Hair Removal
The desire to eliminate excess or dark hair usually starts in adolescence and seems to continue until the day we die. Whether it is hair on the face, armpits, legs, bikini line, or other body parts, many women and men are aim upon having the hair on their scalp be the only visible hair on their bodies. With the prominence on smooth, hairless skin, it is interesting to note that excess hair, especially in women, is still a prohibited subject.
There are many alternatives available to remove unwanted hair, but few options to get rid of hair permanently. The different methods of hair removal from the previous stand-by, shaving, to the new treatments, lasers and Vaniqa, are discussed. Each person should chose a technique or combination of methods that works most excellent for them depending on cost, time available, skin type, and the desired hair-free area.
Hair Growth
Understanding how hair grows helps we understand how to remain hair from growing. Each hair is enclosed in a pilosebaceous unit, which consists of a hair shaft, hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and erector pili muscle. Hair growth and shedding is a continuous cycle through 3 phases. The anagen phase is the growth phase, the catagen phase is a transitional state, and the telogen phase is the resting phase. Hairs spend a changeable amount of time in each phase determined by genetics, hormones, and region of the body. Hair in the anagen phase is more vulnerable to injury than hair in the telogen phase. All of these factors must be considered when deciding a method of hair removal.
Bleaching
Bleaching is in fact not a hair removal method, but rather a way to make the hair less obvious. This is especially helpful for areas that already have thin but dark and consequently noticeable hair like the arms, face, or neck. Bleaching is executed by applying a chemical to the desired area, which eliminate the pigment from the hair.
Hair Removal with Shaving
Shaving is the most temporary method of hair removal for the reason that it merely cuts the hair off at the exterior of the skin. Shaving does not create the hair shaft thicker, darker, or grow faster or slower. However, the short hair shaft may be more obvious as it grows out because it has a rounded tip instead of the normal tapered tip. Shaving should be made after applying some type of moisturizer to the skin to facilitate the razor glide over the skin, not cut or scrape it. Common moisturizers include water, shaving cream, hair conditioner, or else body wash.
Physical Hair Removal
Physically pulling the hair out of the follicle is an ordinary and fairly economical method of hair removal. None of these methods changes the color, texture, or density of the hair. The hair obtains longer to grow back because it must grow to the outside of the skin before it is noticed. Because hair grows at unusual rates, some of the hair that has been actually removed may take more time to grow back in. Repeatedly pulling hair away of the follicle may damage the follicle enough over time to maintain it from producing more hair.
Physical Hair Removal – Waxing
Waxing is a successful method of removing huge amounts of hair at one time. In this method wax is warmed to allow it to be reach easily over the skin in the direction of hair growth. The hair becomes rooted in the wax, which cools and firms up grasping the hair. The wax is then rapidly pulled off in the opposite direction of the hair growth, pulling the hairs out of the follicles. Cold waxes are accessible usually attached to strips, which are tap onto the skin. Care must be used when heating wax so as not to burn the skin.
Hair Removal with Electrolysis
Electrolysis involves introducing a fine needle into the hair follicle and applying an electrical current to the follicle root. This process essentially burns the hair root theoretically preventing it from producing more hair. Each hair follicle must be treated separately and may take several treatments to wipe out the follicle. Electrolysis is a permanent form of hair removal but it has several disadvantages. First, there are no identical licensing guidelines for electrolysis so ruling an experienced, effective technician is hard requiring talking to clients who have experienced permanent outcome. Second, this method requires frequent treatments for up to 12 to 18 months. Hair follicles that are in the telogen phase are more not easy to destroy than hair follicles in the anagen phase. Shaving around 3 days before an electrolysis treatment ensures that the hairs that are noticeable are in the anagen phase. Lastly, side effects can include pain, infection, keloid formation (for people who are susceptible), hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmentation.
Hair Removal with Laser
Laser treatment of various skin conditions has bloomed, as laser technology has become more understood. Hair removal is a common application of laser technology, but it is not permanent and not for everyone. Lasers work by producing light at various wavelengths, energy output, and pulse widths. The wavelength used determines the skin structure it will influence such as veins, melanin, or water. Most lasers used for hair removal target melanin and are as a result designed to burn structures that contain melanin. The more melanin, the more damage is done. It makes sense that laser hair removal works greatest for light-skinned people with dark hair. As with electrolysis, hair follicles in the anagen phase are more simply destroyed than those in the telogen phase. Therefore, laser treatments for hair removal must be repetitive. At this time it appears that laser treatment, while not causing permanent damage of all hair follicles, does retard the re-growth of new hair.
For painless removal of unwanted hair use Dr. Numb numbing cream. For more details log on to www.drnumb.com or call 1-877-786-2001.
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Laser hair removal is in my opinion the best. I have done it for 2 years now and I am coming up on my yearly session. It is so easy, I got it done and it took about 2 hours and now every year I go back in and it takes about 30 minutes to do a touchup.