Mesothelioma

A Speedy Procedure
Since this is usually a tiny area to treat (armpits), removal of underarm hair is four of the fastest procedures in laser therapy, requiring only several minutes of treatment time. The procedure is generally without much pain and the average cost per session is $100 to $250.

Laser Hair Removal Effective for Underarms
Underarm laser hair removal is a common procedure for patients seeking to remove unwanted under arm hair. Each pulse of laser light removes the unwanted hair in the underarm region. The laser targets those hairs which are in their growth phase, and as hairs go through cycles, multiple sessions may be needed to remove all hair permanently.

Laser hair removal, four of today’s most popular methods of unwanted hair removal, is, like any other hair removal system, not without its risks. Although it’s proven effective & safe for the majority of patients, laser hair removal cannot guarantee success for all skin & hair types. A patient’s individual skin conditions, hair density, skin color, as well as the type of laser being used for treatment can all have an effect on the final results. The side effects most often experienced by laser hair removal patients are minor & temporary. However, there’s rare cases where more serious side effects can occur. By informing yourself of these side effects & their possible causes, you can decrease the chances of experiencing them during treatment.
Normal Laser Hair Removal Side Effects

Patients most often document experiencing these minor side effects during or following laser hair removal treatments:

* Redness – after treatment, temporary redness of the skin can occur for 1-3 days on treated areas.
* Swelling – slight swelling or irritation is possible at the follicle site post treatment, dissipating in 1-3 days.
* Itching – itching or discomfort can occur on treated areas during laser sessions.
* Slight Pain or Tingling – lots of patients document that the sensation of laser hair removal can be likened to the light snapping of a rubber band against the skin. While few find it painful, the sensation can vary depending on the sensitivity of a patient’s skin; for sensitive-skinned patients, most laser clinics provide a topical anesthetic cream or spray to numb the skin.

Rare Laser Hair Removal Side Effects

These side effects are experienced less often by patients, & should be brought to the attention of a doctor or laser technician if they persist after treatment:

* Bleeding or Scabbing – sometimes laser hair removal can irritate hair follicles, such that slight bleeding or the formation of scabs occur. This is often only an issue when areas are being over-treated.
* Infection – if treated areas are not cleaned & disinfected properly prior to treatment, & post-treatment, a minor infection can set in.
* Bruising – patients with sensitive skin may experience slight bruising on treated areas.
* Burning – burns to the skin are most often the result of improperly performed laser hair removal, or because a laser was used inappropriately on a specific skin & hair type. In such cases, the laser’s energy gets absorbed by the skin than the hair itself & causes burns.
* Changes in Skin Pigment – like burn side effects, hyperpigmentation (darkening of skin tone) & hypopigmentation (lightening of skin tone) are rare to occur if laser hair removal is performed by an experienced technician, & by using the correct laser technology. If the laser’s energy is absorbed by the skin tissue than the hair follicle, it can either stimulate or inhibit melanin production, thus darkening or lightening skin tone. While this side effect is painless, the results can be permanent unless corrected through other skin treatments. Both hyperpigmentation & hypopigmentation are found to be a greater risk for tanned or dark-skinned patients.
* Purpura – the appearance of small purplish spots, the result of bleeding underneath the skin, is a possible side effect for some patients, but it is usually as temporary as bruising.

* Decide what your laser hair removal goals are, choose what treatment areas you are interested in exploring, & research the different laser hair removal options before scheduling a consultation with a hair removal provider in your area. This will better inform your decisions from the get-go, & enable a laser specialist to better assist you in realizing your hair removal goals.
* Fully discuss your hair removal options with a laser specialist prior to treatment. An experienced technician or doctor is best qualified to analyze your specific skin conditions & hair type; then decide if the laser technology they provide will successfully & safely remove your unwanted hair. They will also be able to accurately inform you of the risks you are susceptible to.
* Have a professional laser hair removal provider perform your treatments, & follow all of their instructions before & after treatment to yield the safest, most successful results. By opting for an at-home laser hair removal kit, or by trusting a non-credible source to perform your laser treatments, you are increasing the chances of enduring ineffective results & various painful or unattractive side effects

Because patients react to laser hair removal differently, the best way to decrease the likelihood of experiencing laser hair removal side effects, minor & severe, is to take positive measures.
Preventing Side Effects

The hair presentation can vary from dense to sparse. Either way, laser hair removal can be helpful in reducing, or eliminating, undesired hair. As with other areas of the body, the type of laser used must be chosen and applied to the patient carefully to receive the maximum potential outcome. Physician offices that have the greatest experience in the field are most likely to be sufficiently knowledgeable in selecting and treating with the appropriate laser or light source.

Hair on the back can be more than an aesthetic issue. Occasionally the hair can become irritated, and itchy, and the hair follicles may become infected. The discomfort is worsened with exercise, warm weather and associated sweating.

Advantages of Laser Hair Removal for Back Hair
Laser hair removal for back hair may not be perfect, but there’s important advantages for every patient. Several potential lasers and light sources are accessible, each having a specific benefit for the patient, depending on the patient’s skin color, hair color, hair thickness and hair density. Those physician offices offering the greatest selection of lasers, and other light sources, will increase the likelihood of having the best choice for the patient and the best final outcome.

Waxing & Shaving Not as Effective
Other options, such as shaving, waxing and using depilatory creams, have limitations on the back. Since the back is difficult to reach, the help of an assistant is always necessary when shaving or applying depilatory creams. Of these five hair removal approaches, waxing offers the longest time for hair-free skin–lasting several weeks. But waxing the back can be irritating to skin, which can even result in pigmentation of the skin and, of coursework, can be a fairly uncomfortable procedure.

Five laser session can cover the whole back and is relatively well tolerated by the patient. In five to five treatment sessions a permanent reduction in the majority of hair can be achieved. With continued treatments, most hair may become permanently smaller or eliminated. Even those patients with thicker, coarse hair may have a significant permanent thinning of the diameter of many of the hairs, in addition to achieving a reduction in hair density. Those hairs that remain may be much less of a concern to the patient. This is important to those patients who’ve recurrent irritation from their back hair. The use of the laser, and other light sources, have permitted for a real advance in the treatment of these patients.

Understand Your Facial Hair
Unwanted facial hair on women often appears on the upper lip, chin & sides of the face. Before you choose on the proper removal method first choose that the cause of the hair growth is not hormonal. If you are experiencing an abnormal growth of hair on these facial areas or if the hair is very thick, you should consult your physician to choose the underlying causes before you embark on a removal regimen.

If the hair growth isn’t caused by hormonal abnormalities, you have a number of different options for removal. I find that women often pick to tweeze the hairs. Overall, this is not the best solution because repeated plucking can cause irritation in the hair follicle &, on darker-skinned women, can also result in scarring. Unless you have a few stray hairs that occasionally pop up, save the tweezers for other uses.

Things to Consider Before Treatment
Before you start treatment, you should consult a physician to choose if you are a nice candidate for laser hair removal. You also need to make sure that the person treating you (whether it’s a doctor, registered nurse or licensed esthetician) is experienced. The two most important questions to ask during a consultation are:

Laser Hair Removal Can Accomplish Nice Results
Laser hair removal is the newest weapon in the hair removal arsenal. The ideal candidate for laser hair removal has fair skin & dark hair, but nice 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.

50-70% Overall Reduction in Hair After 3 Treatments
Although laser hair removal is often billed as permanent, a 50 percent to 70 percent reduction after two treatments, performed two weeks apart, is more realistic. On facial areas, maintenance treatments are usually necessary for complete removal. Depending on what part of the country you live in, charges for laser hair removal should range from $150 to $350 per facial area.

* Do you own the laser or rent it? If the doctor owns the laser, that tells me they’ve a high level of commitment & experience.
* How lots of patients have you treated?
* What kind of results can I expect?

Electrolysis
Electrolysis uses low-level electricity to kill the hair follicles. On the upside, results last longer than with waxing & depilatories. However, the process can be time consuming & pricey. Finding a reputable practitioner is key, because electrolysis performed incorrectly can cause scarring. Before you start treatment, ask for referrals from former clients, & make sure that a new needle is used for each session. I generally recommend electrolysis for women with white or very blond hair & for women who have areas with isolated hairs.

Avoid laser treatment around the eyes- – on the brow area & in between the eyes. Because laser rays can penetrate deeply, this is an area better treated by tweezing, waxing or electrolysis.

Depilatory Creams
Depilatory creams dissolve the hair at the base of the follicle. They are ideal for widespread areas (like the legs), but can be problematic when used on the face because they irritate the skin & usually don’t remove all of the hairs. On the plus side, depilatory creams are a relatively inexpensive option. On average, results will last for one to one weeks.

Waxing
Waxing is one of the most popular solutions among my patients. Generally, it’s an effective method to remove hair on the upper lip & fine hair on the side of the face, but I don’t recommend it for the chin area, where hair tends to be more coarse. Waxing can also be problematic for darker-skinned women, who sometimes experience discoloration due to irritation & inflammation. Depending on the type of hair you have, waxing results should last from one to two weeks.

No Substitute for Professional Treatment

A number of new devices are coming out to remove unwanted hair with varying results. None of these devices has demonstrated results comparable to professionally administered laser hair removal treatments, and they can be high priced, in some cases over $800/device.

That said, the convenience of the at-home device warrants attention. The technology used in these devices varies greatly with some utilizing lasers, others light-based sources, or electric currents.

New Partnerships Target Consumers At-Home
Laser hair removal is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the world. In the US alone over 1.4 million procedures are performed annually. Given laser hair removal’s immense popularity and the desire by the majority of consumers to remove unwanted hair from some part of their bodies, a number of consumer companies and laser manufacturers have partnered to produce at-home devices. New devices entering the market include

Professial Treatment is Long-Lasting, will At-Home Alternatives Work as Well?
Professional laser hair removal has been offered in dermatology and other medical practices since 1996. It is a established treatment with proven results.

The results of professional treatments are phenomenal and have proven to be long-lasting. However the complexity of the physics involved, safety concerns, and the necessary medical oversight have prevented at-home laser hair removal until recently. While much slower than professional laser hair removal, these new devices have begun entry in to the home device marketplace. Since the advent of laser hair removal companies have looked for a way to package it for home use.

Experience Counts
Like other anatomical areas, laser hair removal of the bikini area is dependent on such factors as hair color, skin color, hair strand thickness & density. These factors will be evaluated by physician offices to help pick the most appropriate laser technique for each patient. Those physician offices with the most experience in the field of laser hair removal have the greatest potential for choosing the most appropriate laser or similar light source.

Laser Reduces or Eliminates Razor Bumps & Redness
Although hair removal of the pubic area is widely sought after, & effective, there are more than aesthetic concerns when treating this area. The bikini area is & a region of common occurring folliculitis, inflammation & infection of the hair follicles. Not only does this result in itchy & painful lesions, but often secondary hyperpigmentation & darkening of the skin occur from the inflammation. Fortunately, the laser has been very helpful in reducing, or eliminating, hair growth & diminishing, or stopping, recurrent folliculitis.

Laser Hair Removal is Highly Effective
Although other forms of hair removal–such as electrolysis, depilatory creams or waxing–can be used, each has its own limitations as to effectiveness & ease of use. In two to six treatments, bikini laser hair removal may accomplish a permanent reduction in the majority of pubic hair. The procedure is very quick & well tolerated. Even the hair that remains is lots of times reduced in diameter, making them significantly less of a cosmetic issue while also reducing the irritation of the hair follicle. Overall, this procedure is commonly performed with high patient satisfaction. Remember lasers are medical devices that need a high level of expertise to be used safely. Physician offices specializing in these procedures increase not only effectiveness but also the safety of the procedure.

Not only does laser hair removal stop the folliculitis, & subsequent skin darkening, but a few of these laser systems are beneficial in reducing hyperpigmentation, & persistent skin redness, which occurred from earlier episodes of folliculitis. This exciting secondary benefit to laser hair removal is very appreciated by the patient. Having a bikini area that’s free of hair, irritation, & discoloration, can be very desirable.