Smooth hair removal options

Some options and their pros and cons

Sep 11, 2018 06:00 am

Hair removal is something of a lifelong chore for many women. The amount of money, time and effort spent on the various processes can add up over the years.

That is why it is always a good practice to know what will work for you, and the factors you should consider before shelling out the dough.

WAXING

This targets a large amount of hair at once and leaves the skin hair-free for a longer period.

Waxing is done with either warm or cool wax that hardens against the area of skin with unwanted hair. It is then removed quickly (in the opposite direction of the hair growth), taking the roots along with it.

According to health guide Healthline, waxing can cause some pain and temporary irritation, which varies based on your skin's sensitivity, pain tolerance, amount of hair and the area of your body being waxed.

Waxing can also give rise to complications such as ingrown hair if the hair grows out under a layer of skin or if the hair shaft breaks below the skin.

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Bleeding is another possible side effect that may occur. This happens because some parts of the epidermis is stripped off along with your hair.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends avoiding the use of skincare products containing retinol and prescription retinoids two to five days prior to waxing your face to avoid removing skin along with your hair.

Never wax sunburned or very sensitive skin, and do not wax if you have taken isotretinoin in the last six months.

IPL

Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a permanent hair removal method that results in the destruction of follicles and hair roots.

It uses a bright light that is converted to heat energy which travels through the tissue of the skin until it hits the hair shaft (or the bulb or root) and destroys it.

With multiple sessions of treatment, it is possible to achieve long-term hair reduction. While the treated area will not be completely hairless, the remaining hairs may be lighter in colour and finer in texture.

According to the National Skin Centre (NSC), IPL can cause minor side effects such as swelling and pigmentation in some patients (especially those with darker skin).

That said, these side effects will usually resolve with the use of SPF products and medication.

The NSC suggests avoiding excessive sun exposure four weeks before treatment and waxing or plucking two weeks prior. It is also advisable to shave the hairs short three to five days before the laser treatment.

SUGARING

Sugaring is an all-natural hair removal method that involves rolling a sugaring paste (usually made with lemon, sugar and water) onto the skin, and using a flicking motion to get rid of the hair follicles from the root.

This method is also said to reduce the risk of skin trauma, scarring, redness and irritation, according to research paper Sugaring - Modern Revival Of An Ancient Egyptian Technique For Hair Removal published in the journal Jama Dermatology.