"Unwanted hair growth may appear on many areas of the body including the upper lip, sideburns, chin, ears, chest, back, armpits, legs, fingers, feet or toes and is annoying for both men and women," according to the American Academy of Dermatology. There are many options to consider when removing the unwanted hair. Laser hair removal surgery is very effective in removing the hair, as opposed to the traditional techniques of tweezing and waxing.
Tweezing
Tweezing is a very cost-effective way to get rid of that unwanted hair on the body. All you need is a pair of tweezers that you can buy at any drugstore. The main problem with tweezing, if not done correctly, is that the tiny blood vessels in your skin around the hair follicles will become damaged. "While hair tweezing can help you temporarily remove individual hairs, it is a very limited hair removal option since larger areas cannot effectively be cleared," according to PermanentHairRemovalTips.com. Other options, such as laser hair removal surgery, may work best for you if you want to get rid of that unwanted hair. It will provide a more permanent relief, and possibly less damage to your skin.
Seek Medical Advice
When deciding to seek treatment using laser hair removal, you must first consult your doctor. Upon your evaluation your doctor may send you to a dermatologist. "The dermatologist will make an assessment of your medical history, your skin type, your hair color, the thickness and location of your hair, presence of a tan, tattoo or moles near the treatment area and previous hair removal treatments," according to the American Academy of Dermatologist. You must discuss the possibilities of reactions from the treatment, multiple treatments and retreatment of the treated areas.
Costs
"The cost of laser hair removal depends, first and foremost, on the area being treated and the number of sessions needed to fully eliminate the unwanted hair," according to the Hair Removal Forum. Although laser treatment may cost more then the temporary methods such as waxing and topical creams, overall it will produce long-term effectiveness in keeping that unwanted hair from coming back.
Procedure
Laser hair removal is a procedure that uses a laser beam to remove the unwanted hair from various places on the body. The heat of the laser beam penetrates deep into the skin and into the hair follicle, killing the hair. The day of the treatment the patient must be free of all cosmetics near the area, and the dermatologist will provide a topical anesthetic to relieve the discomfort. Also, the laser has a cooling device in the form of a gel or water that will relieve the pain. Treatments may need to be repeated every four to six weeks, depending on the amount of hair.
Side Effects
Immediate side effects lasting up to three days after the laser hair removal procedure include pain, swelling and redness and inflammation near the treated area. Depending on your skin color there may be lightning or darkening of the skin. Sometimes more serious side effects may occur such as blistering and bacterial infection.
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