ArticleLiterature Review
Authors:
Tina Alster
- Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery
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Citations (33)References (78)
Abstract
Unwanted facial and body hair is a common problem, generating a high level of interest for treatment innovations. A wide range of modalities for the management of unwanted hair have been advocated over the years with varying degrees of clinical success. Most recently, lasers and light sources have been used to address this problem with improved clinical success rates in properly selected patients. The full range of temporary and permanent hair removal techniques will be outlined in this review of physical means of treating unwanted hair.
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... Shaving is the removal of hair from the body using a razor or other bladed object to shave it down to the skin's level. Shaving is a popular practice for males to eliminate facial hair and for women to remove hair from their legs and underarms [14]. ...
... Hair removal creams usually contain approximately 5% of the active component thioglycolate, along with a number of additional chemicals. Metal hydroxides like NaOH and Ca(OH)2 are commonly found in creams to help modify pH levels so that the active acid can react with cysteine residues in the hair [14,16]. Hair removal creams also contain a significant amount of water, which is used as a solvent to dilute and dissolve all of the components, resulting in a smooth, easy-to-apply cream. ...
... Emollients are also included in the cream to soothe the skin after application and prevent any reactions to the product's harsher chemicals. Oils and silicones are the most popular emollients, and they help to heal the skin after chemical hair removal [14]. (Table 1) Curcuma longa is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant native to tropical South Asia and a member of the Zingiberaceae ginger family [17]. ...
Folklore Herbal Plants as a Safe and Natural Hair Depilatories
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... Shaving is the removal of hair from the body using a razor or other bladed object to shave it down to the skin's level. Shaving is a popular practice for males to eliminate facial hair and for women to remove hair from their legs and underarms [14]. ...
... Hair removal creams usually contain approximately 5% of the active component thioglycolate, along with a number of additional chemicals. Metal hydroxides like NaOH and Ca(OH)2 are commonly found in creams to help modify pH levels so that the active acid can react with cysteine residues in the hair [14,16]. Hair removal creams also contain a significant amount of water, which is used as a solvent to dilute and dissolve all of the components, resulting in a smooth, easy-to-apply cream. ...
... Emollients are also included in the cream to soothe the skin after application and prevent any reactions to the product's harsher chemicals. Oils and silicones are the most popular emollients, and they help to heal the skin after chemical hair removal [14]. (Table 1) Curcuma longa is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant native to tropical South Asia and a member of the Zingiberaceae ginger family [17]. ...
Folklore Herbal Plants as a Safe and Natural Hair Depilatories
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... After heating the wax, the melted wax is applied onto the area of skin with hair to be removed. After the wax cools down, the hair gets entrapped within the wax and it is the stripping off of the wax in the opposite direction of hair growth which removes the trapped hair (Lanigan, 2001;Wanithphakdeedecha and Alster, 2008). The heated wax can be reused. ...
... There is no wax-melting step. These are usually more expensive and the semisolid wax can only be used once (Wanithphakdeedecha and Alster, 2008). ...
... There is also the potential that waxing services can cause injuries. The use of hot wax can result in burn injuries (Wanithphakdeedecha and Alster, 2008). A Vancouver Sun article reported that a BC woman who received eyebrow waxing had her "eyelids burned and skin peeled" (2007). ...
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... 16 In human follicles, plucking alters the mesenchymal sheath of the hair, and the microtrauma produces edema, hyperemia, inflammation, and hemorrhages. 17 Also, repetitive epilation may permanently harm the matrix, 13,16 the portion of the hair that grows actively 18 and contains the follicular stem cells. 19 This damage to the matrix is in part explained by the removal of the stimulus-responsive cells. ...
... 4 In general, common adverse effects described as associated with epilation and the epilation methods are as follows: discomfort, pain, irritation, scarring and burns of the skin, folliculitis and pseudofolliculitis (especially in androgenized areas), 20 and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation of the lid. 13,18 Poor technique or poor quality of forceps can cause incomplete epilation and broken lashes 5 that could produce more damage. 6 While epilation is generally perceived as a relatively harmless practice, the above findings suggest that there may be damage to the lid margin with repeated epilation that could worsen the inflammation and the entropion already caused by trachomatous scarring. ...
... 15 In the lid, the epidermis is very thin, with a high density of melanocytes in the basal layer, and the hypodermis is absent. 24,25 Epilation can be associated with erythema, edema, folliculitis, pseudofolliculitis, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, and depigmentation, 13,18 although the majority of these signs are of short duration. 26 In mouse models, whose hair follicles are similar to that of humans, 25 epilation induces inflammatory changes, hair keratinocyte apoptosis, and eventually hair regeneration. ...
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... A eficácia clínica, segurança, despesa, dor e outros efeitos laterais a curto e longo prazo associados ao método depilatório ou epilatório são os fatores que suscitam mais dúvidas e preocupações. 7 Os termos depilação e epilação são utilizados frequentemente como sinónimos, tendo no entanto, significados distintos. Depilação refere-se à remoção do pelo junto à superfície cutânea, sem atingimento das porções internas do folículo piloso. ...
... O infundíbulo encontra-se acima da entrada do ducto sebáceo e funde-se com a epiderme. 3,7 O lanugo fetal, o pelo velo e o pelo terminal são os diferentes tipos de pelo existentes. O lanugo é fino e curto, e cerca da 36ª-40ª semana de gestação é substituído por pelo velo, que é curto, macio e frequentemente despigmentado, e distribui-se por quase todo o corpo. ...
... [9][10][11] Durante a fase de anagénese, a atividade mitótica no bulbo piloso reinicia a formação do novo pelo, empurrando para o exterior o pelo velho inativo. 7 A duração desta fase, que determina o comprimento do pelo, varia de meses a anos e é dependente da proliferação contínua e da diferenciação das células da matriz na base do folículo, sendo diferente nos vários tipos e localizações dos pelos. Ao nascimento praticamente todos os pelos estão em anagénese. ...
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... Other genital hair-bearing areas may be left intact if the patient desires pubic hair following surgery. Electrolysis produces destruction of the hair follicle by directing an electric current into the hair follicle through insertion of a needle or probe [18]. In laser hair removal, a laser light source is used to target the pigmented hair, creating thermal injury which destroys the hair follicle [18]. ...
... Electrolysis produces destruction of the hair follicle by directing an electric current into the hair follicle through insertion of a needle or probe [18]. In laser hair removal, a laser light source is used to target the pigmented hair, creating thermal injury which destroys the hair follicle [18]. Lidocaine jelly or lidocaine/prilocaine cream may be prescribed to reduce discomfort with hair removal procedures. ...
... Lidocaine jelly or lidocaine/prilocaine cream may be prescribed to reduce discomfort with hair removal procedures. Multiple treatment sessions are required for either technique, as the procedures are most effective on hairs in the anagen (growth) phase [18]. Generally, we recommend that hair removal procedures be stopped 4-6 weeks prior to surgery. ...
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... Th ermolysis has a somewhat higher risk of scarring and pain, although modern electroepilation devices have precise automatic timers and insulated probes that reduce the risk of scarring. 21 Th e process requires only a few seconds per follicle and is much faster than galvanic electrolysis; however, the results are not as consistent, particularly when treating distorted or curved hair follicles. 19,20 Following each thermolysis treatment session, hair regrows in 20-40% of treated follicles. ...
... Correct needle placement is relatively painless; however, premature or delayed activation of the electrode during its insertion or withdrawal may cause pain as well as damage to the superfi cial skin, which could lead to scarring. 21 Electrolysis is more eff ective on anagen hairs; therefore shaving within a few days before electrolysis greatly increases its effi cacy because it ensures that only growing anagen hairs are epilated. 20 Th is is particularly important during the initial treatment of an area because as many as 60% of the hairs may be in telogen, which are diffi cult to eradicate permanently. ...
... True galvanism is considered safe in the presence of cardiac pacemakers and is most oft en used by nonmedical personnel. 5,21 Patients who are prone to hypertrophic scarring, keloids, postinfl ammatory hyperpigmentation, or other cutaneous dyschromias should be advised that these complications may result from electrolysis treatment. Of particular risk are scar-prone areas of the face such as the mandible and upper lip 5 . ...
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... 12,31 Treatment risks include skin scarring, pigment changes, and inflammation. 12,34 Due to the slow "hair by hair" labor-intensive nature of electrolysis, this technique is impractical for larger areas of hair-bearing skin. 33 ...
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... Since removal of hair is associated with a number of problems as for example encompassing skin irritation, skin injury, or even ingrowth of hair (7,8), a deep knowledge about hair morphology, structure, and growth characteristics is required by developers of hair removal solutions (1). ...
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... Hair regrowth is generally more sparse, with individual hairs being thinner and paler. 102 Patients should also be aware that hairs do not fall out immediately after treatment but are shed over a period of days to weeks. Sun avoidance should be strictly enforced before the procedure, because patients cannot be treated if at all tan. ...
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... Professional laser and IPL systems have been increasingly adopted and today constitute the most frequently performed cosmetic procedure. 1 Light-based home use devices represent a new innovative approach to this field. Today a total of 12 home-based devices are available for hair removal with laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) ( Table 1). ...
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... 1 The vast majority of this market involves temporary at-home hair removal treatments, including waxing, depilatories, and shaving. 2,3 Since the introduction and widespread acceptance of a variety of laser and light-based hair removal devices that can effect more long-standing hair reduction over the past decade, more people have been pursuing these latter, longerlasting treatment modalities. 4 The laser and lightbased treatments are all based on the theory of selective photothermolysis, 5 in which heat is generated using selective absorption of predominantly red or infrared light within the targeted hair bulge. 6 The localized thermal damage (which includes pleuripo-tential follicular stem cells) eventuates in follicular unit destruction and reduced hair growth. ...
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