New Article!
Needling and Rollers for Scar Reduction by Dr. Phillipa McCaffery

Visit Our NEW Unified Website at ReverseSkinAging.com

Search Skin Biology Quick Shop  VIEW ALL PRODUCTS Shop by Skin Condition Shop by Skin Type _______________________ BEST SELLERS: • CP Serum • Super CP Serum • Super Cop Cream • Super Cop Cream 2X Strength • Super GHK-Copper • Emu Oil-S Lipid Replenisher • Two Timing Tightener • Folligen Therapy Spray • Folligen Therapy Shampoo • Folligen Nutrient Cream _______________________ • NEW! FOOT CREAM • Sebum Be Gone • Two Timing Tightener • Super GHK-Copper • LacSal Cream • LacSal Serum • Body Perfume Spray • Tin Peptide Nail Renewal TIPS ON USING SRCPS Before and After Pictures Frequently Asked Questions Order by Mail Bulk Purchases Skin Biology Policies USA Postage Rates International Postage Rates CONTACT SKIN BIOLOGY Contact Dr. Pickart Need Help Ordering Online? Driving Directions Honest Skin Care Advice Skin Products Remodeling - The Key to Skin Beauty Acne Scars  After Shave Repair Age Spots Anti-Wrinkle Over 30 Anti-Wrinkle Under 30 Anti-Wrinkle with Rosacea Arms and Legs Breast Skin Care "Bumpy" Skin Day Cover Eye Skin Tightening Exfoliators Eyebrow / Eyelash Loss Face - Youthful "Glow" Foot Care Fragile Nails Fragile Skin Gentle Cleanser Heal After Dermabrasion Laser Burns Loose Skin Looking Younger  Than Your Daughter Make Up Remover Mature Skin Renewal Moisturizers Models and Actors Moles Neck Skin Nursing Mothers Scars Sensitive Skin Cleanser Skin Blemishes Skin Peel Irritation Skin Tags Stretch Marks Stronger Hydroxys Strongest Copper-Peptides Sun Damage Removal Sun Marks - Décolletage Tearing Nails Tighten Sagging Skin Under MakeUp Protection   Hair Products Male Hair Loss Female Hair Loss Shampoo Conditioner Relaxer Damage Irritated Scalp Post Transplant After Hair Removal For Blondes Body Perfumes with  Pheromones Attract Women Attract Men Relaxing Suntanning Suntan Lotion Post Tanning Cream Better Health for  Extra Sensitive Skin Burn Scars Dermatitis Diabetes Dry, Cracking Skin Eczema Insect Bites HIV Psoriasis Radiation Burns Sjogren's Syndrome Skin Allergies Wheelchairs Other Information Unauthorized and Counterfeit Products Notice of Inaccurate Press Release

Skin Biology Help and Index to Products and Information   Skin Biology Aging Reversal  Hair Removal Methods & Importance of Healing Skin Afterward Questions about our products or need advice about what is best for you?  Call Toll-Free 800-405-1912- Talk to Real People - No Phone Menus!  Weekdays - Best Time - 8 am to 6 pm, Pacific Time  or please send an email to Contact Skin Biology   Removing Unwanted Hair The Importance of Skin Healing After Hair Removal Tweezing and Shaving Mechanical Epilators Depilatories Waxing Electrolysis Laser Hair Removal Bleaching Hair Ingrown Hairs Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Vaniqa Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Estrogens Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Lupron / Leuprolide Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Cyproterone (Androcur) Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Diane 35 (Cyproterone Acetate with Ethinyloestradiol) Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Flutamide (Euflex, Eulexin) Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Casodex / Bicalutamide (ICI 176,334)   Temporary and Permanent Hair Removal Surveys indicate that 80% of women and over 50% of men have unwanted hair in various body areas. Much of this unwanted hair is genetic, but sometimes it is the result of other causes, for example, testosterone treatments. Humans have lost most of their body fur over the past few millions of years. Today, many still seek the "longest-lasting," "least painful," and "least expensive" methods for getting rid of unwanted hair. Hair removal salons report that men are increasingly interested in hair removal and that their male clientele ranges between 35% and 60% today. Despite changes in the past 20 years in attitudes toward many other types of body changes, attitudes toward body hair remain rigid. A recent study asked college students to view videotapes of a woman emerging from a swimming pool and drying herself. In one videotape, the woman had more body hair. In the other, she had shaved. Both male and female students considered the woman with more body hair as less intelligent, less sociable, and less happy than the same woman as she appeared after shaving. The students also thought of the unshaven woman as more aggressive and strong, and, in essence, they saw her as less feminine. Men commonly want hair removed from between the eyebrows, around the outside of the ears, and the shoulders, and also, they sometimes want smooth bodies to cut down on wind resistance during sports. Male cyclists and swimmers want hair removed to increase their competitive speed. Women commonly want to remove facial hair on the lip, chin, eyebrows, neck, bikini line, abdomen, breasts, forearms, and underarms. Many muscle builders (a rapidly growing sport) favor hairlessness for competitions and, therefore, carefully shave, depilate, and wax their bodies to seek the perfect body image. In Northern California, a substantial group of transsexuals are highly interested in obtaining degrees of hairlessness in various body areas. Medications such as steroid hormones and birth control pills, or the surgical removal of sex glands, may stimulate abnormal hair growth. The cost of hair removal can range from $20 to 50 for do-it-yourself waxing kits to several thousand dollars for laser treatments. "Permanent" hair removal takes time and often requires repeated treatments. This is because hairs that are visible are in their growing phase. However, at any given time, about 11% of your hair is in a resting phase and the follicles are not growing hair, while another 4% are in the hair shedding phase, during when hair falls out. "Permanent" hair removal works only on hair in the growing phase and works best on follicles in the early part of the growing phase. So, any permanent hair removal treatment might only affect 30% to 40% of the follicles. Later treatments will be needed to treat the remaining follicles as they progress into the early phase of the hair growing cycle. Types of Hair Removal Temporary: Tweezing, Shaving, Mechanical Epilators, Chemical Depilatories Less Hair Eventually: Waxing (tends to reduce hair growth with time) Permanent: Electrolysis (Hair Electrology), Laser Hair Removal     CONTINUE

All hair removal methods (tweezing, shaving, waxing, electrolysis, lasers, pharmaceutical creams etc.) cause a certain amount of skin damage. They can irritate the skin as well as allow for the penetration of viruses and bacteria into the skin. For example, warts seem to start from injured or broken skin. Common warts usually grow where skin has been irritated or shaved, such as where fingernails are bitten or hangnails pulled. In adults, warts tend to grow where hair removal procedures have damaged the skin. This is the beard area on men and the legs on women.

	We recommend using a skin repair product after hair removal to speed skin recovery and protect the skin's surface against viruses and bacteria. The typical post-shaving products and other products for use after hair removal, help soothe the skin but have no significant skin repair properties. Skin Biology's BioHeal is a skin repair cream that also contains camphor and menthol for pain reduction and has been shown to stimulate skin repair in controlled clinical trials. See www.bioheal.com
	An alternative skin repair product is CP Serum. This is a water-based skin healing product which makes it easy to apply. Many salons use this product to treat skin after skin peels and dermabrasion. It is available at www.skinbio.com/cpserum.html
	For moisturizing skin after hair removal, Emu Oil-S is recommended. Numerous studies have found emu oil to be effective at moisturizing dry skin and aiding in skin repair. It is available at www.skinbio.com/moisturizers.html

Tweezing and Shaving

Tweezing works for about three weeks. Tweezers vary in price from about $2.60 for Revlon's Deluxe Slant Tip Tweezer and $6.50 for Revlon's Micro-Fine version, to $22 for Tweezerman Tweezers.

Shaving results in the reappearance of facial hair on men in one day but lasts about 4 days on body hair. Some of the new razors, like the new triple blade Gillette razor, cut the hair shaft closer to the skin and can add about one day to traditional shaving effects.

Shaving for women wasn't popular until the early part of the century, when the safety razor was invented by the Gillette company, which advertised supposed sanitary benefits to women by shaving their underarms. Leg shaving for women became popular with the advent of sheer nylon stockings during World War II.

Body shaving is more difficult than facial shaving because the skin is more tender in certain areas of the body, such as the bikini area or the legs. Generally, shaving is done against the direction of hair growth. For sensitive areas, shaving in the direction of hair growth often works better and gives fewer skin cuts, but can be slower. It also helps to  lather up and soak the body areas for a while prior to shaving.

Stop shaving body areas that become red or get bumps after shaving until the skin heals and the redness vanishes. You risk infection if you shave while your skin is still healing. Some people feel that gel shaving creams work better on the body than foam creams.

Men, particularly, competitive body builders, often pretrim body hair with an electric mustache trimmer. The resultant short stubble is soaked in water, covered with a shaving gel, and shaved with a “ladies” body razor such as "Lady Sensor" or the Schick equivalent.

The cost of shaving is about $4.50 for Schick Silk Effects Refillable Razor for Women or the Gillette SensorExcel, and about $4 to $5 for a package of four replacement blades, which are enough to shave your underarms and legs about 20 times. Shaving cream runs at about $2.35 for 10 oz. of Skintimate Shave Cream for women, which should last about two months.

Mechanical Epilators

Mechanical epilators have an electric rubber roller or coiled spring that catches the hair and pulls it out, somewhat painfully, and tends to miss some hair. Hair must be about 1/4" to 1/3" long for the epilators to work. Epilators should not be used on very sensitive skin such as the face, genitals, or armpits.

Braun, the German manufacturer, has two epilator types, one for about $70 called Silk Epil Select and one for about $100 called Duo-Select which is available only through the Sharper Image catalog. Most reviewers prefer the more expensive Braun epilator which has 2 speeds, 2 tweezer strengths, plus an electric razor attachment for skin areas too sensitive for the tweezer action.

Epi-Lady epilator utilizes a coiled spring that is rotated by an electric motor. As the hair enters the spaces between the coils, the coils grab the hair and pull it out down to the hair root. This product has received good reviews and comes in several models, priced from $39 to $79.

Remington sells the Smooth and Silky epilator which also uses a rotating spring but offers different springs for different types of hair.

Depilatories

Depilatory creams are available in gel, cream, lotion, aerosol, and roll-on forms. They contain an alkaline chemical, usually calcium thioglycolate, that dissolves the protein structure of the hair and causes it to separate from the skin. Sometimes, chemical depilatories don't work very well for naturally "hairy" people.

Depilatories can work well but they can also cause serious skin irritations and even second or third-degree chemical burns, and possibly, scarring, if the formula is too strong or is left on for too long. The depilatory dissolves any hair with which it comes into contact, but it also can dissolve the keratin in skin. Instructions must be followed carefully. Also, before using a depilatory cream, test the product on a small area of your skin for allergic reactions or sensitivity. Hair must be at a reasonable length for use to be effective.

Depilatory contact with the skin should be limited to somewhere between 4 and 15 minutes, depending on how fine or coarse your hair is. Most of the creams are specially formulated for the finer hair of a female and take longer to effectively remove the thicker hair of a male. Skin sensitivity varies on different parts of the body and some depilatories are for use only on the legs, while others are safe for sensitive areas such as the bikini line, face, and underarms. Depilatories should not be used for the eyebrows or other areas around the eyes, or on inflamed or broken skin. Their effect lasts about 7 days.

Lee Pharmaceuticals (www.leepharmaceuticals.com) sells the Bikini Bare Depilatory line of cream, foam, and lotion depilatories, special applicators, and bleaches to use after the depilatories. The products run about $5 to $8 while other products, including Nair and Neet, cost about $4 for 4 ounces, which is enough to smooth your calves two to three times.

Some depilatories increase acne and the occurrence of ingrown hairs. Scrubbing the skin with a Loofa sponge (natural sponge) in the shower is said to stop any infected or ingrown hairs from developing.

Waxing

Waxing is the lowest costing and most effective method for temporary hair removal because it removes hair with its roots, not just at the skin surface as with shaving. Regrowth of the hair usually takes 3 to 8 weeks.

For very important occasions such as competitive body building, beauty contests, or to impress someone special, a professional whole body waxing is recommended. This may cost about $150 for a whole "hairy" body and take 3 hours. You will be relatively hairless for about 3 weeks. One caution: have the waxing done at least a week before the special occasion to be sure that any tiny red pinprick-dots are healed.

Hair regrowth after shaving is immediate and the stubble is coarse and rough. With waxing, the new hair takes weeks to come back, and is softer, lighter in color, and much sparser. Not only are the hairs removed but waxing exfoliates the top layer of dead skin cells, resulting in a softer, smoother, more translucent skin. Leg waxing leaves the skin silky smooth for 4 to 6 weeks. Waxing also works well on the stomach, brows, and upper lip.

Waxing often results in a slower hair return. Each waxing permanently destroys some hair roots and so space between the hairs increases. Less hair returns and the returning hair becomes finer. Eventually, much hair is permanently gone.

Removing facial hair does not make it grow back darker. However, some women experience "shading" and the skin where hair is removed becomes darker. This is usually due to exposing the skin to the sun within 48 hours after hair removal. For best results, use a sun blocker on newly treated areas.

For best results, waxing requires:
     Special hair removal waxes
     Cloth patches
     A moist towel
     A wax heating unit
     A mixing and applying spatula
     A pain reducing gel
     A skin repair cream

Waxing at home costs about $5 for a 3 oz. wax kit, which is enough for three applications on lower legs, while a salon charges $25 to $35 for the lower legs, $15 to $25 for the bikini line, and $10 to $20 for the upper lip.

Types of Waxes

Special waxes have been developed for hair removal that contain combinations of waxes, such as paraffin and beeswax, oils or fats, and resins that help the wax adhere to the skin.

There are "hot" and "cold" waxes. Hot waxes are applied as a thin layer is applied to the skin in the direction of the hair growth. Newer, hot waxes melt at relatively low temperatures and often contain some sugar to ease their removal from the skin. The hair becomes trapped in the wax as it cools and hardens. A cloth is placed over the wax and pulled off quickly in the opposite direction of hair growth, taking the uprooted hairs with it. Waxes should contain no artificial colors, perfumes, or preservatives.

The best hot waxes melt at just above body temperature, reducing the danger of burning. The wax should wash away with water and not require any sort of special remover.

Cold waxes work similarly to hot waxes. You use strips precoated with wax that are pressed on the skin, then pulled off in the direction opposite to hair growth. The wax strips come in different sizes for use on the chin, eyebrows, upper lip, and bikini area.

Waxes should not be re-used despite the recommendations of some wax sellers.

Waxing Cautions

Before waxing, test a small area of skin for any sensitivity to the wax. Waxing should not be done on persons with diabetes, or with varicose veins, moles, or warts on the site of hair removal. Wax should not be used on nipples, male genital organs, the eyelashes, inside the nose or ears, or on skin that is irritated, chapped, sunburned, or broken.

Waxing should not be done on the face of a person using Retin-A, Renova, Differin, or Accutane, as these substances weaken the skin and the skin may tear when the wax strip is pulled off.

Waxing Your Skin

Hair should be at least 1/8" long before waxing. If shorter, wait a few days longer (best results are obtained letting the hair grow for 2-3 weeks). You will need wax, cloth strips (3" by 9" for body waxing), and a small, moist towel.

Prior to starting, wash the area to be waxed with soap and water and dry well. Any makeup or lotions on the skin may prevent the wax from removing the hair.

Heating the Wax

For microwaving wax, remove the cap and place the jar of wax in the microwave oven. Heat on full power for 20 to 30 seconds (however, because each microwave is somewhat different, it is a good idea to experiment to find the best time). If you wish to use a stove top, remove the cap and place the jar of wax in a pan with gently boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes.

Stir the wax well with a spatula. The wax should be soft but not runny. The ideal temperature for wax application is 40-50°C (104-122°F). Test the wax on a very small area of skin to be certain that it is not too hot.

Applying Pain-Reducing Gels

Since waxing stings the skin, many waxers use pain-reducing gels (usually 4% lidocaine) that are specially formulated to penetrate intact skin. The pain-reducing gels are applied 30-60 minutes before waxing. The special lidocaine provides an effective numbing action during the waxing procedure. The gel is formulated so that it does not interfere with the waxing procedure or reduce the adhesion of the wax to the hair.

A moderately thick layer of lidocaine gel works best (about 0.4 grams of gel per 10 square centimeters of skin). Usually, the skin above the upper lip or eyebrow area will be sufficiently numb to perform waxing without discomfort after 30 minutes. Other areas, such as the legs or bikini areas may take longer, 45-60 minutes. The gel is often covered with occlusive plastic wraps, such as Saran Wrap, Cellophane Film, Tegaderm or Flexi-film, which promote the penetration of the anesthetic numbing agent into the skin. This wrapping is especially useful for skin areas with less skin blood supply like the legs. The longer the application time, the deeper and more complete the degree of analgesia.

The lidocaine gels should not be applied inside the eyes and contact with the eyes should be strongly avoided. If contact with the eyes does occur, flush the eyes with saline solution or with water. Before waxing, it is recommended to wipe the area with a clean, moist towelette.

A somewhat different pain-reducing gel that is used by many waxing salons is EMLA® cream. It contains a combination of 2.5% lidocaine and 2.5% prilocaine. It is a prescription product from Astra Pharmaceuticals costing about $40 per 1 oz. jar.

Applying and Removing Wax

Apply a very thin layer of wax in the direction of hair growth. Then smooth a cloth strip over the waxed area and remove the strip in a rapid motion against the direction of hair growth, while keeping the skin tight as possible with the other hand. Pull the cloth as close to the skin as possible. If the cloth strip is peeled off too slowly, hair will not come out properly.

Waxing Difficult Areas

    Hair on the upper lip and chin can be difficult to remove. To improve the removal facial hair:

 - Use the wax at a lower temperature than for the rest of the body
 - Use small cloth strips of about 3" by 1"
 - Use your free hand to keep the skin very tight
 - Spread the wax very thin
 - Wax very small areas at a time

Cleaning after Waxing

Wash the waxed area with a moist towel to remove excess wax. A temporary redness and soreness in the waxed area is normal. Avoid exposing the just-waxed area of skin to the sun for 12 hours. Many salons apply an anti-infection ointment after waxing.

Sources of Waxing Materials

    Waxes, special heaters, and lidocaine can be obtained from many sources. Many small waxing kits are available in drug stores such as Rite-Aid. The brands of Sally Hansen (www.sallyhansen.com) and Lee Pharmaceuticals (Zip line) (www.leepharmaceuticals.com) sell low priced packages of waxing strips, waxing kits, and sugar waxes. They are priced in the $5 to $8 range and include facial and body waxes, wax trays, microwavable waxes, and wax strips.
 

More extensive supplies can be obtained from:

DermaScan Laboratories
P.O. Box 4066
Mountain View, CA 94040

Website: www.dermascan.com
Email: dermascan@dermascan.com
Telephone: (800) 677-9299
This company sells a starter kit of one 12.5 Oz. wax jar, one package of 40 (9"x3") (23 cm x 8 cm) reusable cloth strips, and one SmartSpatula (with temperature indicators that change from black to green to show the temperature the wax is at, all for $26.97. They also sell a pain-reducing gel of 4% Lidocaine at $11.99 for 0.25 oz. (8 grams) or $45.95 for 1.2 oz. ( 35 grams). An electric wax warmer (110 Volts) is sold for $10.95.

Waxit sells a complete professional Waxit station for use at home or in a beauty salon. The kit which sells for $169 contains (1) a thermostatic wax bucket containing six pounds of honey colored WAXIT with spatula cleaner installed, (2) a metal bladed professional spatula, (3) a filter screen that sterilizes and filters wax, (4) a complete textbook with instructions, and (5) a Spatula  for wax application.

Their address is:
Richard Whittleton  Jr.
2351 Drew Street
Clearwater, FL  34625

Email: rewjr@bizinter.net

Depilatory Waxes (103 South River Street, Santa Cruz, California 95060, email is  lavandou@cruzio.com, Fax (408) 423-8795)) sells Low Temperature Soft Waxes  that are microwavable or can be used with standard wax heater, 20 oz. of wax sells for $26.00, Hard ("Hot," "No-strip") Waxes cost $40 for a 1-kg bag.

Sugaring Instead of Waxing

This alternative to waxing comes from ancient Egypt and is popular in Arab countries. A mixture of sugar, lemon juice, and water is heated to form a syrup. The syrup is formed into a ball, flattened onto the skin, then quickly striped away. The hair is removed at the root.

Sugaring is an alternative available for anyone whose skin reacts to wax with redness or bumps. Because the person applying the mixture rolls the mixture in the hands first, it can never scald the way hot wax can. Sugaring can be used to defuzz eyebrows, mustaches, bikini lines, underarms, legs, and backs.

The cost for sugaring is the same as for traditional waxing, at about $65 for a full leg and $16 for an underarm.

Hair Electrolysis (Electrical Epilators)

Hair electrolysis is also called electrology, and various machine use somewhat different techniques. Some current electrical techniques require 3-5 minutes per hair and are done with multiple-needle machines. Other machines use a combination of electricity and heat (thermolysis) to disable the hair follicle. The object is to permanently prevent the hair follicle from being able to grow hair.

Electrolysis is the only proven method of permanent hair removal and if you use a pain-reducing gel 30-60 minutes in advance, the pain is reduced or even eliminated. In 1875, Charles E. Michel, M.D., used a fine wire and an electric current to permanently remove ingrown eyelashes, a painful and recurring condition. Since then, his hair removal method has became known as "electrolysis".

Hair on the face that is coarse and bristly and not very abundant can often be removed permanently by electrolysis. There is a controversy over two types of devices using electric current to remove hair: (1) the needle epilator, which has been used for hair removal for more than a hundred years, and (2) the tweezers epilator, a comparatively new method used for about 20 years. Because a needle is not used, this latter method is supposed to be less painful and safer.

Needle epilators push a very fine sterile wire alongside the hair and into the hair follicle, and an electric current destroys the hair root at the bottom of the follicle. The loosened hair is removed with tweezers, and each hair is treated individually. Because this technique destroys the hair follicle, it is the most permanent hair removal method. When the procedure is properly done, the hair-producing dermal papilla, the source of the germination of the hair, is destroyed about 2/3 of the time, and one-third of the time the hair grows back. However, if the needle misses the follicle, some hair roots survive. Also, because hair grows in cycles, some hair follicles are in a dormant phase and so are not treated. If you have electrolysis done on your chin, any hairs which appears within the next 5-6 weeks are untreated hairs. Also, hormonal changes may stimulate new hair growth.

Needle electrolysis requires a series of treatments over time. For example, clearing the hair from a forearm takes a series of 15 to 60 minute appointments once a week, for about one year. In the first two months, a series of eight treatments will clear both forearms, but after that, hair on a different cycle of growth must be removed. Needle electrolysis can be expensive, costing about $60 to $100 an hour, and may cost $1,000 to $3,000 per year. Also, it can be painful. Success depends on the skill of the electrologist.

Tweezers epilators, like needle epilators, use electric current to remove hair. Tweezers are used to grasp the hair shaft close to the skin, and an applied electric current travels down the hair shaft to the root. Like needle epilators, an electric shock is possible if the tweezers touch the skin instead of the hair shaft. Tweezers epilator manufacturers must submit data to the U.S. FDA showing their devices are effective. Tweezers epilator manufacturers can claim permanent hair removal if they can provide supporting data.

Possibly, there is less skin irritation using tweezers epilators because the hair is held with the tweezer, hence, there is less chance of the electricity missing the follicle than with the needle method.

Finding Qualified Electrolysis Experts

Electrolysis should be performed by a qualified professional. The risks of electrolysis are electrical shock if the needles are not properly insulated, infection from unsterile needles, and scarring resulting from improper technique.

While 31 states require licensing of electrologists, there are no national standards regulating the practice of hair electrolysis. Training requirements range from 120 hours to 1,100 hours in licensing states.

The American Electrology Association and the Society of Clinical and Medical Electrologists have certification programs based on written examinations. A list of licensed and certified electrologists may be obtained from:

The International Guild of Professional Electrologists
202 Boulevard St. Suite B
High Point, NC   27262

Telephone: (800) 830-3247

Do-It-Yourself Electrolysis

There are a number of at-home electrolysis machines on the market, such as the IGIA machine advertised on TV for about $120. Another brand is the TE electrolysis machine that uses paper cotton Q-Tips in a 1" drop of electrode gel. Home-use electrolysis machines have lower voltages than professional machines and hair follicle survival is thus greater.

The American Medical Association's Committee on Cutaneous Health and Cosmetics recommends limiting self-treatment to easily accessible skin areas, such as the lower parts of the arms and legs. Because working on facial hair requires the use of a mirror, this area is best done by a professional.

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is the newest hair removal technique and it is rapidly improving. It provides an extremely fast treatment time with very little discomfort and less pain than electrolysis. It provides long-lasting effects but as with electrolysis, follow-up treatments are often necessary. Unlike electrolysis, which sends an electric current through a fine needle to kill the root, lasers are a comparatively painless way to remove hair. And while electrolysis removes one hair at a time, the laser can work on multiple follicles at once. However, laser hair removal is more expensive than other methods.

Excellent results are reported for the face, neck, and underarms with between 60 and 80% hair removal in 2 to 3 treatments. Most people have about 50% less hair in 4 months after just one session. When the hair grows back, it tends to be finer and sparser. The average patient needs a repeat treatment every 6 to 12 months.

Laser Treatment Procedure

Different hair lasers work in somewhat different ways, although in principle, they are very similar. One of the first to be approved is marketed by San Diego's ThermoLase Corporation and is a Nd:YAG laser. It requires that the skin be waxed first, to help remove hair and open the follicles, so the laser light can effectively reach the follicles. Then, a carbon-based, light-absorbing lotion is massaged into the skin. When the laser passes over the skin, it selectively heats the carbon left in the hair follicles, damaging them but leaving the skin components unharmed.

Newer hair removal lasers use long-pulse ruby or alexandrite lasers that don't require waxing or a carbon-based lotion. Instead, these lasers are being designed to preferentially heat the follicle and not the surrounding skin. For example, the red light emitted by the EpilaserTM is absorbed mainly by the pigment located in the hair follicle. The laser is pulsed, or "turned on", for only a fraction of a second. The duration of each pulse is just so long that enough light and energy is absorbed by the follicle to destroy it, but not long enough that excess heat is transferred to the skin surrounding the hair follicle. The result is more selective hair follicle damage but with less skin damage.

Expect to spend 1 to 3 hours from the moment you arrive for your treatment. First, the skin is cleansed and unwanted hair is trimmed. Then a dermatologist or nurse scans the area with the Yag, alexandrite, or ruby laser, depending on the hair type, color, and skin color. After the treatment, the treated area is covered to prevent infection during the healing period, and then kept covered with a moist solution for a specific period of time. Sunlight should be avoided during the healing period.

Lasers are Relatively Painless

One of the primary attractions of the new, longer-pulse lasers used for hair removal is the relative lack of pain when compared to other hair removal methods. Also, many new lasers automatically scan an area, giving a more uniform and faster hair removal.

Costs of Laser Treatments

A series of treatments to remove facial hair, for example, costs $800 to $1,200. Hair removal for legs or men's backs is more expensive and costs about $3,000.

Bleaching Hair

Bleaching hair is not removal but makes the hair more difficult to see and is a quick and easy procedure. It lasts about 2 to 3 weeks. Bleaching costs about $5 for a 1 oz. container of Jolen Creme Bleach or Sally Hansen Creme Bleach, both of which should work for about 8 upper-lip bleaching applications. Special bleaches are sold for normal facial bleaching, the bleaching of very dark hair, and the bleaching of large areas like the arms and legs.

Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs are trapped beneath the skin surface from blockages of the hair follicle. Sometimes, a small needle is sufficient to free the trapped hair. Solutions of salicylic acid, a strong exfoliating chemical, are also used to free such hairs. One product for ingrown hairs is Tend Skin, a salicylic acid solution reported to target problem follicles and remove blocking skin. It is for use by men and women on the face, neck, bikini line, and wherever else needed. An informational sheet comes with the product.

         Tend Skin                        4 oz.         US$ 20.00

         Tend Skin                        8 oz.         US$ 35.00

         Tend Skin                       16 oz.        US$ 50.00

Order from:

Depilatory Waxes
103 South River St.
Santa Cruz, CA   95060,

Email: lavandou@cruzio.com
Fax: (408) 423-8795

See our Article: HOW TO PREVENT INGROWN HAIRS

Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Vaniqa and its Problems

Vaniqa is a new and interesting hair removal product. It is sold by Bristol Meyers Squibb and Gillette and costs about $45 for a month supply. You will need a prescription from your physician to buy this product.

Vaniqa is a chemical called eflornithine that suppresses an enzyme that makes hair grow. It also is very effective for the treatment of sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis) in reviving comatose patients and has been called the resurrection drug.

In clinical trials, 32% of the 393 patients treated with Vaniqa showed marked reduction of facial hair compared to only 8% of 201 control patients who used a placebo cream. Vaniqa has only been studied on the face and areas under the chin and is not yet recommended for other body areas.

Vaniqa causes inhibition of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase, important for the growth of rapidly dividing cells, such as hair follicle phase cells. Since follicles spend part of their time in the dormant hair phases (catagen (rest phase) and telogen (shedding phase)) they aren't always affected by the drug. It takes approximately 2 to 4 months to inhibit all hair follicles. Therefore, expect about 4 months to see a good effect.

Problems: Reported side effects of Vaniqa in the clinical trials included temporary skin redness, stinging, burning, tingling, rash, "razor bumps," and acne. Skin Biology customers who have used Vaniqa have complained that the product made their face look "old". This is a possibility since the chemicals that stop hair growth can also stop skin repair and regeneration. A skin repair cream may help reduce some of these secondary skin problems.

Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Estrogens

Estrogens are feminizing hormones that counterbalance and help regulate androgens. One study found topical estrogen to halt the loss of head hair in 89% of the women treated, but conversely, estrogen reduced facial hair at the same time. Estrogen and leuporide are used together in the treatment of hirsutism. Estrogen treatment may cause irregular menstrual cycles, and possibly increased or decreased risk of cancer in women, depending on the dosage used.

Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Lupron / Leuprolide

Lupron / Leuprolide is a GNrH (Gonadotropin Hormone) Agonist which is used in combination with antiandrogens in to reduce body hair growth in women. It is in clinical testing.

Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Cyproterone (Androcur)

Cyproterone is a prescription anti-androgen medication that stops the activity of the ovaries and testes, including the production of both androgens and estrogens. It is also prescribed for women of childbearing age to treat severe hirsuitism.

Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Diane 35 (Cyproterone Acetate with Ethinyloestradiol)

Diane 35 is a contraceptive pill prescribed for women with severe acne and hirsuitism, female pattern baldness, and androgenetic alopecia. Diane 35 is designed to block the peripheral action of male hormones present in the female body. Diane 35 has been reported to stop head hair loss while decreasing body hair. Diane 35 helps prevent osteoporosis.

Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Flutamide (Euflex, Eulexin)

Flutamide is a very powerful antiandrogen that blocks the androgen receptor so completely that androgens virtually have no effect in the body. Generally, it is not recommended for men. However, some physicians use it in small doses mixed into topically-applied minoxidil. They report that the combination promotes some hair growth and a reduction of facial hair in women. Potentially adverse effects include diarrhea, impotence, liver problems, and high blood pressure.

Pharmaceuticals to Reduce Hair - Casodex / Bicalutamide (ICI 176,334)

Casodex is a new derivative of flutamide, and a powerful antiandrogens that blocks the androgen receptors. It has fewer side-effects than flutamide. Because of its anti-androgen effects it has more serious side-effects in men than women. It is not yet available for marketing.

121707FP 013108CM