Laser hair removal is the newest weapon in the hair removal arsenal. The ideal candidate for laser hair removal has fair skin and dark hair, but good results can be achieved by an experienced laser practitioner on darker-skinned women. Overall, laser hair removal is not very effective on light blonde or white hair.
Stretch marks (“striae”) are caused by fast stretching of the skin. Commonly seen after pregnancy, rapid weight gain or loss, or rapid growth during adolescence, stretch marks initially present as red or purple marks. Stretch marks are, in fact, “scars” caused by over-stretching of the elastic middle layer of the skin known as the dermis. Over time these reddish stretch marks fade to leave silver or white streaks which may also feel “crêpey” to touch.
Now treatment for stretch marks has been underwhelming. For a number of years, the red colour of “new” stretch marks has been removable by treatment with the Candela Perfecta™ V-Beam pulsed dye laser (the same laser used to treat red birthmarks). However, as the colour will eventually fade, this early intervention for stretch marks really only addressed a temporary phase of disfigurement and the end result was still the same.
The new fractionated Affirm™ laser is delivering promising results in the treatment of these residual stretch marks. The Affirm™ laser is thought to stimulate collagen (the building block of body tissues) in the damaged dermis, resulting in the diminution of stretch marks. This laser technology is very new but is the only thing that has come close to managing this common problem.
Laser Dermatology offers the Candela Perfecta V-beam pulsed dye laser for the treatment of red / purple stretch marks if they are causing a degree of distress in the short term (understanding that they will fade naturally over time). The Affirm™ fractionated laser is used on faded stretch marks. Multiple laser treatments are required and are recommended at four weekly intervals.
Your skin is protection for your body, insulator and regulator for your temperature, and can be indicative of your overall health and wellbeing. The skin can also develop diseases including several types of cancer. Dermatology is the medical specialty group that manages skin disorders. Dermatology can use special lasers for your skin to be corrected.
Dermatologists offer multiple laser and cosmetic treatments including:
* Safe laser removal & laser modification of tattoos
* Laser removal of unwanted hair
* Laser treatment of Rosacea & laser removal of facial blood vessels
* Laser treatment of scarring
* Laser treatment of age related cosmetic problems
* Treatment for removal of superficial leg veins (spider veins)
* Injection treatment of excess perspiration
* Laser treatment of acne scarring
* Laser removal of red & brown birthmarks
* Laser treatment of stretch marks
Example before and after the treatment with dermatology laser
History of the Procedure
Numerous methods are successful in temporarily removing hair:
* Manual plucking
o This method is an easy and practical way to remove single hairs and can be utilized by most individuals for clearing small numbers of unwanted hairs. The hair shaft must be long enough to be grasped by tweezers.
o Plucking often induces a hair follicle into its active growth phase, or anagen, thus stimulating new hair growth. Additionally, it can create postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, true or pseudofolliculitis, and, very rarely, scarring.
* Shaving
o Although fast and effective for clearing a large surface area of hair, shaving is the most temporary method of hair removal, as it only cuts the hair at the skin surface. As the hair continues to grow, the blunt end of the cut hair is more noticeable because it is thicker than a normal tapered end.
o Disadvantages include skin lacerations, potential pyoderma, folliculitis, ingrown hairs, and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Many women may not use this method on certain areas of the body because of masculine connotations of shaving the face and neck.
* Waxing or sugaring
o Application of a warmed wax or a sugary paste to areas of hair-bearing skin and then removing it, along with the unwanted hair, is a popular method of hair removal and is commonly performed at salons and spas. This method may be used over large skin surface areas (eg, legs, arms, back) or small controlled areas (eg, face, eyebrow, bikini area). New hair growth appears more slowly than with shaving, as the hair must grow to the level of the skin surface before it appears.
o Stripping of the wax or sugar paste from the skin is often unpleasant or painful and may cause adverse effects such as irritant dermatitis, true or pseudofolliculitis, hyperpigmentation, scarring, and thermal burns from hot wax or poor technique.
* Depilatory preparations
o Preparations containing thioglycolates or strontium sulfide are the most widely used chemical depilatories. These agents disrupt the disulfide bonds (especially cysteine) that hold hair cells together, thus dissolving the hair. Like shaving, this method offers only a brief hair-free period, as hair continues to grow from the level of the skin surface.
o The major adverse effect is the potential for irritant or allergic contact dermatitis, which may cause significant itching or rash.
* Chemical bleaching
o Bleaching with hydrogen peroxide is an effective method of disguising the presence of hair but does not actually remove hair.
o This is particularly effective for individuals with fine but dark and, therefore, noticeable hair on the arms, face, or neck.
* Electrolytic therapy
o Successful electrolysis can achieve permanent hair follicle destruction to some degree in 15-80% of patients. It employs a weak direct current that passes through a negative electrode (anode) inserted in the hair follicle and a positive electrode (cathode) in the form of a wet pad in the patient’s hand. Follicular destruction is achieved via the formation of toxic sodium hydroxide (a free radical). Electrothermolysis uses an alternating current that causes direct thermal destruction of the hair follicle.
o Each hair must be treated individually and the process is slow and may be painful. Adverse effects include pain, scarring and hypo- or hyperpigmentation.
* Medicated treatment with eflornithine
o Available by prescription only, eflornithine 13.9% cream was approved for topical use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 31, 2000. Topical eflornithine may irreversibly inhibit skin ornithine decarboxylase activity, resulting in a reduction in the rate of hair growth.1 The onset of action may take 4-8 weeks of using the topical cream for unwanted facial hair on the mustache and chin area.
o The most common adverse effects of topical eflornithine cream include, but are not limited to, acne, pseudofolliculitis barbae, skin irritation, and rash.
* Laser hair removal
o Since 1996, when photoepilation-using laser technology first became available for use, numerous advances have occurred in laser hair removal, resulting in different types of lasers now available for treatment of excessive hair. Laser hair removal is based on the theory of selective photothermolysis, or selective destruction of the follicular unit, resulting in significant hair reduction in treated areas.
o Adverse effects are primarily related to epidermal damage by partial absorption of laser energy by the surrounding skin. This effect has been more pronounced in darker-skinned individuals whose increased skin melanin concentration places them at a higher risk of adverse effects. These adverse effects include blistering, hypo- or hyperpigmentation, scabbing, or, very rarely, permanent scarring.
As you see laser hair removing is the latest medicine method and it is also the best one.
Source: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1271154-overview
If you ever wanted to remove the unwanted hair on some parts of your body there is no need to visit a hair removal clinic and pay big money each time the need arises. You can have a laser hair removal machine right at your home, so the process can be done privately and comfortably at your home.
Laser hair removal is so popular today because of the easy process and affordable prices. The mechanics behind it is that it eliminates the hair follicles growing capacity through the impact of high intensity light pulses. Today there are many laser hair removal devices are being produced to satisfy the increasing demand. But the one thing is there that the FDA’s stamp of approval must be on every machine sold on the market.
Take a look at the products below and see if you find something for your need.
The most common areas for laser hair removal treatments in women are the face, neck, bikini line, underarms, nipples, tummy line, arms and legs. We also specialise in hair removal treatments for men. The most common areas in men are the face, neck, ears, back and chest. Of course some areas are more uncomfortable then the other but the treatments after the hair removal procedure are so good that you will forget the bad and you will only see your skin smooth and silky.
What do they do to that areas?
This pigment absorbs laser energy, preventing it from reaching the hair follicle, and increasing the absorption of laser energy in the skin. Beta carotene persists for months after ingestion. Patients looking for some better results from laser hair removal generally do benefit from discontinuation of the use of all forms of beta carotene.
Side effects of Laser Hair Treatment might be pigmentary change of the skin treated, including either dark or light areas. Pigmentary changes may persist for sometime that is over some months, but are surely always temporary.
Laser hair removay systems are definitely much better solution to get rid of your unwanted hair then smelly hair removal creams, painful hot waxing, or constant shaving or any other method. If you’ve ever wanted to get rid of unwanted hair permanently, this is definitely a great way to make it happen.
Men in most cases have different areas to remove hair-the back, chest, under arm and perhaps the legs, bodybuilders have even more areas to remove hair. With laser hair removal, these large areas can be done quickly and easily. The laser procedure combines the precise accuracy of shaving with the long lasting qualities of electrolysis, making it much easier to keep large areas smooth and free of unwanted hair.
Since the laser systems work with cool lasers and lights, the procedure itself is less painful and uncomfortable and finished more quickly than with the needles used in electrolysis. This is important, since areas like the chest and back can be very sensitive. Since the lasers are not as invasive as needles, you are far less likely to suffer any real pain during and immediately after laser hair removal.
While looking for a doctor to do your laser hair removal procedure you should first call the offices of those doctors you are interested in and ask if they have worked with many male patients and if they have a good experience with laser hair removal for men. When you find one who has, ask if you can then make an appointment to go in and talk to him, to ask any questions you may have about the procedure.
After the procedure…
The area that has been treated will be slightly red and very mildly uncomfortable but not too much, like a mild sunburn. It is recommended that you wear sunscreen on the area for at least 48 hours after the treatment. You should also avoid tanning, either outside in the sun or in a tanning salon, for a minimum of two weeks after the procedure. In two weeks you will see that your skin is back to normal and that is smooth and silky.
There are many home laser hair removal systems to buy online and in the specialized stores. So, if you think you can do it or maybe some friend of yours will help you, you can try to buy yourself your own laser hair removing machine and try to make it on your own.
Laser hair removal is considered to be cosmetic and so therefore this service is not covered by your health insurance. The patient is responsible for payment. It is a beauty thing and not medic to remove your unwanted hair growth.
Home Laser Hair Removal
Home laser hair removal system is one of the most effective ways to get rid of any unwanted hair. As compared to any other type of hair removal methods like waxing or shaving or even hair removing cream, this type of treatment is always considered as a very effective way to get rid of body hair for a longer period of time. The amount of pain involved with this type of treatment is also minimum but there are chances that you may have to face side effects for a few days. There are different types of home laser hair removal devices that have been approved by FDA, and so they are safe to be used at home. This is one way that has made this type of treatment as very much affordable and convenient.
Just like any other commercially used equipment, thee home gadgets are designed to focus its beams on the hair follicles such that it can efficiently destroy the hair from its roots. In case you are having light hair and skin type, you can effectively perform this treatment within few minutes at your convenience. This equipment is designed to destroy the melanin of your hair and preventing further hair growth. One main advantage of using home laser hair removal system is that it never targets your skin tone and so most area of your skin is generally unaffected by the effects of laser beam.
The laser light is generally converted into heat that is used to burn away the hair follicles so the hair does not grow back again. As this is not a commercial made equipment, so it might not be effective in case you are having light colored hair. In case you are having gray, blonde or white colored hair then it is not advisable to make use of home laser hair removal system. Another reason that makes this system more effective is the stage of your hair growth. In case your hair follicles are dormant then you have to keep in mind that home laser hair removal systems might not be very much effective as the equipment might not be able to focus on hair melanin. Another point that you have to keep in mind is that as this is not a commercially used product, so it might in fact only eliminate around 70% of hair the very first time you use it.
Even if you skin tone is dark then it is advisable not to make use of home laser hair removal system. In case you are making use of this equipment then there are chances that you might have to face adverse side effects like pigmentation problems, skin rashes or even blistering. There are certain home laser devices that also contain sensors that can identify your skin type even before you make use of them. The amount of pain you experience when using this system might vary depending on the amount of time you are using this equipment for and also on the type of skin you have. Most individuals might also feel slight discomfort, but you can always ensure the amount of convenience it offers to you.
