The future is bright for millions of Americans with unwanted hair.
(PRWEB) August 31, 2005 -- Excess facial or body hair can be a nagging cosmetic concern for men and women, alike. While depilatories, shaving, waxing, and electrolysis are common solutions for hair removal, many people complain that the accompanying discomfort and time-consuming nature of many of these treatments are too high a price to pay for temporarily smooth skin. However, these men and women are beginning to discover that lasers are a convenient yet gentle solution to the problem of unwanted hair.
Speaking today , the American Academy of Dermatology’s summer scientific meeting in Chicago, dermatologist Allison T. Vidimos, RPh, MD, Staff Member, Department of Dermatology, Section of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology, and Program Director, Dermatology Residency, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, discussed the facts of laser hair removal.
“The continued development of laser technology has led to a variety of exciting treatment options for patients of all skin types with unwanted hair,” stated Dr. Vidimos. “Last year, more than 585,000 laser treatments were performed in the United States, and the number of patients taking advantage of this procedure to receive permanent hair growth reduction is growing.”
Laser hair removal uses a low-energy laser to gently remove unwanted hair. The laser energy passes through the skin and is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle. In a fraction of a second, many of the treated hair follicles are injured by the heat generated by the laser. Laser treatments can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours depending on the size of the area being treated.
With the exception of the region close to the eye, almost any area of the body with excess hair can be treated with lasers. The most common areas requested by patients are the face, upper lip, neck, chest, periareolar (breast region), underarms, back, abdomen, bikini line and legs.
“In general, patients with light skin and dark hair are the ideal candidates for laser hair removal,” said Dr. Vidimos. “However, the use of longer wavelength lasers and skin cooling devices have increased the safety of lasers used to treat patients with darker skin types that, until now, have not been candidates for laser hair removal. These skin cooling devices protect the upper layer of skin in darker skinned patients from absorbing too much laser energy, thereby reducing the risk of blistering and pigment change.”
Yet while laser treatments for darker skinned patients have improved, patients with tanned skin are still not candidates and must wait until their tan fades before they can be treated. Patients are instructed not to suntan or use sunless tanning products prior to laser treatment, since tanning alters skin pigment and can affect how the skin absorbs the laser energy. This could lead to increased side effects such as blistering or discoloration following treatment.
In addition to a patient’s skin color, their hair color also influences the success of laser hair removal. As a rule, the pigment in dark hair absorbs more laser energy, making black or brown hair easier to treat. Light hair, such as blonde or red, contains a pigment that absorbs laser energy less readily, and therefore does not respond with permanent hair reduction.
The number of hair removal treatments required for optimal long-term benefits usually depends on the area the patient would like to have treated, the hair density, and the patient’s hair growth cycle. Hair grows in cycles and many factors influence its growth. Age, ethnicity, weight, hormones, diet, medication, and metabolism all play a part in a patient’s hair distribution, thickness, and resilience. When necessary, laser treatments are usually repeated at six to eight week intervals.
A typical laser hair removal patient may experience brief swelling and redness following the procedure. Most patients will be completely healed in two to 10 days, although their hair may not fall out for up to two weeks after treatment. Following laser hair removal, patients can return to their normal activities immediately. As always, patients should avoid any direct sun exposure and use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 since the treated skin will be very sensitive to the sun.
“The success of laser hair removal depends on the skill of the physician performing the treatment,” cautioned Dr. Vidimos. “I would advise patients to ask questions, and make sure that the physician they’ve chosen to work with is a board-certified dermatologist or other appropriately-trained surgeon with extensive experience in performing laser procedures in order to ensure the best possible results.”
The American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of over 14,000 dermatologists worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin. For more information, visit
http://www.laser-hair-removal-chicago.us
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