Laser Hair Removal And Pregnancy

June 25th, 2007 Hair Removal Specialist Posted in Laser Hair Removal 1 Comment »

If you are pregnant, then you probably know that shaving is quite awkward. This is because it is difficult to bend down, plus you may also be experiencing increased hair growth because of the hormonal changes that your body is going through. Thankfully this will end once your baby is born. However, if you have had excess hair before you even became pregnant, then you may not be able to get rid of it so easily. For these various reasons, many women find themselves desperate enough to consider laser hair removal in the months that are leading up to the actual birth of their baby.

While laser hair removal can be extremely effective since it targets the hair’s pigmentation and thermally damages the hair follicles, it is difficult to tell whether or not this is safe for pregnant women to undergo. This is because there have not been any studies done to find out how laser hair removal will affect the fetus. For this reason, laser hair removal is not recommended for pregnant women. However, there are some people who still believe that laser hair removal is completely safe during early pregnancy as long as the bikini area is avoided. Nevertheless, with such limited information being available, it is best to wait to receive laser hair removal treatments until after the baby has been born. This will then allow the technician to do a proper consultation.

Pregnant women could consider using electrolysis instead of laser hair removal. In this procedure, the hair follicle will be destroyed by a probe that is inserted into it and then emits radio frequency. There are 3 ways in which this can work. These include both Galvanic, Thermolysis and Blend. The Thermolysis and Blend methods are not recommended for pregnant women. This is because in Thermolysis electrolysis sends the electrical current to actually pass through the person’s body. Since Blend electrolysis combines Galvanic and Thermolysis, it is also not recommended for pregnant women. Even with Galvanic electrolysis, pregnant women are usually required to get authorization from their obstetrician before this treatment can be performed. This is true even though this form of electrolysis has never caused any damage to the expectant mother or her fetus.

Pregnant women need to understand that there has only been limited research done on the process of electrolysis and how it can effect a pregnant woman and her developing fetus. This is why there are so many obstetricians who are hesitant to recommend this procedure at all to anyone who is pregnant. Those women who still choose to have electrolysis performed on them while they are pregnant, especially if these women are in their last trimesters, really should take some precautions. These precautions primarily state that pregnant women should really avoid having electrolysis done around their abdomens, which is where their developing baby is, and also avoid treatments on their breasts, because they are developing milk that will be needed if they choose to breastfeed their baby.

 

Note: This article is for informational purpose only. Please contact your doctor/dermatologist for proper guidance and information.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

The Dangers Of Laser Hair Removal

June 15th, 2007 Hair Removal Specialist Posted in Laser Hair Removal 1 Comment »

A lot of people believe that laser hair removal is simply a cosmetic procedure, which is wrong.  Laser hair removal is considered to be a medical procedure because of the risks, dangers and side effects that is associated with the procedure even though these risks, dangers and side effects may seem to be quite insignificant.

By now you probably have realized that laser hair removal is a very popular procedure.  Lots of people around the world have used this method on some part of their body.  As such, you will clearly see that the risks of laser hair removal are not deterring anyone from using this method of hair removal.  However, if you plan to have laser hair removal done, you should still know what the risks involved with this procedure are.  In order to do so, you must first understand the science behind this treatment.

Many people do not understand how this procedure works.  This is actually a quite simple procedure to understand though.  A light with special wavelengths is simply used to damage the end of the hair or the hair follicles.  The light’s strength is adjusted in order to target the high pigmented areas of the air in order to do this damage, which will prevent or reduce the amount of hair that grows back.  For this reason, you should stay out of the sun for a few weeks before you go for a laser hair removal treatment.  This is because having a tan can make it difficult, or even impossible, to have the laser hair removal procedure work properly.

It is also important to understand that some medications are not safe to use whenever getting laser hair removal done.  So, if you are on any medication, you should talk to your doctor before you begin receiving laser hair removal treatments.  In this way you will be able to ensure that you are not going to have any health problems due to the combination of the medication that you are taking and the laser hair treatment that you receive.

You should also know that while most people who have had laser hair removal done, there are some people who may feel a little pain.  This pain is comparable to that of someone pricking you.  Oftentimes this pain is manageable though unless you are getting your armpits or pubic hair treated with the laser, then it is simply inevitable.  If this pain is of concern to you, then you should talk to your doctor about possibly receiving anesthesia.

The risks that you should be most concerned about in association with laser hair removal are laser marks or skin burns.  Luckily, these risks are quite rare as long as the procedure is done properly by someone who has been trained to do it correctly.  If you do experience any laser marks or skin burns, then you can be almost certain that this procedure was not performed properly.  The best way in which to avoid this from happening is to check out the person or place before beginning treatment.

This article is meant for informational purpose only. It should not be considered as guidance or advice. We recommend you to contact your dermatologist / physician for more details it.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Electrolysis

March 10th, 2007 Hair Removal Specialist Posted in Electrolysis, Laser Hair Removal, Permanent Hair Removal, Treatments No Comments »

Electrolysis is the only known method of permanent hair removal. This procedure can be very intimidating though since a needle has to be repeatedly inserted into each hair follicle. Another reason why a lot of people find this procedure intimidating is because of its cost. A treatment averages between $60 and $100 per hour. You will require at least 1 session per week for a period of several months to more than a year.

This procedure works by inserting a needle into the hair shaft and then sending an electrical current to the hair follicle. While the hair itself is dry, the surface that is located directly beneath the skin is wet and contains a lot of minerals. This wet, mineral rich area is where the electrical current is sent. When it reaches this area a chemical reaction occurs and the hair follicle is desolved in a permanent manner.

Usually you will need to have more than one treatment done because there will be some hair re-growth. This is not the same hair that was there but fresh hair that were resting when the original treatment was done. The reason why this occurs is because hair grows in cycles. So, you are going to need 3 to 4 months of treatments before all hair growth will stop. Each of these treatments should result in a noticeable 20% reduction in hair growth. Here are some estimated times that it will take to remove hair from each part of your body:

1. Upper Lip 4-10 hours

2. Chin: 2-12 hours

3. Sideburns: 4-8 hours

4. Eyebrows: 3-8 hours

5. Underarms: 4-12

6. Arms: 5-10 hours

7. Bikini Line: 8-16 hours

While electrolysis is a highly effective procedure, it does have some drawbacks, including:

1. Repeatedly inserting a needle into the skin can be quite painful. However, this depends upon your level of sensitivity. While some people say that this procedure is similar to using tweezers, others say that it is extremely painful. Your electrolysis technician will be able to tell you ways in which you can minimize this discomfort though.

2. You need to find a highly skilled technician to perform your treatments.

3. Due to the use of needles, there is an increased chance of infection. However, a new needle should be used so that no 2 patients ever use the same needle.

4. You will have little red spots, swelling, dryness and scabs temporarily appearing around the treated area after you undergo a treatment.

5. If you do not have your procedure done by a professional, then you will run the risk of having permanent skin damage.

Another thing that you need to be aware of is that while electrolysis is oftentimes viewed as a permanent solution for removing unwanted hair, it is important to understand that there are some cases in which hair will re-grow and thus you will need to return once or twice a year to get these areas cleaned up. Usually this occurs in the underarm, pubic and nipple areas. This is especially true during a woman’s reproductive years.

As with anything, you should make sure that you check your technician’s credentials before beginning treatment.

AddThis Social Bookmark Button