Alternate Treatment Options : Laser hair removal
Laser hair removal may not suit everyone, and our page concerning candidates for the treatment provides you with more information on the subject. However, many other methods are very short term or impractical for many people. You should seek advice from your doctor or a specialist if in doubt, but here is a rundown of alternate treatments for hair removal and their attendant pros and cons.
Electrolysis
A probe as thin as a hair is inserted into a hair follicle without puncturing the skin and electricity passed through the probe into the target areas.
Electrolysis is the only hair removal method with a claim at being fully permanent. This is because the three types of electrolysis used – thermolysis, galvanic and blend – can all succeed in destroying the hair matrix cells and thus making new growth impossible from the treated follicles. Success of this kind is not guaranteed, however, and relies greatly on both individual factors, such as skin type, hair color and skin condition, and on the skill of the electrologist. The treatment is heavily regulated in many states in an attempt to ensure proper licensing and qualifications, but be aware that the results can be undesirable if the procedure is performed incorrectly.
The other chief concerns for patients are pain and length of treatment. Very productive results can be dependent on the patient’s pain threshold, as electrolysis is more painful than laser hair removal. Effective full treatment can take up to four years of steady sessions in some cases, with an average of at least one or two. Conversely, electrolysis has the longest track record for hair removal and is safe if performed by qualified professionals.
Combinations
Some people achieve effective results by utilizing a combination of treatment methods, and consulting a dermatologist can help to show you how to proceed. Temporary methods such as tweezing, shaving or waxing provide immediate cosmetic results, after which a more permanent method can be used. Combinations can be particularly worthwhile for people with lighter skin types and darker hairs, who are unsatisfied with the reduction achieved by electrolysis or laser hair removal, and wish to supplement this treatment with use of a topical drug (e.g. Vaniqa) or antiandrogen. These oral medications can reach hairs the laser may not remove and even improve the effectiveness of long term methods.
The disadvantages of combinations are the financial expense to the patient, and the lack of substantial clinical data on the treatment. Effectiveness is therefore not guaranteed and the patient should seek appropriate advice beforehand.
Short Term Removal
Along with laser hair removal, the above treatments allow the patient to implement a long term plan for hair reduction. In contrast, short term methods guarantee aesthetic improvement for a minimal amount of time. These include well-known methods like waxing, tweezing and shaving, but also:
- depilatories, a chemical which dissolves the hair down to the top skin layer,
- sugaring, where a sticky paste is applied and paper pulled away like waxing,
- threading, involving removal from the root with cotton thread, and used mostly on facial hairs,
- and rotary epilators, which act as electric tweezers.
These methods may produce reduction for a number of days or weeks depending on the individual and specific circumstances.