Hair Removal Treatments

Tweezing and shaving may be the oldest form of hair removal - some researchers have argued that shaving maybe 100,000 years old! To be sure, many new methods of hair removal have since been popular. Here's a quick look at them:

• Shaving: Razors have gotten sharper, safer, better in recent times. Different razors for men and women take into account the differences in hair hardness between the two genders.
  Shaving can be done at home, all you need is shaving cream or gel and a razor. You should always shave with the grain (in the direction of the hair growth). Though shaving against the grain cuts the hair finely, it also causes skin inflammation, bumps and ingrown hair. You must use the razor precisely or else you may end up cutting your skin.
• Sugaring: Apparently started by the ancient Egyptians, this method of hair removal with lemon juice, sugar and water, instead of wax, may be better suited for those who have sensitive skin.
• Plucking: Historical artefacts show that plucking or tweezing is something we have in common with our ancestors from thousands of years ago. It's a simple method where a sharp tool is used to pluck unwanted hair and make your eyebrows look on fleek.
• Threading: Another popular way to remove hair in India, it takes a great deal of skill to use a piece of thread for pulling hair out of its follicles by squeezing the skin on top.
• Waxing: Yet another means to remove body hair from the roots, waxing has many variations today. Example, Rica wax is said to remove hair as well as reduce future hair growth. Chocolate wax is reputed to be better for harder hair growth. And ready-to-use wax strips are also easily available in the market, for those who prefer the convenience of hair removal at home.
  Hot waxing is the most popular way of removing hair and can be done either by soft wax or hard wax. Soft wax is easily available in the market and requires cotton strips to remove the hair. The hard wax is made up of either rosin or beeswax and does not require wax strips for hair removal.
  Waxing is not recommended for people who are taking retinol - a vitamin A supplement - and acne medication such as isotretinoin. Also, do not wax sunburnt or sensitive skin.
• Depilatory creams: Hair removal creams contain chemicals like salts of thioglycolic acid (potassium thioglycolate or calcium thioglycolate) or barium sulfide. These chemicals react with the protein in the hair and make it weak, so it comes away from the skin easily when you use the spatula from the hair removal cream kit.
  These creams are available in the market for easy removal of hair. All you need to do is apply the cream over the desired area, keep it for the suggested amount of time and then remove the product. You should do a patch test first, before trying it on the rest of the body, this will help you prevent an allergic reaction.
  Possibly the least painful method of hair removal, these creams do pose the risk of skin allergy and chemical burns if they are left on for too long. The use of these creams is not recommended for removing facial hair and public hair.
• Laser: Laser hair removal treatment involves the emission of laser light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The light gets converted into heat, which then damages the hair follicles that produce hairs. This damage to the hair follicle inhibits or delays the growth of hair in the future.
  Laser hair removal must be done by a trained professional. It can reduce the growth of unwanted hair on the body.
  Though there are no studies to determine if laser hair removal is safe during pregnancy, health expert generally advise against it.
• Electrolysis: Electrolysis is a procedure where a trained professional passes an electrical current through a hair follicle. This electric current damages the follicle, thus preventing new hair growth. It can only be practised by a dermatologist who is certified to do electrolysis. It is said to be the most permanent way to remove hair currently.
• Epilator: An epilator is a device that pulls several hairs out of your skin in one go. It can be painful. Using warm water and a mild scrub beforehand may help reduce the pain.

Read more: How to remove ingrown hair

There are a few disadvantages that are associated with hair removal:

• Cuts: While shaving you are more prone to get cuts and bruises easily.
• Minor burns: The use of hot wax can cause minor burns on the skin.
• Skin inflammation: Inflammation of the skin could be seen after waxing or shaving. It occurs mostly due to friction during hair removal.
• Bumps: This is a very common side-effect of waxing. 
• Ingrown hair: Ingrown hair is usually seen after waxing. During waxing, you pull hair out rapidly in the opposite direction of hair growth. This disrupts the hair follicle. So, when the hair grows back, it regrows inward (inside the skin), resulting in ingrown hair. 
• Infected hair follicles: Folliculitis is one of the most common skin disorders. It appears as pinpoint red bumps, each one involving a hair strand, occasionally with pus on top of it. It is most commonly seen after shaving.

There are some medical conditions as well as medications that can cause excessive hair growth. These include:

• Hypertrichosis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Cushing’s syndrome
• Sex hormone-producing tumours
• Certain drugs

Though the hair-removal methods for these remain the same, it is instructive to know about them. The reason: some of these conditions, for example, PCOS, cause hormonal imbalance so the hair may grow back eventually - even after laser hair removal.

1. Hypertrichosis or werewolf syndrome
2. Polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS-linked facial hair growth
3. Cushing’s syndrome
4. Sex hormone-producing tumours

Certain medications that are given during various treatment can lead to abnormal growth of hair on a person’s body. Some of these drugs are:

• Testosterone: Used during hormonal therapy.
• Danazol: Used during treatment of endometriosis and benign fibrocystic breasts.
• Anabolic steroids: Used during injury, to boost muscle mass. 
• Glucocorticoids: A potent group of drugs to treat multiple inflammations.
• Cyclosporine: Mainly used for preventing organ rejection.
• Minoxidil: Used to prevent thinning and falling of hair
• Phenytoin: Used for the treatment of epilepsy.

You will have to take slightly different precautions, depending on the area from which you want to remove the hair and the method. However, some tips and ideas apply to hair removal from the entire body:

• Do a patch test before using any product: this includes hair-removal creams and different types of wax.
• Discontinue any method that gives you a skin rash, skin allergies or causes too much pain and discomfort.
• Methods like shaving and threading may give you cuts - make sure to dab the area with aftershave or astringent afterwards. 
• Before waxing, ensure that your hair is long enough: one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch.
• Wash and dry the area beforehand, for more effective hair removal.
• If you are taking any drugs or supplements, check with your doctor about the safest and best hair removal method for you.
• Applying ice on the area before threading or waxing can reduce the discomfort.