Hair Removal Methods
The most common reason for women with hirsutism seeking health care advice is a cosmetic one. Hirsute women simply want the excess hair removed.
There are two different approaches for hair removal:
- Medical treatment mainly addresses the underlying cause, and can decrease the growth of excess hair. Though it takes a longer time to get the benefit, it is mostly permanent.
- Mechanical treatment - hair removal methods (giving immediate but temporary results). Mechanical hair removal methods can be done alone or along with medical treatment.
Three mechanical methods fighting excess hair can include:
- Bleaching
- Depilation
- Epilation
Bleaching
In bleaching, hair is not removed, but bleached to mask its presence. Hydrogen peroxide is the chemical used for bleaching. Since hair is only bleached, this treatment is not ideal for severe forms of hirsutism.Depilation
Depilation means removal of hair from the skin surface. The two depilatory methods used are- Shaving
- Chemical depilation
Shaving
Shaving, contrary to popular myth, does not increase the rate or density of hair growth. But often shaving is seen as a method which psychologically is hard to bear.Chemical depilation
Chemical depilation is useful only for milder forms of hirsutism where excessive growth of hair is limited to only a few areas. Chemical depilation can cause skin irritation.Epilation
Epilation means removal of the hair including the root. The various depilatory methods are- Plucking
- Waxing
- Electrolysis
- Laser therapy including intense pulse light therapy
Plucking
Plucking is a very crude method. It can cause skin irritation, infection of hair follicles and even scarring.Waxing
Wax treatment as a form of epilation can remove hair temporarily. Though this method of hair removal is very effective, most of women with hirsutism feel uncomfortable with this procedure. Waxing also causes skin irritation, infection of the hair follicles and even scarring.Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a very effective hair removal method. Electrolysis as a form of epilatory treatment can help patients with hirsutism as a permanent hair removal method. But it needs the hands of an experienced and skilled electrologist. Moreover it is a quite painful procedure and the shortwave diathermy which is used for electrolysis can cause scarring.Laser therapy
Laser therapy is the most recent development in hair removal . It is seen as the most effective approach to long term hair removal. It retards the regrowth of hair and leads to permanent removal of hair. Since laser therapy is a recent concept in hair removal, not much is known about its long term effects.In intense pulsed light therapy or IPL, xenon flash light is used. Although laser radiation is not used in this method, it is popularily refered to as "laser hair removal" and the results are comparable to conventional laser hair removal.
Summary
Each of the hair removal techniques has its own advantages and disadvantages. Among the three different categories, epilation offers the best outcome in treatment since the effect in most of the cases is permanent.Among the epilatory methods, laser therapy is the best available technology as it not only removes hair but also retards the regrowth of hair.
Laser therapy as a hair removal method still needs further research to find out and specify possible long term effects.
This page was last updated on June 20, 2006