Easy Hair Removal

$100 million lawsuit filed in laser hair removal burn case

2005-12-11T17:55:00.000+05:30

A 34-year old investment banker in New York filed a lawsuit in
2001, claiming she received second- and third-degree burns on
her face and neck from laser hair removal treatments at the Greenhouse
Spa chain's midtown Manhattan office. She says the scarring has
caused her to become a virtual recluse who doesn't date anymore
and is embarrassed at her job.

"I could smell the burning, I could feel my face on fire,"
she said. "It was so painful, I could have screamed. I kept
wondering when it would be over with." When she told the
spa's beauty technician to stop because of the pain, the attendant
rubbed ice on her face and "asked me if I was ready to do
the other side."

She said a doctor at the spa looked in and told her to buy some
salve and go home. According to the complaint filed in Brooklyn
Supreme Court, she was diagnosed with serious second- and third-degree
burns that plastic surgery cannot repair. She now wears coverings
on her face while at work to hide the deep scarring from her laser
treatments. Her complaint states she continues to experience "depressed
mood, loss of confidence and self-esteem, sleep impairment, anxiety
and shame over facial scars." She says she was told that
the treatments were safe and conducted by trained technicians.

Use of these devices by non-physicians is currently being reviewed
by FDA due to injuries such as these.

Despite claims by laser promoters that some kinds of lasers are
"perfect" for darker and tanned skin, the likelihood
of injury is much higher for darker skin tones.

To help protect yourself, insist on having a physician, preferably
a dermatologist or plastic surgeon with lots of laser experience
perform the treatment. If this is not an option, learn the qualifications
of the person performing the procedure. In some states, they require
no formal training of any kind. See my section on choosing a laser
practitioner for more suggestions.

Finally, avoid excessive use of painkillers during the procedure.
This can alert you to the fact that you are being overtreated.

Below: a photo of scarring following laser hair removal by
a non-physician technician. Consumers with darker skin tones are
strongly urged to rely on trained physicians once you've decided
laser hair removal is worth the risk.

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Tips & Clinical Data

2005-12-03T13:21:00.000+05:30

Hair removal tips

Below are some ways to make hair removal easier, safer, and more effective.

Reducing pain
Do-it-yourself electrolysis
How to purchase
a home unit
Choosing a light-based
practitioner
Questions to ask at a light-based
hair removal consultation: PRINTABLE FORM
Choosing an electrologist
Eye safety during
hair removal

Medical data

This section lists published clinical data on various methods
of hair removal. In some cases, I have included unpublished reports
for methods with little or no published data.

Citation ratings

To help consumers focus on the most useful information, I have
marked each citation as follows:

= recommended only for in-depth researchers rather
than consumers
= may be worth ordering
for thorough or specialized consumer research
= strongly recommended
for any consumer researching that method

Citations without stars have not been reviewed yet.

Methods and devices that remove hair chemically or mechanically

Shaving
Waxing, plucking,
and tweezing
Topical preparations

Devices that emit electric energy to remove hair

Electrolysis
X-rays
Electric tweezers
"Transdermal
electrolysis"
Laser/Light
(choose if you don't know laser/light type)
Photoepilators
Argon lasers
Flash lamps
Nd:YAG lasers
Ruby lasers
Alexandrite lasers
Diode lasers
Other laser topics
Microwave hair
removal

How To Choose

2005-11-23T12:18:00.000+05:30

Choosing the right hair removal method
Everyone has different circumstances for wanting hair removal, and different limitations. Here are some highlights.

Your sex

Male

Most questions I get from men are about back and chest hair. I usually recommend Waxing as the safest option. Those with light skin and dark hair seeking longer-term results (that may or may not be permanent) might look into Laser. Although Electrolysis can be a good option for those with sparse hair, most men find this method to be painful, expensive, and time-consuming for large areas.

Male beards: This is the ultimate stress test for any hair removal method. Shaving is by far the most popular option. Electrolysis can be permanent, but it requires a serious commitment of time and money. Beard removal is possible with electrolysis, but it will take a very long time and must be done by someone with a lot of experience. The heavier the beard, the more likely you are to get scarred, so it's very important to choose an electrologist recommended by someone who had male facial hair removed and is done and happy. Some with light skin and dark hair have found Laser useful, but there is limited data on how long it will last and how often treatment is successful. There are early indications that super-long pulse lasers might be an acceptable alternative to shaving for black males, but it's too soon to tell for sure. Laser can sometimes lighten the color of facial hair and reduce the amount of shadow, but some have reported patchy or grid-like regrowth that looked odd. If you seek complete and permanent beard removal, it's very important to do a lot of research and understand the difficulty of the undertaking.

Female

Female facial hair: For mild to moderate female facial hair, Tweezing is probably the most popular option. Some women prefer to conceal fine dark hair by bleaching rather than removing it. The prescription topical cream Vaniqa has been a great maintenance solution for about half the women who try it. If you want the hair gone for good, consider Electrolysis with an electrologist recommended by someone who is done and happy. Some women with light skin have found Laser helpful for heavier amounts of dark hair, but there is limited data on long-term effectiveness or what percentage respond to treatment. Women with high levels of androgens may benefit from Prescription oral medications, and should discuss the matter with their endocrinologist or medical specialist.

Pregnant and nursing women often see increased amounts of hair. They should consult with a physician before undergoing any hair removal method that uses energy or involves chemicals or drugs.

Bikini area is a common question I get. Shaving is most popular, though it's important to moisturize heavily before and after, and use a new blade. Many find a product called Tend Skin to be helpful in reducing irritation and razor bumps. Waxing can be painful, but it lasts a while. Electrolysis is very painful for most, but if done properly, it can be permanent. Some with light skin and dark hair have found Laser to be a good option, but it's extremely important to avoid sun before and after laser treatment to avoid discoloration that can last many months.

Legs are still cleared by Shaving most frequently, with Waxing and Cream depilatories being the second and third most popular options. Some women with light skin and dark hair have found Laser to be a good option, but there's limited data on long-term effectiveness and success rates. I suggest a rotary epilators if you're fairly limber and don't mind self-inflicted pain.

Some women ask about arm hair. I suggest rotary epilators or Waxing for arms, but make sure to exfoliate and moisturize a lit to avoid ingrown hairs. I generally don't recommend Shaving, since the hair feels coarse and bristly as it grows out. Some women with light skin and dark hair have found Laser to be a good option, but there's limited data on long-term effectiveness and success rates.

Chest, nipples, abdomen: for a few stragglers, Tweezing might be an option, but if you want them gone for good, you might look into Electrolysis. If you have a fair amount, electrolysis is still a good option, or maybe Waxing for a longer temporary result than Shaving. If you're light-skinned with a lot of dark hair, you might try Laser, but there's limited data on long-term effectiveness and success rates.

Intersexed women and male-to-female transsexuals

Prescription oral medications such as androgen blockers are typically part of the course of treatment for these conditions. These can reduce the amount of body hair and halt the growth of future facial hair, but they will do little to affect existing facial hair.

Body hair: I suggest Waxing while androgen blockers take effect. For light-skinned women with significant amounts of dark body hair, some have found Laser to be a good quick fix, but there is limited data on long-term effectiveness and success rates. Since body hair will generally diminish over time, it's usually a better use of time and money to concentrate on facial hair and deal with body hair once the face is under control.

Facial hair: Although some with light skin and dark hair have found Laser to be a quick fix for heavy androgen-induced facial hair, most women with these conditions have not been able to go one year after final laser treatment without supplementing laser with another hair removal method. Because these conditions have a lot of attendant medical expenses which are often out-of-pocket, I make the following recommendation: If you seek permanent facial hair removal and cannot afford to risk time or money on methods with limited data on effectiveness and success rates, it's probably safest to invest in Electrolysis with a practitioner recommended by another woman with your condition who is done and happy. When choosing an electrologist, operator skill is the most important thing, but I also suggest finding someone who uses the blend method, since it's probably going to be more effective.

Your skin characteristics

Darker skin tones
Shaving is often problematic in darker-skinned people with curly hair, since the hairs are more prone to ingrowns (called razor bumps or technically pseudofolliculitis barbae). You also need to be careful with Laser. The darker the skin, the more likely you with have pigmentation change from laser. There are early indications that super-long pulse lasers might be an acceptable alternative to shaving for some black males, but it's too soon to tell for sure. Those with darker skin tones should get a patch test done prior to full laser or electrolysis treatment and wait a week or two to see how the skin responds.

Sun worshipers, outdoorsy-types, and tanning bed clients

Laser can be very problematic if done on skin that has just been exposed to the sun. Sun exposure immediately before or after laser treatment can result in significant patchy change in skin color that can last several months. Those who get laser treatment or Electrolysis should avoid taking sun on the treated areas for a while after treatment (probably at least a couple of weeks to be safe).

Using certain skin medications

Drugs like Retin-A (trentinoin), Accutane, and alpha-hydroxy acids can cause problems with Waxing. Because these drugs work to exfoliate skin, if you wax while using these, you might take off a layer or two of skin along with the hair. Check with your doctor before waxing if you're taking any skin medications.

Allergies
Some people are allergic to metals used in some electrolysis probes. Some people also have allergic reactions to the active ingredients in Cream depilatories, Powder depilatories, and Waxes. If you are allergy-prone or have sensitive skin, do a patch test before full treatment.

Heavy scarring or keloids
If you have a tendency to scar badly, you need to be very careful with hair removal, especially Shaving and Electrolysis.

Skin conditions
Skin with a lot of acne, psoriasis, moles, warts, scars, pigmented lesions, etc. should not be treated without first consulting with a dermatologist.

Your body area to be treated

Back and chest
For men, Waxing or Shaving are usually the best options for large areas like chest and back. Some have found Laser useful, but there is limited data on how long it will last and how often treatment is successful. Electrolysis can be permanent, but it requires a serious commitment of time and money. For women with just a few hairs, Tweezing or Electrolysis can be good options.

Legs and arms
Again, Waxing or Shaving are popular options. If you want something that lasts like waxing, which you can do at home, I recommend rotary epilators like the Braun Silk-epil. Some with light skin and dark hair have found Laser useful, but there is limited data on how long it will last and how often treatment is successful.

Facial hair
This is discussed by sex below.

Type/amount of hair

Gray, blonde, and red hair
Laser probably won't be very effective on these types. Since gray hairs are often more coarse, they are generally harder to remove.

Fine hairs
Rotary epilators, Waxing, and Shaving with electric shavers may be hard to use on these hairs. The finer the hair, the less likely laser is going to work on it, since it contains less melanin. Electrolysis often takes longer on fine hairs, since it's harder to locate the follicle, and the shallow roots make it more likely you'll get skin damage.

Dark hairs
These are ideal for Laser, but for some reason still unknown, some people with dark hair don't respond to laser treatment. Some find that concealing dark hairs by bleaching them is a better option than removing them. Those with dark hair will see the most dramatic results when they are removed. Dark hairs will usually look better when epilated (removed from the root), since shaving and depilatories can leave them still visible under the skin.

Next: compare all methods

Once you have determined your specific needs, consult the charts below.

Comparison of all hair removal methods:

Methods done at home
Methods done professionally
Proven permanent hair removal methods

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Methods of hair removal

2005-11-05T20:37:00.000+05:30

Hair removal might be considered a "cosmetic" issue, but managing or removing unwanted
hair can go beyond being a simple "cosmetic" problem.

Many cultures have an aesthetic "ideal" amount of hair for males and females. For some of
us, unwanted hair that exceeds this arbitrary standard can cause real or perceived
problems with social acceptance.

The information I've compiled would fill a book, so if you're researching a specific method,
you can go right to that topic. For a more thorough review, I recommend reading the background information.

Background Information

Definitions

Temporary Methods

Hair removal can be achieved through depilation (removing part of the hair above the
skin's surface) or epilation (removing the entire hair). For many consumers, temporary methods at regular intervals are acceptable. Right now my focus is on devices claiming permanence, but I'll be discussing temporary methods in the future.

Depilation lasting several hours to several days can be achieved by:

Shaving or trimming (manually or with electric shavers)

Depilatories (creams or "shaving powders" which chemically dissolve hair)

Friction (rough surfaces used to buff away hair)

Epilation lasting several days to several weeks can be achieved by:

Tweezing

Waxing (a hot or cold layer is applied and then removed with porous strips)

Sugaring (similar to waxing, but with a sticky paste)

Threading (also called fatlah or khite, in which a twisted thread catches hairs as it's rolled across the skin)

Rotary epilators (devices which rapidly grasp hairs and pull them out by the root)

"Permanent" Methods

If you're seeking permanent hair removal, you have several imperfect options. A number
of methods have been developed that use chemicals, energy of varying types, or a
combination to target the areas that regulate hair growth. Permanently destroying these
areas while sparing surrounding tissue is a difficult challenge. I recommend relying on a
body of published, peer-reviewed scientific evidence to ensure the effectiveness of a
method.

Permanent hair removal for most

Electrolysis

Permanent hair reduction for some

Laser

Flashlamp

Lasting hair inhibition for many (requires continuous use)

Prescription oral medications

Prescription topical preparation (Vaniqa)

Restricted methods

X-ray (banned in the United States)

Photodynamic therapy (experimental)

Doubtful methods

Electric tweezers

"Transdermal electrolysis"

"Transcutaneous hair removal"

Photoepilators

Microwaves

Foods and Dietary supplements

Nonprescription topical preparations (aka "hair inhibitors," "hair retardants," or "hair growth inhibitors")

How to choose

Choosing a method

Choosing a practitioner:

Laser/light
Electrologist

Hair removal information: recommended and non-recommended

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Hair Facts

2005-10-05T15:00:00.000+05:30

Researching hair removal methods?

Then start at a site that doesn't sell any.

"HairFacts is about hair removal facts, not sales. I've created over 3,350 pages here to help you make informed purchasing decisions. I hope my commercial-free site earns your trust as a reliable hair removal resource."

Hot topics
eBay (WARNING!)
Auction site eBay features dozens of doubtful hair removal products that make unproven claims. Research before you buy!

First-time visitor? Start with my overview of hair removal methods.

Improved hair removal forum with added features! New user? Register for free today!

Top hair removal scams

Finally Free/nevershaveagain.com (WARNING!)

Read a long list of consumer complaints about this scam.

Global Electrolysis Supply (WARNING!)

Electrolyse Automatique: the latest name. Global's weasely disclaimer, out where you can actually read it. Blow-by-blow account of how Global denies refunds. Don't confuse Global with reputable companies like Prestige Electrolysis Supply and Texas Electrolysis Supply.

Rejuvenu (WARNING!)
Rejuvenu "medical consultant" Michael T. Ricks, Sr. of Gemini Body Works enters guilty plea on sex and fraud charges and sentenced to 20 years to life. While out on bail,police say he committed additional crimes.

Rejuvenu FDA warning letter for multiple violations.
Rejuvenu attacks: my response.
Lee Cole accused of fraud by former employer.
Lee Cole died 31 October 2004 accordiong to court documents
Rejuvenu cited previously by FDA yet on other occasions.
The 1999 letter from the Federal Trade Commission.
Attack by Rejuvenu's other medical consultant Mark Chandler.
A not-so-scary legal threat.

Academy of Professional Hair Removal in Bloomington, Illinois.
Angry letter from Dawn Rabideau of Skin Essentials in Wichita Falls,
Texas.
Rejuvenu caught padding bogus distributor list with innocent companies.
RejuveNews: yet another name.

Ultra Hair Away (WARNING!)

LOHS AU (WARNING!)

E-Pen and Body EQ (WARNING!)

Global Tronics International (WARNING!)

Electric tweezer scam threatens a lawsuit

Laser hair removal:

Check out HairTell forum member vulpes' laser hair removal result!

A directory of Laser hair removal directories, annotated by yours truly.

Laser burns part 4: leg burns, a reader who got laser striping, a woman seeking $100million
for facial burns, a woman whose legs were "Scarred for Life."

Ouch! Look at all the nerves around one little hair in this photo!

Tips! Pain management, choosing a laser hair removal practitioner, and using Tend Skin for
reducing shaving bumps and ingrowns.

A bizarre accusation from Kimberly Williams of Boston School of Electrolysis/Boston Electrolysis

These hair removal facts are proudly featured on CBS News Radio, QuackWatch, Transsexual Road Map and eMedicine.

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MY LINKS

2005-08-19T01:38:00.000+05:30

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