Let's face facts here: a woman with a beard is rarely considered alluring. Neither is a woman with a mustache, albeit a faint one, unless you are Frida Kahlo fan or a Vladmir Nabokov aficionado. Assuming you are neither, what can you do if you fear you are turning into the Bearded Lady at the circus, apart from plucking, bleaching and shaving?
Laser hair removal does not claim to get rid of hair permanently, although when done regularly you may see permanent hair reduction.
Unfortunately, plucking, bleaching and shaving don't really work in those oh-so visible parts of the body such as the face - and neither do tweezing or waxing. It might be okay to pluck a stray nipple hair now and then or to shave your underarms, but using a razor on a female upper lip is NOT the way to go.
So when all has has failed, luckily there finally is a relatively new technique that promises to put an end to our daily quest to rid ourselves of unwanted hair: laser hair removal. But when all is said and done, does it really get rid of that hairy problem?
The short answer is: yes.
How Does Laser hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal became widely available in the middle of the 1990s. Clever boffins discovered that lasers can cause damage to parts of the human body, such as skin and hair, by heating specific targets. Where hair is concerned the target is melanin, a dark matter present in the follicle, which causes the hair to grow.
Advanced scientific techniques resulted in a laser which, when yielded correctly, would target the follicle and damage it, but leave surrounding skin intact. Basically, the follicles are heated and become inflamed, which makes them retreat to the resting, or telegen, phase, and stop growing.
In the past, lasers could only work on dark eumelanin, responsible for brown or black hair, and not pheomelanin, which produces blonde and red hair. But now other hair types can also be removed.
To ensure that your hair is gone and your skin isn't, however, the skill of the person carrying out the procedure is vital. The darker your skin is, the harder it is to produce good results - and the easier it is to damage the skin itself. Risks of shoddy laser hair removal can include acne flare-ups, burning, white spots and skin discoloration - this can be avoided by using one of three types of lasers which are suitable to your specific skin type.
Remember: laser hair removal does not claim to get rid of hair permanently, although when done regularly you may see permanent hair reduction. Most people will need a series of treatments, anywhere between three and five at least four weeks apart, for best results - although that depends on the amount of hair, its coarseness etc. Maintenance or upkeep treatments are also recommended, although they can take place just once a year.
Also keep in mind that hair grows in spurts, so you will have to return at different times to target complete hair removal. The skill of the person doing the removal is also key, so get someone you trust who has lots of experience removing hair.
A Laser Hair Journey
Here are the steps you will take to get rid of unwanted hair through lasers. Note that you should not pluck or wax your hair in the three weeks prior to treatment, that you should avoid exercise for at least 24 hours after, and shouldn't be in the sun for about two weeks after. Always wear suncream - but especially following laser hair removal!
1. A practitioner will most likely apply a spray or gel to the area first to numb it but not always - ask in advance if this is something you will want. Remember that pain is usually worse the first time, and that people with coarse hair and/or lots of hair will find the experience the most painful.
2. Next, the practitioner will use the laser to take out the hair. If you are having laser therapy on or near your face, you may be asked to wear goggles - some practitioners may ask you to wear them no matter what part of the body is being treated for extra safety.
3. There is a good chance you will be red and sore after the hair removal has taken place, but luckily this will only last a few days. If you have an infection in the area or are taking certain medications, ask your doctor first whether laser hair removal is a good idea.
4. You will soon find that the laser has inhibited the growth of your hair to a significant degree, more so with additional treatments, although the hair may not disappear entirely. Be aware that a very small minority of people do not respond to laser hair removal, and that electrolysis may work better in areas where the strands of hair need to be removed one at a time - such as in the eyebrow area. And in very rare cases, new hair will grow in the areas adjacent to the ones treated, which will require additional hair removal treatments.
5. While you may experience some temporary pigment changes after laser hair removal, be aware that scarring can occur. Minimize the risk of this happening by using only an experienced practitioner and making sure you have the right type of laser for your skin type.
6. If you have a tan, either fake or real, you will need to wait until it has faded completely before you embark on a course of laser hair removal. This is to decrease your risk of skin discoloration as well as to reduce any possibility that your skin will blister, which will be only temporary if it happens at all.
Both men and women often seek laser hair removal as a way to remove unwanted hair seemingly forever. While women concentrate on the upper lip, chin, breast area, thighs, legs, armpits and bikini lines, men often want their chests and backs hair-free. It is estimated that lasers can reduce the hair count, in some cases, by a whopping 90 percent. Happy lasering!
Sarah Matthews is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Healer at local.yodle.com/articles Yodle Local or more local.yodle.com/articles/topics/health-medicine Health & Medicine articles at Yodle Consumer Guide.
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