| CHICAGO (July 27, 2003)– Excess
facial or body hair can be a nagging cosmetic concern for men and women, alike.
While depilatories, shaving, waxing, and electrolysis are common solutions
for hair removal, many people complain that the accompanying discomfort and
time-consuming nature of many of these treatments are too high a price to
pay for temporarily smooth skin. However, these men and women are beginning
to discover that lasers are a convenient yet gentle solution to the problem
of unwanted hair. Speaking today at ACADEMY ‘03, the American Academy of
Dermatology’s summer scientific meeting in Chicago, dermatologist Allison
T. Vidimos, RPh, MD, Staff Member, Department of Dermatology, Section of Dermatologic
Surgery and Oncology, and Program Director, Dermatology Residency, Cleveland
Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, discussed the facts of laser hair removal.
“The continued development of laser technology has led to a variety of exciting
treatment options for patients of all skin types with unwanted hair,” stated
Dr. Vidimos. “Last year, more than 585,000 laser treatments were performed
in the United States, and the number of patients taking advantage of this
procedure to receive permanent hair growth reduction is growing.”
Laser hair removal uses a low-energy laser to gently remove unwanted hair.
The laser energy passes through the skin and is absorbed by the pigment in
the hair follicle. In a fraction of a second, many of the treated hair follicles
are injured by the heat generated by the laser. Laser treatments can last
anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours depending on the size of the area
being treated.
With the exception of the region close to the eye, almost any area of the
body with excess hair can be treated with lasers. The most common areas requested
by patients are the face, upper lip, neck, chest, periareolar (breast region),
underarms, back, abdomen, bikini line and legs.
“In general, patients with light skin and dark hair are the ideal candidates
for laser hair removal,” said Dr. Vidimos. “However, the use of longer wavelength
lasers and skin cooling devices have increased the safety of lasers used to
treat patients with darker skin types that, until now, have not been candidates
for laser hair removal. These skin cooling devices protect the upper layer
of skin in darker skinned patients from absorbing too much laser energy, thereby
reducing the risk of blistering and pigment change.”
Yet while laser treatments for darker skinned patients have improved, patients
with tanned skin are still not candidates and must wait until their tan fades
before they can be treated. Patients are instructed not to suntan or use sunless
tanning products prior to laser treatment, since tanning alters skin pigment
and can affect how the skin absorbs the laser energy. This could lead to increased
side effects such as blistering or discoloration following treatment.
In addition to a patient’s skin color, their hair color also influences
the success of laser hair removal. As a rule, the pigment in dark hair absorbs
more laser energy, making black or brown hair easier to treat. Light hair,
such as blonde or red, contains a pigment that absorbs laser energy less readily,
and therefore does not respond with permanent hair reduction.
The number of hair removal treatments required for optimal long-term benefits
usually depends on the area the patient would like to have treated, the hair
density, and the patient’s hair growth cycle. Hair grows in cycles and many
factors influence its growth. Age, ethnicity, weight, hormones, diet, medication,
and metabolism all play a part in a patient’s hair distribution, thickness,
and resilience. When necessary, laser treatments are usually repeated at six
to eight week intervals.
A typical laser hair removal patient may experience brief swelling and
redness following the procedure. Most patients will be completely healed in
two to 10 days, although their hair may not fall out for up to two weeks after
treatment. Following laser hair removal, patients can return to their normal
activities immediately. As always, patients should avoid any direct sun exposure
and use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 since the treated
skin will be very sensitive to the sun.
“The success of laser hair removal depends on the skill of the physician
performing the treatment,” cautioned Dr. Vidimos. “I would advise patients
to ask questions, and make sure that the physician they’ve chosen to work
with is a board-certified dermatologist or other appropriately-trained surgeon
with extensive experience in performing laser procedures in order to ensure
the best possible results.”
The American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most
influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With
a membership of over 14,000 dermatologists worldwide, the Academy is committed
to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical, and cosmetic treatment
of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice,
education, and research in dermatology; supporting and enhancing patient care
for a lifetime of healthier skin. For more information, contact the AAD at
1-888-462-DERM or www.aad.org
|
While
depilatories, shaving, waxing, and electrolysis are common solutions for hair
removal, many people complain that the accompanying discomfort and time-consuming
nature of many of these treatments are too high a price to pay for temporarily
smooth skin. However, these men and women are beginning to discover that lasers
are a convenient yet gentle solution to the problem of unwanted hair. 
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