All You Need to Know About Ear Hair Removal

Best Permanent Hair Removal Method for Mens

Permanently / April 3, 2017

Laser hair removal MachineAt Toronto Dermatology Centre, we offer the latest technology for laser hair removal in Toronto. The LightSheer Duet laser hair removal system is faster, less painful, and requires fewer treatments than other laser hair removal technologies on the market. We are incredibly excited to offer laser hair removal treatment to our patients in the GTA.

Our LightSheer Duet laser hair removal system is safe and effective for men and women of all ages and skin types. Laser hair removal in Toronto became a terrific option for permanently reducing body and face hair in the late 1990s, and the technology has gotten better and better (efficacy & safety) with each generation of laser. After BOTOX, laser hair removal is the most common cosmetic treatment in North America and certainly in Toronto.

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Causes of Excessive Hair Growth

Excessive hair growth is classified as either hypertrichosis or hirsutism. Hypertrichosis is the presence of excess hair in a normal or abnormal pattern. This may be inherited (genetic), or due to medications, hormones, malnutrition, tumors, or metabolic problems. Hirsutism is the presence of excess hair in women in a male pattern such as the beard, mustache, or lower abdomen, and may be due to hormonal problems, medications, tumors, or heredity. Your Toronto dermatologist can do a proper assessment and blood tests to create the optimal treatment plan for laser hair removal.

Hair Removal Methods

Laser Hair Removal in Thornhill, OntarioThere are many ways of hair removal including shaving, plucking, electronic tweezers, radiofrequency tweezers, waxing, threading, depilatories (creams), and electrolysis (inserting a needle into each hair follicle one at a time followed by an electric spark to burn out the follicle). Most of these methods of hair removal, however, are temporary. Lasers offer the only method for permanent hair reduction; our laser hair removal in Toronto offers great results, quick results, and optimal safety for our Toronto patients.

Types of Lasers and How They Work

A large area of the skin can be treated at one time making laser hair removal in Toronto cost-effective and faster than other methods. Lasers send an energy beam through the skin that is absorbed by dark pigment (melanin) present in the shaft of the hair follicles. Since hair cycles as it grows, repeated treatments are necessary to destroy about 80 percent of the hairs. Different types of lasers may be used with Diode & Nd:YAG lasers having the ability to treat darker skin types including Asian and African-American skin. Our LightSheer Duet laser hair removal for Toronto patients treats dark skin types safely and effectively.

Preoperative Consultation

Patients interested in laser hair removal should consult a dermatologist & their laser technician who will make an assessment of:

  • Skin type (i.e., ability to tan or to burn)
  • Hair colour
  • Thickness and location of hair
  • Presence of tan
  • Previous hair removal methods
  • Medical history including ovarian or thyroid disease, medications, history of abnormal scarring, history of cold sore (herpes simplex) outbreaks in the treatment area, or past isotretinoin use
  • Presence of tattoos or moles in the treatment area

After a preoperative evaluation, the appropriate laser and treatment settings can be determined. Realistic patient expectations should be discussed including the need for multiple treatment sessions, the potential need for maintenance treatments, and the possibility of variable responses to laser hair removal treatment.

Pretreatment Instructions

Before laser hair removal, patients are advised to avoid tanning and sunless tanners. Broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher should be used. No plucking, waxing, or electrolysis should be done, although shaving or depilatory creams can be used.

The site to be treated may be shaved one to two days prior to laser treatment. A prophylactic (protective) oral antiviral medication may be started the day prior to treatment to suppress the possibility of developing a herpes simplex infection in the treatment area.

Laser Treatment

On the day of laser hair removal treatment, the area should be clean and free of cosmetics. A topical anesthetic cream may be applied prior to treatment. Our laser has a cooling device that lessens the patient’s discomfort. Everyone in the room must wear protective eyewear during the laser hair removal procedure.

In general, three or more treatments are required at each site to achieve permanent hair growth reduction. Darker hair (black, brown) responds best to the laser, while lighter hair (white, gray, or red) is less responsive; for lighter hair, electrolysis can be considered and is offered by Toronto Dermatology Centre as well.

The laser pulses feel like the snapping of a rubber band or warm pinpricks against the skin. Ideally, the immediate response is vaporization of the hair shaft. Slight swelling and redness around the hair follicles appear within a few minutes. Ice packs may be applied to the skin following treatment, and over-the-counter pain relief medicine (e.g. acetaminophen) may be taken as needed before and after treatment.

If localized blistering occurs, a topical antibiotic ointment is applied once or twice daily until healed. A mild topical steroid cream may be applied to reduce swelling and redness. Patients are instructed to avoid sun-exposure and to use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with SPF 30 or preferably greater after the laser treatments. Cosmetics may be applied to the treated skin.

Side Effects

Side effects of laser hair removal treatments may include pain, swelling around the hair follicle, and redness lasting one to three days. Blistering, herpes simplex (“cold sore”) outbreaks, and bacterial infections uncommonly can occur. Temporary skin lightening or darkening, especially in darker skin types, or in patients with a recent tan, may be seen. Permanent skin pigment change or scarring is very rare. Loss of freckles or lightening of moles in the area of the laser hair removal treatment may occur, as well as darkening or lightening of tattoos.

Source: torontodermatologycentre.com