June 08, 2006
Hypertrichosis
Dealing with Hypertrichosis
Hypertrichosis is a medical condition which results in the excessive growth of terminal hair in areas where hair does not normally grow. Hypertrichosis should not be confused with hirsutism which is a condition where excessive thick and dark hair growth is experienced in areas typically reserved for males.
Facts about Congenital Hypertrichosis
Congenital Hypertrichosis is so rare that there have been only 50 verified cases since the Middle Ages. When a fetus is developing in the womb, it is usually covered by a fine layer of uncolored hair called "lanugo". This hair usually falls off after the eighth month of development and it is replaced by a layer of "vellus" or body hair and the traditional terminal scalp hair.
In the case of Congenital Hypertrichosis, the lanugo hair continues to grow and it remains on the body after birth and throughout the patient's lifetime. A variation of this condition is called Congenital Hypertrichosis Terminalis. In this instance, the lanugo hair becomes colored, or pigmented, and remains on the body after birth. People who have this condition resemble werewolves or ape-men.
Another variation of Congenital Hypertrichosis is called Naevoid Hypertrichosis. In this instance there is usually one area on the body where the excessive hair is found. This condition has also been known to occur after birth, so it is not always congenital.
Facts about Acquired Hypertrichosis
Acquired Hypertrichosis occurs after birth at any point. Symptoms may include the presence of unpigmented vellus hair or it may manifest itself as pigmented terminal hair. In either instance, the excessive hair may cover the entire body, or it could be localized to one area such as the eyebrows.
What causes Hypertrichosis?
No one is quite sure. Some theories say that it is a genetic disorder which is either inherited, or results from the spontaneous mutation of genes. There are many instances where acquired Hypertrichosis Lanuginosa is found in people who are later diagnosed with cancer. Cancer-related Hypertrichosis usually appears as a fine growth of hair which is normally confined to the face, nose, and eyelids. Researchers also think that Hypertrichosis may be caused by certain metabolic disorders and by drugs such as oral phenytoin and ciclosporin.
Hypertrichosis Treatments
Like hirsutism, hair removal techniques are the best available treatment. These hair removal treatments include:
Shaving the affected areas regularly to remove the hair and to avoid stubble.
Using Depilatories, or hair removal creams after testing your skin's reaction 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.
Using bleaching products to make the hair less visible. Like depilatories, you could experience a reaction, so apply a small amount as a test and wait 24 hours.
Electrolysis treatments which use small charges of electricity to kill the hair follicles, or laser treatment which uses a laser beam to kill the follicles. Both of these treatments are expensive and should be only administered by trained professionals. Known side effects may include rash, skin discoloration, and scaring. Home electrolysis kits are generally ineffective.
There are no medications which can be prescribed so, if you suffer from Hypertrichosis, pick your favorite hair removal technique and reap the rewards.
Posted by KeyWest at 09:53 AM | 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)
