Getting rid of unwanted hair

July 02, 2018

Dr Peter Ch’ng Wee Beng suggests the best hair removal methods


Getting rid of unwanted hair

 

What are the strengths and weaknesses of traditional hair removal methods, such as shaving and waxing, for larger areas of the body like legs, arms, and underarms? Which do you recommend?

When it comes to options for lasting or permanent hair removal, I would not recommend any of the traditional hair removal methods. First of all, as I mentioned, they are not permanent. Second, traditional hair removal methods, such as shaving or waxing, can damage the surface of the hair follicle leading to infection, i.e., folliculitis. Lastly, waxing can also cause contact dermatitis. The waxing glue can also cause either irritation or an allergic reaction on the patient’s skin.

 

How do an individual’s skin tone and hair colour affect the choices for the safest and most effective hair removal methods?

Those with a darker skin tone have a higher risk of experiencing post-inflammatory complications such as hyperpigmentation (when the skin gets darker) or hypopigmentation (when the skin gets fairer). This happens because pigment cells are situated between the superficial and middle layer of the skin, so any form of laser or intense pulse light that targets that area can potentially cause the above complications. The safest lasers for darker skin would be those that target the deeper layers of the skin where the hair follicle stem cells are situated. For example, the long pulsed 1064nm Nd:Yag laser.

Laser hair removal works by using the hair’s colour pigments to absorb the laser light and produce heat. This heat surrounds the hair follicle stem cells and damages them, thus permanently removing the hair. This is why lasers don’t work so well on white or blonde hair that does not have strong colour pigmentation.

 

Most hair removal methods cause ingrown hair. Why does this happen and how it can be managed?

Damaging the tip of the hair and making it sharp is one of the potential causes of ingrown hair. It can be managed by not shaving too closely. Lasers will also be able to remove the hair and solve the problem.

 

Laser treatments can permanently remove hair, but they can also affect skin colour. What are the safest laser methods to remove hair? Do they have serious side effects?

The safest laser to remove hair is undoubtedly the long pulsed 1064nm Nd:Yag laser.

A laser procedure is like cooking a beefsteak, representing the patient’s skin, on a cooking stove, representing the laser. You must know when to stop cooking when you have reached a desired colour, according to the thickness of the beef and stove. Not all cooking stoves are the same and not all cooks, representing the dermatologists, are the same.

If you don’t know how to use the laser machine well enough for a particular condition and skin type, then it can surely cause complications such as scarring and skin whitening. Otherwise, the proper use of laser machines makes the procedure safe.

 

 

Dr Peter Ch’ng Wee Beng is consultant dermatologist at Peter Ch'ng Clinic Skin & Laser Specialist in Kuala Lumpur.

 

This story was originally published in the Global Health and Travel issue of March-April 2018.

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