UNWANTED HAIRS

Unwanted hair & Laser Hair Removal

INTRODUCTION

The main indication of laser hair removal is hirsutism, ie, presence of hair in a male pattern of distribution in a woman. This article covers the main causes of hirsutism, various methods of hair removal and basic knowledge of a patient should know before you start laser hair removal treatments.

Hirsutism

Hirsutism is defined as the presence of coarse dark hair in a male pattern of distribution in a woman. The most common site affected is the face especially upper lip and chin, other sites include chest (sternum, chest), back, abdomen (linea alba and upper pubic triangle). 

REASONS FOR Hirsutism

The causes of hirsutism are many and varied, including:

• Inheritance 

• Pregnancy 

• Hormonal imbalance (PCOS, adrenal or ovarian tumors, Cushing's syndrome 

    thyroid disorders) 

• Insulin resistance states (eg obesity) 

• Reactions to certain medications (eg steroids) 

• Normal aging processes 

• Idiopathic. 

Physicians should examine the possible underlying reason of the extreme hair growth before starting laser because if there is something in your body constantly triggers hair growth, laser treatment might seem ineffective because the body will keep developing new hair. So it will always look as if no reduction when in reality it is the body produces new hair that you are witnessing, not to be treated by laser growing back. Women with PCOS hair growth patterns (upper lip, chin, cheeks, etc.) should see an endocrinologist and have hormonal tests taken. Men can get tested for insulin resistance, etc. can affect laser hair that is currently present but can not prevent new hair from developing countries. 

Various methods of Hair Removal & their side effects

Hair removal methods can be broadly classified into two types:

A. The real question methods, ie removal of hair from the skin surface as hair removal creams and shaving. 

B. Epilatory methods like plucking, waxing, electrolysis and lasers.

Skin irritation and redness are the most common side effects of hair removal. Shaving can cause skin cuts and may lead to ingrown hairs. Plucking can hurt, especially if a lot of hair removal. Using hot wax can burn your skin. Chemicals that dissolve hair often smell bad and may cause allergic skin reactions. 

Regrowth of hair is very quick with these methods, and the time that growth can be thicker. 

Electrolysis hurts and in some people can cause thick scars (called keloids). It can also change the color of the skin around where the hair was removed.

Laser hair removal can also cause burns and color changes in the skin. But side effects are minimal, if done in the best hands of an expert dermatologist.

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal (LHR) is a procedure by which hair is removed from the body by using a long pulse laser. Actually the correct term would be laser hair reduction, rather than laser hair removal since hundred percent clearance of hair can not be achieved. Laser parameters are carefully defined by studying the anatomy of the hair follicle. LHR should be performed by a specially trained dermatologist. 

MECHANISM OF ACTION

Lasers are optical devices that produce a single color beams of light. Laser light energy creates heat as it passes through the skin and targets darker colored pigment, melanin found in hair follicle and hair. By heating up the hair follicle during its active phase (ANAGER), the laser disables the follicle's ability to produce hair without affecting surrounding tissue.

Lasers designed for long term hair reduction emits wavelengths of light absorbed by the pigment in the hair (melanin). If the surrounding skin is relatively light compared to the color of hair, so the total energy of the laser will be concentrated in the hair shaft, effectively destroying it without affecting the skin or follicle. Hair removal lasers target the dark pigment in hair. This is why laser hair removal works best on light skin (so the laser passes straight through) and dark coarse hair (has most pigment). Laser does not work on white, brown and very thin black hair. 

Number and spacing treatments

Most people need at least 6-8 initial treatments spread 4-8 weeks apart. This is because hair grows in 3 phases and is killed only in the first "ANAGER" active growing phase. Multiple treatments are needed to target ALL hair in the active growth phase. Approximately 4-8 weeks after each treatment, further treatment is required to remove hair that came out of the dormant phase and are now active. After 6-8 treatments or so, patients experience a significant percentage of hair reduction. Depending on hair type, genetic and hormonal factors may sometimes require additional treatments beyond these initial treatments. 

PREPARATION BEFORE TREATMENT

Sunlight should be avoided by proper use of a sunscreen in the weeks prior to a laser hair removal session as tanned skin will hamper efficiency. If you take any medicine, tell your doctor. The area in which LHR to be done, should ideally be shaved 1-2 days before treatment. No wax or remove hair with roots in any other manner permitted 3 weeks before and during treatment, as hair should be ready to be targeted by laser. 

LASERS USED

Long pulse Nd.Yag long pulse laser, diode laser and IPL (intense pulsed light). 

SUMMARY OF ARTICLE

Unwanted facial hair is a very common problem for girls in those days. In most cases it is associated with a specific cause most common is some hormonal imbalances. People keep trying different methods of hair removal, without treating the cause. There are a lot of myths about laser hair removal and this article was written to remove these.