Hair removal

Long-term ACNE laser solution

2008-05-15T22:30:01+02:00

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“Themost commonly diagnosed skin disorder in the U.S. and thenumber onereason for a patient’s visit to a dermatologist — acne — cannow havelong-term clearance with Smoothbeam(R) laser treatment,according to arecent study published in The Journal of the AmericanAcademy ofDermatology. While previous research shows the Smoothbeamlasereffectively treats the root cause of acne — overactive,oil-producingsebaceous glands — this is the first study to identifythe length oftime patients can experience clearing, regardless oftheir skin type. “Readtheoriginal article.Asacneaffects nearly 80 percent of the population worldwide, the needforeffective and lasting treatments continues to grow. That’s onereasonwhy researchers treated twenty patients of varying skin tones,withthree Smoothbeam laser treatments at four-week intervals. Thestudyfound a 75 percent reduction in the number of acne lesions inallsubjects after the final treatment, with significant improvementseenafter the first laser treatment. Additionally, acne scarringwasimproved by 26-50 percent in all patients studied post treatment.

“Whilethe Smoothbeam laser is known to effectively treat acne, thisstudy isthe first that demonstrates the long-term clearing of acnewith lasertreatment in patients of all skin types,” said Dr. Ming H.Jih, leadinvestigator.

Free of the side effects often associated withtopical and oraltreatments such as Accutane, this study also foundSmoothbeam lasertreatments produced improvements in overall skintexture and quality ofcomplexion.

“In addition to the safetyand uniform clinical efficacy of thelaser treatment, the added benefitsfor acne scarring and reduction inskin oiliness make this an idealtreatment for all patients with acne,especially those who did notrespond to other treatments,” Dr. Ming H.Jih added.

“Theresponse from patients who’ve tried numerous other treatmentswithlimited results and found real success in the Smoothbeam treatmentisexciting,” said Dr. Paul Friedman, study investigator andClinicalAssistant Professor at the University of Texas Medical SchoolatHouston. “The Smoothbeam laser is truly a major advance in theclinicaltreatment of acne vulgaris and has an excellent safety profile.”

Thefirst FDA approved laser for acne treatment, the Smoothbeamlasertreatment targets the source of acne-overactive, oil-producingsebaceousglands. Smoothbeam emits a wavelength of light that generatesheat inand around the sebaceous glands, altering the structure of theglandsand thereby reducing the over-production of acne-causing sebum.
About Smoothbeam:

Smoothbeamcreates a mild thermal injury just below the skin’ssurface, whichalters the structure of the sebaceous glands, the rootcause of acne.This allows for effective, long-lasting acne clearance.Smoothbeam emitsa wavelength of light that is strongly absorbed bywater in the skin. Asthe laser penetrates into the skin, heat isgenerated in and around thesebaceous glands in the upper layers of theskin. The integrated dynamiccooling device (DCD(TM)) also emits acooling spray, which allowspreservation of the skin, thus minimizingtreatment side effects.

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Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

2008-05-15T22:30:01+02:00

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), as most commonly employed by non-specialist
medical practitioners and beauticians, is a method of hair removal from
the body involving the use of a specially constructed xenon flash lamp
and focusing optics.

IPL technology is also employed in the treatment of medical disorders of
the skin including sun damage induced dyspigmentation and vascular
changes; poikiloderma of civatte; acne rosacea; broken
capillaries/telangiectases; vascular and pigmented birth marks. Such
treatment is best administered by a specialist dermatologist. This new
technology incorporates ‘dual mode filtering’ and other important
advances which result in safer and more effective treatment than the
older systems; which were initially designed for simple processes such
as hair removal.

Hair removal mechanics: The focused, broad spectrum light is applied to
the surface of the skin by way of either a hand-held wand, or by an
articulated arm. The intense light travels through the tissue of the
skin until it strikes the hair shafts or the bulb (root) of the hair.
The bulb is usually where the highest concentration of melanin is
located, as opposed to the rest of the hair shaft.

When the light strikes the dark-colored melanin, the light is converted
to heat energy. The bulb and most of the hair shaft is instantly
vaporized. The intense heat radiated by the hair also destroys the
hair-producing papilla or the entire hair follicle. It is also claimed
that direct light-heat conversion occurs directly in the darker colored
capilaries that bring nourishing blood to the follicle.

The pulses of light produced by IPL equipment are very short in
duration, so discomfort and damage to non-target tissues is minor. Most
people who undergo IPL epilation only experience slight irritation
similar to that of a minor sunburn though under certain circumstances,
blisters may occur. The light that emanates from the IPL wand is
filtered to remove any ultraviolet components, eliminating the
possibility of UV skin damage.

The IPL hair removal process has become very popular due to the
relatively low cost and rapidity of the procedure. IPL compares very
favourably to laser hair removal, which is often more costly and time
consumptive. The comparison of effectiveness between IPL and laser
epilation is debated by scientists, equipment manufacturers and
practitioners but is generally accepted to be equivalent. IPL is
generally advertised as “permanent hair reduction” as opposed to
“permanent hair removal” (this is a misnomer when applied to laser or
IPL hair removal).

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SUGARING - HOW TO DO IT

2008-04-07T17:30:02+02:00

Sugaring is the use of a sticky sugar mixture spread on the skin,which clings to the hair. A strip of fabric is pressed on top and pulled off quickly, taking the hair with it.
Sugaring is similar to waxing in concept, but unlike waxing, the mixture does not typically require heating.
Several sugaring products are available commercially, or you can make your own mixture at home.
Sugaring works on your , legs, underarms, bikini area, and pretty much anywhere hair grows.

SUGARING - HOW TO DO IT
Firstly, wash the area to be sugared. Use a soap free of moisturiser,as moisturiser will lessen the sticking ability of the mixture.
Dry the area well.
Next, spread a thin layer of sugaring mixture on the area, following the direction of hair growth. If sugaring your eyebrows use a thin layer and apply it carefully, paying attention to shape.
Next, place a strip of fabric over the area and rub it firmly a couple of times, again following the hair growth.
Finally, holding your skin taut, grip the end of the fabric strip and quickly pull it off in one clean movement, going against the direction of hair growth. There will be some pain, especially on bigger areas of hair like the legs and arms, or sensitive places like the bikini area.
You can reuse the same strip several times, until it looses its ability to adhere.
After you’re all done wash off any remaining sugaring mixture in warm water, and apply something soothing like moisturiser or a cool washcloth if you are experiencing lingering discomfort. Avoid using heavily perfumed lotions or anything that might irritate it further.

SUGARING VERSUS OTHER METHODS
Sugaring lasts longer than shaving, but is more painful than that or plucking. It offers a bit less control than plucking, but is quicker.
Commercial sugaring products can range up to £20 for one treatment,which admittedly isn’t much if you use it on your legs. However, for small areas like eyebrows it should last some time.
Compared to waxing, it does not require heating and the same cloth strip with product may be used several times.
Another benefit to sugaring is that the ingredients are usually non-toxic and natural, so you don't come in contact with any harsh chemicals.
You can even make your own sugaring solution at home, from ingredients you may already have in your kitchen.

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Hair removal

2008-04-07T17:26:01+02:00

Hirsutism

Hirsutism is defined as an excess of thicker darker hairs in a malepattern of distribution where they are normally thin or absent in thefemale. Affected areas are those that are stimulated by circulatingandrogens and include the face, chest, arms, and areolae. This disordermay be caused by several types of endocrine disorders that lead toexcessively high androgen levels or by hair follicles that areparticularly sensitive to normal levels of androgens. The latteraccounts for approximately 95% of all reported cases. An estimated 1 in20 women of reproductive age are affected by this disorder.

Treatment for excessive hair in hirsutism is not generally requiredif no clear etiology of the disorder exists and the patient does notfind the excessive hair growth objectionable. However, treatmentgenerally relies upon antiandrogen to inhibit the effects of androgenson the skin, such as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, spironolactone, orflutamide. Whether choosing to treat medically or with any of theaforementioned methods of hair removal, patients must understand thattreatment is long-term and must be continued to maintain low levels ofvisible hair.
Hypertrichosis

A hair growth pattern in a nonandrogen-dependent pattern is termedhypertrichosis and may involve vellus, terminal, or lanugo type hair.This may be associated with a number of congenital syndromes or occuras an isolated finding. What is considered a normal amount andappearance of body hair can vary widely among different ethnic groups,and treatment should be tailored to the needs or desires of theindividual patient. Hypertrichosis may be an unwanted adverse effect ofmedications such as cyclosporine, minoxidil, and oral and topicalcorticosteroids that are used to treat other disorders.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae

When hair grows in a curly and tightly coiled pattern, patients maybe afflicted with numerous ingrown hairs that may cause skinirritation, papules, and pustules. These may eventually lead to changesin pigmentation and even scarring. Pseudofolliculitis barbae occursmost commonly in the underarm or bikini area with shaving, or, in men,at the lower neck, where coarse facial hair grows. Laser hair removalis effective in treating this disorder by temporarily or permanentlyremoving the hair from the chronically inflamed lesion. Laser treatmentleads to resolution and healing of the papular and pustular lesions,dramatically improving skin texture and the associated postinflammatoryhyperpigmentation.

Acne keloidalis nuchae

This condition is most commonly seen in African Americans and ischaracterized by follicular papules and chronic plaques on theoccipital area of the scalp. It may often lead to keloidal thickeningof the skin and permanent scarring. In early lesions, an entrapped hairis usually in evidence, and early treatment with laser hair removal ismost effective at this stage. The entrapped hair acts as a foreign bodyin the skin and, when chronic, can cause skin changes, decreased hairgrowth, and scarring of the affected area. The treatment goals withlaser hair removal for this disorder are to destroy the impacted hairand cause a delay in new hair growth, thus decreasing further scarring.

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