HAIR REMOVAL- METHODS AND SIDE EFFECTS

whether it is hair on the face, armpits, legs, bikini line,etc..many women and men alike are quite adamant about the hair on their head being the only patch on their entire bodies. with the emphasis on smoother, fairer skin it is interesting that , especially in women , excess hair is taboo.

there are a miriad of options available to thoose who seek hair removal. from the traditional shave to the new treatments like lasers and VANIQA.

an understanding of hair growth can help us fight it better. Each hair is contained in a pilosebaceous unit, which consists of a hair shaft, hair follicle, sebaceous gland, erector pilli muscle. growth and shedding of hair takes place through 3 phases.

The Anagen phase- the growth phase

The Catagen phase- transition phase

The telogen phase- the resting phase

the time hairs spend in each phase is determined by genetics. hair in the eanagen phase is more sesceptible to injury than in the telogen phase.

All of these factors must be considered while choosing from the following methods of hair removal.

1.Bleaching

This is a method by which the hairs are not actually removed, but made less noticeable. This is especially useable for areas that already have thin but dark noticeable patches of hair like arms, face or neck. Bleaching is performed by applying a chemical to the desired area, inturn removing the hair pigments.

2.Shaving

shaving is most common and temperory method of hair removal, as it merely cuts the hair off at the skin surface. Shaving does not effect your natural hair or its growth in any ways. though the shorter hair shaft maybe mor enoticeable as it grows out as it has a blunt end rather than a tapering one. shaving is done after applying some moisturizer on skin to help the razor glide over the skin. common moisturizers include water, shaving cream, hair conditioner, soap etc

3. Physical Hair Removal

Physically pulling the hair out of the follicle is a common and fairly inexpensive method of hair removal. None of these methods changes the color, texture, or density of the hair.By pulling hair the growth rate of the hair from its follicle can be reduced over time.

4.Waxing and Sugar Waxing

one of the effective methods of mass hair removal is waxing. wax is heated and applied in the direction of hair growth. The hair bocomes embedded in the wax, which cools and firms up grasping the hair.Wax is pulled of in a fluid rapid action in direction opposite to that of hair growth,pulling the hairs out of the follicles. Cold waxes are available usually attached to strips, which are patted onto the skin. Wax that is still left on the skin must be peeled or scratched off. Sugar waxing works in the same way a waxing. a sugary substance like caramel is spread on the skin in the direction of hair growth. the rest of the procedure is same as that for waxing. The advantage of sugar waxing over normal waxing is tha, since sugar is water soluable, it can be easily removed from skin by rinsing with water.

5.Hair Removal with Depilatories

Depilatories use a chemical called thioglycolate mixed with sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide to literally melt the hair away. the compound thioglycolate disrupts disulfide bonds, which are chemical bonds that hold skin and hair cells together.The major side effect of a depilatory is skin irritation. this is because the chemical can melt skin along with the hair. A depilatory is applied to the area with unwanted hair and left on for 3 to 15 minutes. During this time the chemical dissolves the hair and the resulting jelly-like substance is wiped or washed off after the appropriate time. A hydrpcortisone cream applied after hair removal may lessen irritation.

6.Hair removal with Laser

As Laser technology advances its applications are spreading across the health sector. and dermatology is not left far behind. Laser technology is becoming a common application for hair removal , but its not permenant and not for everyone. Lasers work by emitting light at various wavelengths, energy output, and pulse widths. The wavelenght depends on the area of application like tissue, veins, melanin or water. lasers used for hair removal aim at melanin and therefore are meant to burn away structures that contain melanin.It makes sense that laser hair removal works for light skinned people with dark hair. Hair follices in the Anagen phase are more easily destroyed than in the Telogen phase. Therefore, lase treatments for hair removal must be carried out in sessions, our a prescribed period of time. To sum it up laser treatmen should be done after serious study about your requirements, skin type, genetic background, and feasibility of other options like waxing, electrolysis, vaniqa etc. moreover 100% removal , at this time, cannot be guaranteed.

7.Hair removal with VANIQA

Vaniqa is an FDA approved topical cream used for reducing and inhibiting the growth of unwanted facial hair. Vaniqa is a prescription only topical cream. The active ingredient in Vaniqa is eflornithine hydrochloride. it has been used to treat certain cancers. Vaniqa works by inhibiting an enzyme that is needed for cell reproduction and other cell functions necessary for hair growth. Vaniqa is applied twice a day to areas of unwanted facial hair. Noticeable results are usually observed after 4-8 weeks of therapy. Vaniqa continues to reduce facial hair growth for up to 8 weeks after discontinuing treatment.