June 06, 2006
Hirsutism
Dealing with Hirsutism
Hirsutism is a medical condition that results in excessive hair growth on the face or body. The condition has been observed in both sexes, although it is much more common in females. Women who suffer from hirsutism will usually exhibit dark and thick hair on their face, chest, stomach, and back.
There are also some medications, notably birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, and anabolic steroids, which can cause temporary hirsutism symptoms to appear. The symptoms usually disappear when you stop taking the medications that are causing it.
There is some evidence to indicate that hirsutism may be hereditary as symptoms have been observed appearing in multiple generations of females. Hirsutism should not be confused with Hypertrichosis which is a condition where excessive hair growth occurs in areas of the body where visible hair is not normally present.
Hirsutism Treatments
Being overweight can trigger the release of excessive male hormones. If you are overweight then see your doctor for a diet and exercise plan. Your hormone levels will usually drop as your weight goes down. Shaving the affected areas is also a solution, but those areas must be shaved regularly if you want to avoid the appearance of 'stubble'.
Depilatories, or hair removal creams are another good solution. Be sure to test your skin's reaction to these chemicals by applying a small dab to the inside of your wrist and waiting for at least 24 hours to see if you have an allergic skin reaction.
Some people prefer to use a bleaching product which makes the hair fairly invisible. Like depilatories, you could experience a reaction, so apply a small amount as a test and wait 24 hours.
Avoid plucking or waxing the affected areas as this can actually stimulate hair growth by increasing blood flow which is the exact opposite of what you want.
Some people opt for either electrolysis, which works by killing the hair follicle with a small charge of electricity, or laser hair removal methods which use a tiny laser beam to destroy the follicles causing the hair to fall out. Both of these methods can be expensive and side effects may include rash, skin discoloration, and scaring. Home electrolysis kits are generally ineffective.
Medical remedies include having your doctor prescribe an anti-androgen medication which reduce male hormone levels and, eventually, slow down the growth of new hair. Regardless of the method that you choose, remember that hirsutism can be treated and you don't have to live with the embarrassment of excessive hair growth if you don't want to.
Posted by KeyWest at 04:43 PM | Comments (0)
May 31, 2006
Unwanted Hair Removal
Facts about unwanted hair removal
Whether you suffer from hair growth conditions like hypertrichosis or hirsutism, or you simply have some hair growing in places where you wished it didn't, there are an endless number of hair removal options available today. There are essentially two categories of hair removal procedures. 'Permament' procedures seek to remove unwanted hair in such a way that it never returns. Sometimes these techniques turn out to be semi-permanent and have to be repeated over time. Temporary hair removal techniques work for short periods of time and are subject to the body's normal hair growth cycle.
There's as many reasons as there are hairs on your body. Most woman treat hair removal as part of their normal cosmetic routine. They shave their legs and underarms, pluck their eyebrows, and have pubic hair trimmed or removed to accommodate today's fashions. Some men also shave their body hair for cosmetic reasons, and most men shave their facial hair unless they are purposely growing it out as a beard, goatee, or moustache. Many athletes, particularly swimmers and body builders, will undergo hair removal procedures in order to enhance their performance, their appearance, or both. Then there are medical reasons for removing hair and just plain old 'because I felt like it' reasons as well.
Examples of Permanent Hair Removal Techniques
ELECTROLYSIS
Electrolysis treats every hair follicle individually by injecting a needle into the hair follicle and subjecting it to an electric charge. This process can go on for months depending upon the size of the area undergoing treatment. This is a relatively painful process, and side effects can include scaring and infection. Costs can run as high as $1,000-$3,000 for the legs or pubic area.
LASER
Laser hair removal is an FDA approved process which should only be performed by a licensed and trained professional. During this procedure, a small laser beam is used to destroy the hair follicles. This is a relatively painless procedure which works best on people who have light colored skin and dark hair. It is not recommended if you are deeply tanned. Costs run around $1,000 for the removal of facial hair, and anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 for hair removal from the legs and pubic area.
PHOTO EPILATION/PULSED LASER
Similar to LASER treatment, this FDA approved procedure uses a pulsed light beam to destroy the hair follicles. This method is especially effective for removing hair from the underarms and the bikini area. There are no restrictions regarding skin color, tanning, or hair color. Costs run from $500 to $2,000 and up, depending upon the area of the body treated.
Temporary hair removal methods include a wide variety of hair removal creams, shaving, plucking, waxing, and more exotic procedures. What a dichotomy. While millions of people are spending billions of dollars to grow new hair, make it soft and shiny, or have it cut just right, the rest of us are sending our money trying to get rid of it!
Posted by KeyWest at 05:01 PM | Comments (0)
