Permanent hair removal defined

Permanent hair removal defined

Most consumers think "permanent" means lasting forever. Unfortunately, that's not always the case as it's used in advertising. For instance, a permanent wave in your hair is not really permanent, and a permanent marker is not necessarily permanent.

It's difficult to assess a new hair removal method that claims to be permanent. Most people figure that after a certain amount of time, it's unlikely that a hair will ever return. That's why several people, myself included, have suggested a specific definition of "permanent." Some of these definitions seem inadequate to me. One manufacturer claims their device is permanent based on results after 9 weeks. That's ridiculous. Waxing can last that long, and it's been clinically proven temporary.

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How is laser hair removal different from electrolysis hair removal?

Permanent hair removal
For the purposes of hair removal, the hairfacts definition of "permanent" is being able to go a year after your final hair removal treatment without having to use another method of hair removal. Keep in mind that a year might not be long enough to determine true permanence, but most consumers would be happy to have one treatment a year.

The only method of clinically proven permanent hair removal is electrolysis. Some lasers and flash lamps have been able to achieve permanent hair reduction, as discussed below.

Long-term hair removal
Another undefined term is "long-term" hair removal. Again, it depends on what your definition of "long" is. The hairfacts definition of "long-term" is being able to go 6 months after your final treatment without having to use another method of hair removal. Your definition may vary, but I don't consider 9 weeks to be long-term. I arbitrarily decided on 6 months as a working definition, because most hair growth cycles will have completed in 6 months.

Semi-permanent hair removal
A newer term used by some hair removal marketers is "semi-permanent hair removal." This is a marketing term used in the salon industry that some salons have started using to describe laser results. In the salon industry, it means "lasting a few weeks."

Hair reduction vs. hair removal
Permanent hair removal has been established as the complete destruction of a hair follicle's ability to regenerate and grow hair.
Several lasers have demonstrated permanent hair reduction in clinical studies and are allowed to make this claim by FDA. The word "reduction" adds another term that is vaguely defined. FDA has accepted the definition of reduction as a stable reduction in the number of coarse dark hairs. Some lasers have demonstrated in clinical testing that they can reduce the size of hairs and lighten the color. In some patients, this reduction appears to be permanent.

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.

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Permanent Hair Removal

Permanent Hair Removal

What could be better than foregoing the razor or the hot wax, but still having silky smooth skin? No regrowth, no stubble and no oops, I forgot to shave! moments at the beach. Sounds good, doesn't it? Well, advances in permanent hair removal mean that the future is now you can have hair effectively and permanently removed!

There are two popular methods for permanent hair removal. Each method has its benefits, and one may be more suitable for you than the other.

Laser hair removal is a highly effective means of removing hair. Because of the way the laser is used, it can be tuned to each individual's skin type and tone, so the outcome is always the ideal one from person to person. This type of permanent hair removal is popular because of the rapidity of the treatment and the large area of hair that can be covered in each session. Where other treatments may need to be performed over a number of years, laser treatment tends to be done in several sessions over a few months, after which time the hair removal is said to be complete. Aside from slight, temporary patchiness in the skin, there is little risk in the procedure itself. The safety of the patient is fairly well assured, especially as laser hair removal is performed by a skilled medical practitioner. Patients are advised to stay out of the sun in the weeks before and after their treatment, as sun damage can cause the hair removal to be undone, but these are really the only precautions that need to be taken. Laser hair removal is available to most people interested in permanent hair removal. Its adaptability makes it suitable for almost all skin types, although at this stage it can not be used for removing very fair or white hair. Many people are interested in whether or not this type of permanent hair removal treatment is painful, as you would expect a laser entering your skin to be! Most patients feel nothing but a slight burning sensation, akin to being flicked with an elastic band, and do not require any kind of anesthesia. In the days immediately following the treatment, the skin may feel slightly sunburned. As far as permanent hair removal goes, laser treatment is highly effective and comparatively affordable.

Electrolysis is a bit of a buzz word in the beauty industry. Many people hear about it and talk about it, without really knowing what it means. This method of permanent hair removal requires a great amount of skill to be performed correctly, but if it is, the results are excellent. Hair is removed using a very fine metal probe, which is inserted into the hair follicle, and does not penetrate the skin. Electricity is passed through the probe, which in turn damages the areas that generate and grow hair. Ta-da! The part of your epidermis that creates hair can do it no longer, allowing for permanent hair removal. Electrolysis has been performed at various levels for more than a century. It is proven in its effectiveness and studies suggest that as many as 93 per cent of patients are likely to experience excellent results. Although it is not as efficient as laser hair removal, it often requires less sessions. However, permanent hair removal of this kind can be expensive, and the nature of the procedure is that it is time consuming and not always useful for thick or plentiful hair. It is generally only used in small areas like the eyebrows or upper lip. These two methods are both highly effective for permanent hair removal. The choice of one procedure over the other should be based on several fairly straightforward factors:

Skin sensitivity electrolysis is more suitable for very sensitive skin

The area of hair to be removed laser treatment is better for larger areas

How much you hope to spend electrolysis is significantly more expensive than laser treatment

There are do it yourself appliances available for permanent hair removal, but these usually involve plucking or tweezing hair. This is fairly ineffective and hair usually grows back within 6 weeks. It also increases the risk of ingrown hairs and infected or swollen pores, which are very unsightly!

Permanent hair removal is excellent for ensuring that your skin always feels soft and smooth. As long as you make sure you choose the right option for you and seek the advice of a good medical practitioner, you should be happily throwing away your razors in no time!

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