Unwanted hair. Everyone has it and everyone decides to deal with it in a different way. Many people choose to undergo laser hair removal, a popular option that allows for near-permanent hair removal that became commercially available in the 1970s and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Both men and women decide to udergo epilation as a way to get rid of too much or unwanted hair. Common areas of treatment include the lip, chin, ear lobe, shoulders, back, underarm, abdomen, buttocks, pubic area, bikini lines, thighs, face, neck, cleavage, chest, arms, legs, hands and toes.
Epilation works best with dark, thick hair and people with light skin and has been proven to reduce hair count by up to 20 - 90 percent. Although it is not permenent, it is a good option for people looking for long-term results.
Laser epilation works with selective photothermolysis (SPTL) and heats melanin, a dark target matter which can be naturally occuring or artificially added to skin, in the hair follicle.
Hair grows in several phases and for the best results, epilation should be done during the anagen, or active growth, cylce of growth. Several treatments may be required to remove hair in all stages of growth.
Before deciding to undergo epilation, benefits, risks, procedures and health concerns should be considered and discussed with a doctor. A review of a patient's medical history and any medications being taken will be done to decide if the patient should undergo epilation.
Some risks of epliation include burning skin, discoloring skin, acne, bleeding under the skin and infection. Bleeding during treatment is very rare.
Epilation should only be done by a doctor who is certified in dermatology or a related field and should never be done at a spa, salon or clinic where those administering treatment are not certified.
The patient should not have a tan, natural or artificial, when they receive treatment because this can cause blistering and discoleration. The patient should also avoid sun exposure for four to six weeks before the procedure.
Two to three days before the epilation, the area to be treated should be shaved, and some stubble should be visible. Do not wax, pluck, or undergo electrolysis for at least three weeks before your visit.
The clinician will take pictures of the area to be treated from several different angles to allow for a before and after comparison. The patient will wear goggles during the procedure to protect their eyes.
During the treatment, the clinician will press a laser to the patient's skin and a cooling device or cooling gell will be used to protect the skin. When the laser is turned on, some people feel a slight tingling sensation (which can be lessened with a topical anesthetic), smell burning hair or notice a burning of stubble; these are all normal observations.
The light will travel through the surface of the skin and damage the follicle, which inhibits hair growth. Depending on the area being treated, it may take a few minutes or a few hours to complete the treatment.
Smaller areas like lips and ears will only take several minutes while larger areas, like the back could take a few hours.
After epilation, no medications or bandages are needed. The patient should avoid exercise or overexertion for the first 24 hours, since sweat could irritate the treated skin.
The patient should also avoid sun exposure and tanning booths, for several weeks and then use sunscreen regularly.
They should also avoid picking at or manipulating the skin and should wash gently with soap and water. If dry, crusting appears keep the area moist with petroleum jelly.
Normal side effects include itching, redness, swelling, and some pain and numbness in the treated area for up to three days after epilation.
There may be some damage to the skin around the hair follicle. Hair regrowth may occur and can be alleviated with follow-up treatments.
Darkening of the skin (hyperpitmentation) which is usually temporary but could last for a long time or become permanent and ligthening of the skin (hypopigmentation), which is more common with people who have darker skin, may occur.
Other rare side effects include blistering, scarring, a change in skin texture, crusting or scabbing, and hair consistency changes if there is regrowth (which can be alleviated with additional treatments).
Author Resource:-
Jack Landry has worked in laser hair removal center for the last 10 years. He has authored hundreds of articles on laser hair removal in Arizona.
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