Hair covers most every inch of the body with the exception of the palms of your hands, soles of your feet and your lips. More than 5 million hairs grow on the human body. According to the National Institutes of Health, most hair grows for a period of time, about six years, then falls out and is replaced with a new hair. Permanently removing unwanted hair is difficult and requires destroying the follicle from which it grows.
Significance
Unwanted hair often grows on the upper lip, chin and ears of women. Men may grow unwanted hair on their backs, fingers or toes. Excessive hair growth in men and women can be caused by hirsutism or hypertrichosis, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Hirsutism usually refers to male-pattern hair growth in women, while hypertrichosis refers to unnatural patterns of hair growth on body parts.
Effects
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the most effective way to remove unwanted hair is with a procedure called laser hair removal that utilizes targeted beams of light to destroy the hair follicles. Even with repeated sessions, however, hair eventually grows back. It may grow in thinner than before and may not appear for up to five years. To maintain permanent hair loss following laser surgery, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends continually using a prescription hair removal cream that has been approved for hair removal by the Food and Drug Administration.
Benefits
The active ingredient in approved hair removal creams is called eflornthine. According to the National Institutes of Health, the chemical works by blocking a natural hair-growing material in the body and is most commonly used by women to reduce hair growth on the upper lip and chin. While the prescription cream, which is sold under the brand name Vaniqa, does not totally remove hair permanently, it slows down the growth considerably, reducing the need for excessive hair removal methods.
Function
Initially, eflornthine must be applied to the skin twice a day -- in the morning and at night. Daily hair removal processes, such as plucking or shaving, must be continued while the medication takes effect. According to the National Institutes of Health, it can take up to four weeks or longer for you to see results from using the hair cream. After about six months, you should be able to reduce your hair removal regimen considerably.
Warning
Eflornthine must be used under a doctor's supervision. Severe skin irritation must be treated and use of the cream discontinued. Common side effects of the hair cream include acne and swollen patches of skin where the cream reached an impacted hair. You may feel a stinging sensation when applying the cream and your skin may tingle or burn slightly. According to the National Institutes of Health, eflornthine should not be taken orally and large amounts applied to the skin can cause poisoning.
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