Unflattering hair growth emerges as early as puberty but often keeps bothering us at later life stages as well - during the pregnancy and menopause, or with the use of certain medications, including hormones and birth control pills, and some blood pressure medicines. Fortunately, growth of excess hair is most often caused by hormonal changes and genetic and ethnic factors and not by medical problems.



Temporary Hair Removal

There are two temporary hair removal methods- epilation and depilation. Epilation includes all standard hair removal techniques, such as shaving, waxing, and tweezing. Depilation uses a strong chemical solution to destroy the hair. Unfortunately both of these methods provide only temporary solution, and typically hair regrowth starts as early as one to four weeks after the procedure.

Permanent Hair Removal

Not long ago electrolysis was the only solution for permanent hair removal. During this procedure a fine needle is inserted down each individual hair follicle and an electric current is turned on to destroy the hair. It is needless to say that this method is extremely time consuming, costly, and often painful. In addition, electrolysis is ineffective in treating large areas of excess growth, such as legs or bikini line.

New Permanent Solution: Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal was first introduced in mid-1990s and was seen as controversial at that time. However, it is now widely accepted and is recognized as the best method for permanent hair removal. Unlike electrolysis, laser hair removal is extremely successful in treating small and large areas.



How Laser Hair Removal Works

During the procedure short powerful pulses of laser light are used to treat hair-bearing skin. A special chiller device is held against the skin. It delivers cool water or cool spray to the skin in order to reduce discomfort and protect the skin from injury during the exposure to laser light.

During this treatment the laser light is absorbed by reproductive cells of the hair follicle responsible for producing new hairs. The duration of the short light pulse is designed to disable hair follicle without damaging the surrounding skin.

Laser hair removal method is capable of quickly and effectively removing hair from small areas like above the lip, and large areas, like legs. In some cases a topical anesthetic cream can be used to reduce discomfort during the procedure.

The only downside of laser hair removal method is that it is impossible to know in advance how many treatments will be needed, because the laser only disables hair that is in its active growth at the time of treatment. Since hairs in any given area are likely to have entered their growth cycles at different times, several treatment sessions will be necessary to ensure that all hair follicles are disabled.





Search
Main Categories
Popular
Other