontinued use due to adverse reactions.
Unpublished data submitted to FDA observed about 58% of women using it on facial hair had improvement. This study suggests it may be particularly effective in postmenopausal women.
Proof of how hard it is to judge effectiveness
Perhaps the most striking result was how many women in the control group (who used cream with no active ingredient) were observed to have less hair. Of 201 patients, over one-third who used a placebo were assessed by physicians as either "improved" or "marked improvement." This huge number of "false positives" means two things for consumers seeking hair removal:
* It's really hard to tell if a new hair removal product is effective or not, especially based on the personal experiences of just a few people.
* It's really easy for quacks to exploit this difficulty and make overblown claims about products they promote.
That's why you should rely on large-scale controlled studies to determine wheyher a hair-removal product is effective.
Effectiveness: About 58% of women who tried Vaniqa in clinical trials had improvement. The other 42% had no improvement.
The medication simply retards hair growth to improve the condition and the appearance of some consumers. An individual will still need to continue using a hair removal method along with Vaniqa. It usually takes about two months of treatment before the results are obvious. If you stop taking Vaniqa, your hair may come back to previous levels within two months after stopping.
The active ingredient in Vaniqa is eflornithine hydrochloride, which inhibits an enzyme that affects hair growth, called ornithine decarboxylase ( ODC ).
Vaniqa should not be used:
* By men
* By women who are pregnant or nursing
* By females under age 12
* Anywhere except on the face and chin
* In the eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina
* If you have severe acne or broken skin
Vaniqa (pronounced “VAN-i-ka”) is a prescription cream applied to the skin for reducing unwanted facial hair in women ages 12 and older. For unknown reasons, Vaniqa does not work for everyone, and some insurance policies do not cover it.
This medication is not a depilatory, but rather appears to retard hair growth to improve the condition and the appearance of some consumers. You will probably need to continue using a hair-removal method (e.g., shaving, plucking) with Vaniqa. It usually takes 2 months to judge whether or not it is working. If you stop taking it, your hair may come back to previous levels within 2 months after stopping.
Vaniqa should not be used:
* By men. It has not been tested on men.
* By women who are pregnant or nursing. Vaniqa has not been tested to see if whether causes birth defects and miscarriages in humans.
* By females under age 12.
* Anywhere except on the face and chin. It has not been tested elsewhere.
* In the eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina.
* If you have severe acne or broken skin.
Background
Hair growth cells and cancer cells share some interesting characteristics: rapidly dividing with multiple potentials for differentiation. This is one reason chemotherapy and radiation can result in hair loss: they disrupt the same kinds of cellular activity. It has been theorized that some cancer drugs may be used to induce a controlled amount of hair loss or reduction. Vaniqa's active ingredient, eflornithine hydrochloride, has antitumor activity. It is the first commercially available topical preparation to come out of this sort of research.
Vaniqa became available in the U.S. on July 31, 2000, and is made by Bristol-Myers Squibb in a partnership with Gillette.
Clinical data
Eflornithine hydrochloride inhibits an enzyme that affects hair growth in rats. Regulation of this enzyme, called ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), was later shown to reduce hair growth in mice and sheep . Recent studies suggest that observations in certain types of mice may have parallels in humans .
This drug has been found to be an astonishingly effective cure for some types of African "sleeping sickness," even able to cause a rapid and complete recovery in comatose patients. Clinical reports show that taking it orally to treat sleeping sickness can induce hair loss as a side effect.
One large published study on safety found the product rarely caused significant side effects such as acne, follicle irritation, itching, or dryness. This corroborates unpublished data submitted to FDA showing that about 2% of subjects discontinued use due to adverse reactions.
Unpublished data submitted to FDA observed about 58% of women using it on facial hair had improvement. This study suggests it may be particularly effective in postmenopausal women.
Proof of how hard it is to judge effectiveness
Perhaps the most striking result was how many women in the control group (who used cream with no active ingredient) were observed to have less hair. Of 201 patients, over one-third who used a placebo were assessed by physicians as either "improved" or "marked improvement." This huge number of "false positives" means two things for consumers seeking hair removal:
* It's really hard to tell if a new hair removal product is effective or not, especially based on the personal experiences of just a few people.
* It's really easy for quacks to exploit this difficulty and make overblown claims about products they promote.
That's why you should rely on large-scale controlled studies to determine wheyher a hair-removal product is effective.
Ruby Laser
Ruby (694 nm wavelength)
The Ruby laser systems include: RubyStar and Palomar E2000.
The Ruby laser has a shorter wavelength system. However, it frequently produces side effects such as pigmentary changes (lightening or darkening of the skin), or worse, for patients of all but white skin.
While claims have been made regarding safety in treating darker skin types such as type 3, or even 4 and 5 (brown skin), I would not recommend using this lasers for treating unwanted hair in any skin type other than very white skin.
The Ruby laser systems include: RubyStar and Palomar E2000.
The Ruby laser has a shorter wavelength system. However, it frequently produces side effects such as pigmentary changes (lightening or darkening of the skin), or worse, for patients of all but white skin.
While claims have been made regarding safety in treating darker skin types such as type 3, or even 4 and 5 (brown skin), I would not recommend using this lasers for treating unwanted hair in any skin type other than very white skin.
Flash Lamp
Though less commonly used, some consumers have experienced permanent hair reduction through this process. However, there is limited data on how much hair reduction is typical, and how often hair reduction occurs.
The process works in the following manner: Full spectrum (non-coherent) light and low-range infrared radiation is filtered to allow a specified range of wavelengths. This filtered light is delivered from a hand piece into the skin, where it targets dark material such as the pigment in hair.
This is intended to cause thermal and/or mechanical damage to a hair follicle while sparing surrounding tissues.
Advantages:
* Some consumers have experienced long-lasting to permanent hair removal
* Considered safe if performed properly
* Useful for large areas such as backs or legs
* Regrowth can come back lighter in color or finer in texture
* Light-skinned consumers with dark hair have the best results
Disadvantages:
* Long-term data on safety and effectiveness have not been established
* Response rates have not been established
* Not as effective on unpigmented hairs and red or blonde hair
* Must be used with caution on darker skin tones or on consumers who tan themselves
* Improper treatment can cause burns, skin discoloration lasting several months, or patchy/grid-like regrowth
* Requires eye protection
* Is expensive and some find it to be painful
* Regulation varies by state, so inadequate controls exist to ensure competent practitioners
* Some consumers do not respond to treatment
Difference between flashlamps and lasers are:
a. Kind of light: flashlamps do not use one wavelength of light the way a laser does. Flashlamps emit every wavelength of light in the visible spectrum, and a little into the band of infrared radiation (up to about 1200 nm). Practitioners select a cutoff filter to block out lower wavelengths.
b. Size and shape of the spot (beam): Most flashlamps emit a beam that covers more area than a laser and have a rectangular spot, rather than the round type usually standard on lasers.
The process works in the following manner: Full spectrum (non-coherent) light and low-range infrared radiation is filtered to allow a specified range of wavelengths. This filtered light is delivered from a hand piece into the skin, where it targets dark material such as the pigment in hair.
This is intended to cause thermal and/or mechanical damage to a hair follicle while sparing surrounding tissues.
Advantages:
* Some consumers have experienced long-lasting to permanent hair removal
* Considered safe if performed properly
* Useful for large areas such as backs or legs
* Regrowth can come back lighter in color or finer in texture
* Light-skinned consumers with dark hair have the best results
Disadvantages:
* Long-term data on safety and effectiveness have not been established
* Response rates have not been established
* Not as effective on unpigmented hairs and red or blonde hair
* Must be used with caution on darker skin tones or on consumers who tan themselves
* Improper treatment can cause burns, skin discoloration lasting several months, or patchy/grid-like regrowth
* Requires eye protection
* Is expensive and some find it to be painful
* Regulation varies by state, so inadequate controls exist to ensure competent practitioners
* Some consumers do not respond to treatment
Difference between flashlamps and lasers are:
a. Kind of light: flashlamps do not use one wavelength of light the way a laser does. Flashlamps emit every wavelength of light in the visible spectrum, and a little into the band of infrared radiation (up to about 1200 nm). Practitioners select a cutoff filter to block out lower wavelengths.
b. Size and shape of the spot (beam): Most flashlamps emit a beam that covers more area than a laser and have a rectangular spot, rather than the round type usually standard on lasers.
Nd: Yag
Nd: Yag (1064 nm wavelength)
The Nd: Yag laser systems include: CoolGlide, Medlite IV, Varia, Athos, Lyra, and Image.
The Nd: Yag is capable of treating all six skin colors. However, there is not sufficient evidence that this laser can produce effective long-term hair removal. The original ultra-short duration (< 1 millisecond) Nd: Yag lasers that were used with tar solutions or suspensions in the Soft Light method produced a short-term hair loss with COMPLETE hair RE-GROWTH in 6 months.
Current Nd: Yag systems are using longer pulse durations without any tar. Patients have reported these systems to be very painful. Also, there is insufficient data to show that long-term (6 months and longer) hair reduction will result from the modified Nd: Yag lasers.
Nd: Yag and 800 nm Diode lasers are being promoted for use in the darkest skin colors. As of now I remain skeptical and would advise using my Ultimate Light™ pulsed light method instead.
The Nd: Yag laser systems include: CoolGlide, Medlite IV, Varia, Athos, Lyra, and Image.
The Nd: Yag is capable of treating all six skin colors. However, there is not sufficient evidence that this laser can produce effective long-term hair removal. The original ultra-short duration (< 1 millisecond) Nd: Yag lasers that were used with tar solutions or suspensions in the Soft Light method produced a short-term hair loss with COMPLETE hair RE-GROWTH in 6 months.
Current Nd: Yag systems are using longer pulse durations without any tar. Patients have reported these systems to be very painful. Also, there is insufficient data to show that long-term (6 months and longer) hair reduction will result from the modified Nd: Yag lasers.
Nd: Yag and 800 nm Diode lasers are being promoted for use in the darkest skin colors. As of now I remain skeptical and would advise using my Ultimate Light™ pulsed light method instead.
The Diode Laser
The Diode Laser (800nm or 810 nm wavelength)
In my opinion, the Diode laser is the next most useful hair removal light source and the most promising laser for hair removal.
The Diode laser systems include: SLP 1000, F1 Diode, Light Sheer, MeDioStar, LaserLite, Epistar and Apex 800.
These Diode systems deliver a longer wavelength than the Ruby (694 nm wavelength) and the Alexandrite (755 nm wavelength) lasers, but a shorter wavelength than the Nd: Yag (1064 nm wavelength) laser. This longer wavelength enables the light to penetrate deeper and is theoretically safer than shorter wavelength lasers because it can better avoid the melanin pigment in the skin's epidermis. The Diode laser's longer wavelength of light thereby penetrates into the hair follicle without causing as much epidermal injury as the Ruby or the Alexandrite. This fact allows the Diode laser to be used on darker skin colors than the Ruby or Alexandrite.
Because the Diode is the most recently introduced of the hair removal lasers, there is less experience and less long-term data in evaluating the Diode's claims. Newer Diode lasers such as the SLP 1000 are attempting to deliver longer durations of light (up to 1000 milliseconds) in order to protect the epidermal pigment thereby producing fewer side effects while producing better hair removal. There is just not enough experience with these newer machines, which have only been on the market since early 2001 (after having been re-modified)! These longer durations are designed to emulate the longer durations available for five years with the UltimateTM Light treatments. Surprisingly, the pulse durations on the Quantum, Aculight, or Vasculight systems have been made shorter, while lasers try to lengthen their durations to catch up with the UltimateTM Light pulsed light.
The 800 nm Diode at this time is probably capable of treating skin types 1, 2, 3; possibly 4, 5; and maybe 6. I would personally wait for more information and experience before recommending this machine. In my opinion, the Ultimate Light™ pulsed light is the best overall machine for treating all six skin types based on safety and long term use (over nine years). However, for effective short-term treatment of skin types 1 to 4, I believe that the 800 nm Diode is satisfactory.
In my opinion, the Diode laser is the next most useful hair removal light source and the most promising laser for hair removal.
The Diode laser systems include: SLP 1000, F1 Diode, Light Sheer, MeDioStar, LaserLite, Epistar and Apex 800.
These Diode systems deliver a longer wavelength than the Ruby (694 nm wavelength) and the Alexandrite (755 nm wavelength) lasers, but a shorter wavelength than the Nd: Yag (1064 nm wavelength) laser. This longer wavelength enables the light to penetrate deeper and is theoretically safer than shorter wavelength lasers because it can better avoid the melanin pigment in the skin's epidermis. The Diode laser's longer wavelength of light thereby penetrates into the hair follicle without causing as much epidermal injury as the Ruby or the Alexandrite. This fact allows the Diode laser to be used on darker skin colors than the Ruby or Alexandrite.
Because the Diode is the most recently introduced of the hair removal lasers, there is less experience and less long-term data in evaluating the Diode's claims. Newer Diode lasers such as the SLP 1000 are attempting to deliver longer durations of light (up to 1000 milliseconds) in order to protect the epidermal pigment thereby producing fewer side effects while producing better hair removal. There is just not enough experience with these newer machines, which have only been on the market since early 2001 (after having been re-modified)! These longer durations are designed to emulate the longer durations available for five years with the UltimateTM Light treatments. Surprisingly, the pulse durations on the Quantum, Aculight, or Vasculight systems have been made shorter, while lasers try to lengthen their durations to catch up with the UltimateTM Light pulsed light.
The 800 nm Diode at this time is probably capable of treating skin types 1, 2, 3; possibly 4, 5; and maybe 6. I would personally wait for more information and experience before recommending this machine. In my opinion, the Ultimate Light™ pulsed light is the best overall machine for treating all six skin types based on safety and long term use (over nine years). However, for effective short-term treatment of skin types 1 to 4, I believe that the 800 nm Diode is satisfactory.
Ultimate Light or Pulsed Light (IPL)
Machines: EpiLight, PhotoDerm, Quantum, Aculight, or Vasculight.
These systems deliver the widest range of light; 515 nm to 1200 nm (including yellow, green, red, and infrared light).
The quality of the light delivered can vary significantly from very short (1millisecond) to very long (1200 milliseconds) total durations and from 1 to 4 pulses or segments of light.
The capabilities of each of these machines vary. EpiLight is the most specific and advanced for hair removal. PhotoDerm is the original machine developed for successfully treating facial Rosacea, facial blood vessels, leg veins, and other blood vessels.
EpiLight is a specialized improvement of PhotoDerm developed to specifically treat unwanted hair. I was one of the three original EpiLight users (beginning July 5, 1996 along with Drs. Weiss and Gold) whose clinical research led to the FDA's licensure of EpiLight for hair removal in July 1997. I am currently using one of only three SuperFast EpiLight machines in the world developed a few years ago to DOUBLE the speed of EpiLight (from 3.0 to 1.5 seconds between pulses). The SuperFast EpiLight is currently the fastest machine available for hair removal. The SuperFast EpiLight combined with my Ultimate Light™ method enable me to treat an entire back in approximately 30 minutes with gentle, fast, effective, and long-term results.
The Quantum or Aculight version of the EpiLight is a simplified version designed to make it easier for novices or for non-physicians to operate EpiLight. However, similar to the simplified "presets" on the EpiLight or PhotoDerm machines, the even more limited settings on "Quantum" or "Aculight" attempt to limit the potential damage caused by novice operators by simply giving them fewer choices. In my opinion, limited flexibility only serves to allow less experienced operators to utilize a technology whose main strength is the flexibility and customizability of the system. The net effect is a weaker and less effective machine whose success or failure still hinges on the operator's skills, technique, and selectivity. The expert operator clearly delivers better and safer results using the system (such as Ultimate Light™ pulsed light) with the widest range of settings. The amateur operator should treat patients only under the close supervision of an expert physician until he or she masters the wide range of potential settings. Additional training and experience produce better results. "Training wheels", "presets", and "governors" merely embolden inexperienced users and help to put more machines and unsuspecting patients in the hands of novice operators. When placed in the hands of novices, the strength of pulsed light becomes its greatest weakness and, in my opinion, accounts for the wide range of reported treatment successes and failures. Complexity and customizability go hand in hand when delivering the best and safest results with Ultimate Light™ pulsed light.
Ultimate Light™ pulsed light can safely and effectively treat ALL skin types ranging from white to black. All skin colors and hair colors, except white hair, respond to Ultimate Light™ treatment. Patients find Ultimate Light less painful than laser treatment, electrolysis, and waxing. In five years I have never needed to use local anesthesia or pain medication of any form when treating patients with Ultimate Light™ pulsed light!
Side effects in my hands are very rare (less than 1% of patients). Side effects usually involve a temporary change of skin color (lightening or darkening) that can last for several weeks or months. At the time of treatment, all patients should be at their lightest skin color. It is safer to treat the darkest skinned patient who is at his lightest than to treat a light skinned patient that has been recently tanned!
These systems deliver the widest range of light; 515 nm to 1200 nm (including yellow, green, red, and infrared light).
The quality of the light delivered can vary significantly from very short (1millisecond) to very long (1200 milliseconds) total durations and from 1 to 4 pulses or segments of light.
The capabilities of each of these machines vary. EpiLight is the most specific and advanced for hair removal. PhotoDerm is the original machine developed for successfully treating facial Rosacea, facial blood vessels, leg veins, and other blood vessels.
EpiLight is a specialized improvement of PhotoDerm developed to specifically treat unwanted hair. I was one of the three original EpiLight users (beginning July 5, 1996 along with Drs. Weiss and Gold) whose clinical research led to the FDA's licensure of EpiLight for hair removal in July 1997. I am currently using one of only three SuperFast EpiLight machines in the world developed a few years ago to DOUBLE the speed of EpiLight (from 3.0 to 1.5 seconds between pulses). The SuperFast EpiLight is currently the fastest machine available for hair removal. The SuperFast EpiLight combined with my Ultimate Light™ method enable me to treat an entire back in approximately 30 minutes with gentle, fast, effective, and long-term results.
The Quantum or Aculight version of the EpiLight is a simplified version designed to make it easier for novices or for non-physicians to operate EpiLight. However, similar to the simplified "presets" on the EpiLight or PhotoDerm machines, the even more limited settings on "Quantum" or "Aculight" attempt to limit the potential damage caused by novice operators by simply giving them fewer choices. In my opinion, limited flexibility only serves to allow less experienced operators to utilize a technology whose main strength is the flexibility and customizability of the system. The net effect is a weaker and less effective machine whose success or failure still hinges on the operator's skills, technique, and selectivity. The expert operator clearly delivers better and safer results using the system (such as Ultimate Light™ pulsed light) with the widest range of settings. The amateur operator should treat patients only under the close supervision of an expert physician until he or she masters the wide range of potential settings. Additional training and experience produce better results. "Training wheels", "presets", and "governors" merely embolden inexperienced users and help to put more machines and unsuspecting patients in the hands of novice operators. When placed in the hands of novices, the strength of pulsed light becomes its greatest weakness and, in my opinion, accounts for the wide range of reported treatment successes and failures. Complexity and customizability go hand in hand when delivering the best and safest results with Ultimate Light™ pulsed light.
Ultimate Light™ pulsed light can safely and effectively treat ALL skin types ranging from white to black. All skin colors and hair colors, except white hair, respond to Ultimate Light™ treatment. Patients find Ultimate Light less painful than laser treatment, electrolysis, and waxing. In five years I have never needed to use local anesthesia or pain medication of any form when treating patients with Ultimate Light™ pulsed light!
Side effects in my hands are very rare (less than 1% of patients). Side effects usually involve a temporary change of skin color (lightening or darkening) that can last for several weeks or months. At the time of treatment, all patients should be at their lightest skin color. It is safer to treat the darkest skinned patient who is at his lightest than to treat a light skinned patient that has been recently tanned!
Laser Remove Types
the 5 basic systems for intense pulsed light hair removal and laser hair removal currently available:
* Ultimate Light™ or Pulsed Light (IPL)
* Diode Laser
* Nd: Yag Laser
* Alexandrite Laser
* Ruby Laser
* Ultimate Light™ or Pulsed Light (IPL)
* Diode Laser
* Nd: Yag Laser
* Alexandrite Laser
* Ruby Laser
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