Dermatologists offer laser hair removal treatments, which can permanently remove hair, except for on a woman’s face.
When it comes to removing unwanted hair, you have options. With so much misinformation available about these options, it can be difficult to know which one(s) is best for you. To help you make an informed decision, here are the basic facts that dermatologists share with their patients about 6 popular ways to remove unwanted hair.
When you shave, the razor cuts the hairs at the surface of your skin so that you cannot see the hairs.
Fast facts: Here are the long and short of shaving:
You can shave any area of the body.
You can quickly learn how to shave.
Shaving is painless (unless you cut yourself), unlike waxing or laser hair removal.
The results are short-lived, so you may need to shave daily or every few days to maintain your results.
Frequent shaving can irritate your skin.
Injuries, such as cuts, nicks, and razor burns, happen.
Some people who shave develop ingrown hairs.
How to get the best results: The following tips from dermatologists can help you reduce injuries and get a close, comfortable shave.
You apply wax (hot or cold) to your skin and then quickly remove it, which pulls out the hairs.
Fast facts: Here are the cold facts about this option:
The results can last a few weeks or longer.
You can wax any area of your body, including large areas, such as your legs, and delicate areas, such as the skin above your upper lip.
Waxing takes practice to learn.
Removing the wax can be painful.
Your newly waxed skin can be red and irritated for a short while after you wax.
If the wax is too hot, it can burn your skin.
How to get the best results: These dermatologists’ tips can help you keep it safe and effective:
These medications thin your skin. When the wax is removed, your skin could tear.
Use wooden sticks rather than a metal spatula to apply the hot wax.
Dip an unused wooden stick into the wax each time they apply wax to your skin.
Dipping the stick into the wax more than once is called double dipping. This unsanitary practice can transfer bacteria and other germs from previous clients to you. Heated wax is not hot enough to kill bacteria and other germs.
You apply a cream, lotion, or gel to the skin, which can dissolve unwanted hair.
Fast facts: The following can help wash away any misconceptions about using a depilatory:
The results tend to last longer than when you shave.
It’s quick and easy to use at home. You simply apply, wait, and rinse off the product at the time stated in the instructions.
These products can irritate your skin, so dermatologists recommend that you test them. (To find out how to test a depilatory, watch the video below).
Some people can use a product for months or years before it starts to irritate their skin.
Some people dislike the odor of these products.
How to get the best results from a depilatory: Always, test first. Before using a depilatory for the first time or using it on a different part of your body, here’s how to test the product:
Apply a small amount to an area on which you want to use it.
Keep it on your skin for the time stated in the instructions (or until your skin starts to burn or sting).
Rinse it off immediately and thoroughly at the time stated or at the first sign of burning or stinging.
If you experience burning or stinging, don’t use the product. Find another depilatory to test.
If within 24 hours of applying the product you don’t have a skin reaction, you can use the product in that area.
When it comes to hair removal, there are options besides shaving or waxing. According to board-certified dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology, people can dissolve unwanted hair using products called depilatories. These are creams, lotions, and gels that are applied to the skin, and the results can last longer than shaving.
To use a hair-removal cream, lotion, or gel, follow these tips from board-certified dermatologists.
This option involves rolling two twisted cotton threads over the unwanted hairs, which rips them out.
Fast facts: To help you thread your way through the pros and cons of this option, here are the key facts:
Since threading removes only the unwanted hair, it’s an option for areas, such as your eyebrows, where you want to keep some hair.
It’s as precise as plucking but much faster. You can remove many hairs at once.
The results can last 4 to 5 weeks.
It causes little irritation, so it’s an option for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Threading is not suitable for large areas.
How to get the best results: Ask people you trust for salon referrals. Threading takes time to learn. In inexperienced hands, it can cause your eyebrows to look uneven or even cause ingrown hairs.
The laser emits a beam of light, which the pigment (color) in your hair absorbs. Over time, this can destroy the hair follicle, so the hair cannot grow back. While it takes about 6 treatments from a dermatologist to destroy a follicle, the hair will grow back thinner and finer after each treatment.
If you use at-home laser hair removal, you will need to use the device for a lot longer to see results. You’ll also need to use it periodically to maintain results.
Fast facts: The following can help shed light on whether this may be an option for you:
After 6 or more treatments to an area, laser hair removal is permanent, except for on a woman’s face.
People of all skin tones can safely have laser hair removal, but the person performing your procedure should have experience performing laser hair removal on your skin tone. Always ask if the person has this experience.
There’s no downtime.
Men who have constant razor burn or ingrown hairs due to shaving can permanently eliminate their beard with laser hair removal. Once you’re no longer shaving, you won’t be bothered by razor burn or ingrown hairs.
Laser hair removal won’t work on blonde, white, gray, or red hair because lasers cannot effectively target light-colored hair.
You’ll need to keep the treated area covered and out of the sun until the skin heals.
If you have a tan, you must wait for the tan to fade completely before it’s safe to have laser hair removal.
How to get the best results: Your results depend largely on the experience and knowledge of the person performing your procedure, so it’s essential to:
Have an experienced doctor perform laser hair removal. While laser hair removal may look easy to perform, it can injure your skin if the person performing your treatment is inexperienced. Possible injuries include burns, blisters, infection, or dark spots.
Find out if this is a safe and effective option for you. A board-certified dermatologist can tell you if you’re a good candidate for laser hair removal. Not everyone is.
See your dermatologist before using an at-home laser. These at-home devices are not for everyone. There are many at-home devices from which to choose, so it can be difficult to know which one to buy.
This method sends an electrical current through a hair follicle, which will damage the follicle and prevent hair from growing. Because hair grows in cycles, it takes several sessions to get permanent hair removal.
You’ll also find kits that allow you to perform electrolysis at home. Unlike professional electrolysis, kits don’t involve inserting probes into your hair follicles.
Fast facts: If this sounds appealing, you may find the following facts electrifying:
Electrolysis can permanently remove unwanted hair.
Once your hair is gone, you won’t need maintenance treatments.
It works on all hair types, including light-colored hairs, which lasers cannot remove.
There’s no downtime.
If your operator uses unsterile probes, it can cause a skin or blood infection.
In inexperienced hands, electrolysis can cause scarring and burns.
People with darker skin tones can develop a type of raised scar called a keloid.
Some people say electrolysis feels uncomfortable or painful because each time a hair is treated, you feel a stinging sensation.
How to get the best results: Have a board-certified dermatologist or board-certified electrologist perform your electrolysis.
If hair removal is causing a skin problem or you suddenly have a lot more unwanted hair, a board-certified dermatologist can explain what’s happening and recommend an option that’s right for you.
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References
Kunin A. “Hair removal: Many painless options.” In: Kunin A, The DERMAdoctor Skinstruction Manual. Simon & Schuster, USA, 2005. 332-8.
Lin LY, Chiou SC. “Influence of facial threading on various physiological parameters of the skin: non-randomized trial involving adult women in Taiwan.” An Bras Dermatol. 2018;93:659-664.
Xia Y, Cho S, et al. “Topical eflornithine hydrochloride improves the effectiveness of standard laser hair removal for treating pseudofolliculitis barbae: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012;67:694-9.
Last updated: 9/7/23
Getting rid of unwanted hair is a chore that many of us would want to avoid. And while hair removal is a personal choice, many choose to remove hair to have silky, smooth skin. This is perfectly fine, but the constant need to do so can also be an expensive, time-consuming, or painful process, depending on your preferred method.
If you have tried removing some fuzz on your own, you probably know what happens after a few days or weeks. There could be irritation or bumps in the area or new hair growth that feels coarser or appears darker. This only makes it important to choose a hair removal method with fewer side effects and more permanent results.
Here are the most common hair removal methods ranked from worst to best.
The popularity of shaving is understandable: it’s cheap, quick, and convenient. The sad part is it doesn’t last and can leave the skin bumpy and stubbly. Also, shaving doesn’t actually remove the hair; it just cuts or trims it. After being shaved, the tip of the hair now has a blunt edge, which can make the hair look thicker and feel stiffer.
Another thing that makes shaving the worst method is its short-lived effects. You can see a stubble after just a few days or in some cases, the same day you shaved, depending on your hair’s growth rate. There are also lots of side effects such as cuts, rash, ingrown hairs, and dark spots/skin discoloration, especially with repetitive use.
It is also worth noting that shaving is not actually cheap. The constant buying of razors, shaving creams, and oils, can add up over time. As the results are short-lived, you will have to buy and dispose of razors continuously, which is also not good for the environment.
Find out more about why it’s time to rethink shaving.
Also available in gel or lotion forms, hair removal creams use chemicals to dissolve or break down hair (keratin) from the skin surface. They weaken the follicles, allowing you to easily wipe and rinse the unwanted hair off. Hair removal creams work quickly and are relatively painless compared to other methods.
On the surface, creams sound like a great hair removal method. Unfortunately, they can be harsh and strong and may cause allergic reactions. There is also the risk of chemical burns, especially if you leave the product longer than the recommended time. Hair regrowth is also rapid, as it doesn’t remove the hair from the root.
You should also know that these creams may not work on some hair types, especially coarse ones. The recommended timeframe for use may not effectively dissolve much thicker or darker hairs, causing some patients to leave the cream longer. It is advisable to steer clear of this method, especially if you have sensitive skin.
This method involves inserting a probe or a very fine needle into the hair follicle and passing an electrical current through it to remove hair and kill the root. Electrolysis damages the hair follicles, which then prevents future hair growth. Its main appeal is that it is the only US FDA-approved for permanent hair removal.
Electrolysis has many advantages: it is suitable for different hair types and colors, is maintenance-free, and doesn’t use harsh chemicals. The sad part is it is time-consuming because each hair is zapped individually. The treatment time will depend on the size and your hair’s density. This means you’ll need several treatments.
Another drawback of electrolysis is that it can be a painful and uncomfortable process. Taking a pain reliever before the procedure and applying ice afterward can help. There is also the risk of discoloration/hyperpigmentation, infection, and scarring if not performed the right way.
With this method, a thin cotton thread is doubled and twisted, and then quickly rolled to pull out the hair. Threading traps the hair and rips it out in the same way as plucking or tweezing, but is a lot faster. It can also last for several weeks, has no risk of burns or swelling, and is a quick hair removal method.
The major drawback is that threading can only be used on smaller areas of the skin like the eyebrows, upper lip, and sides of the face. There are also cases where it can be painful since several hairs are being pulled out at a time. And if done the wrong way, the hair could break and result in ingrown hairs and unevenness.
Compared to shaving and hair removal creams, waxing lasts longer (for about two to six weeks). It involves applying wax to the area, covered by cloth or paper strips that are pulled off to remove hair from the root. Waxing can give you smoother skin and can be done on different areas of the body.
The thing with waxing is that it needs some regrowth (at least a quarter-inch) to be effective. There are also cases where it can be painful, since the hair is being pulled out at the root. Waxing, furthermore, can also lead to ingrown hairs, as well as skin irritation and scars when done incorrectly.
You should also know that waxing removes a portion of the skin’s top layer every time it is performed. It is best to avoid this method if you have psoriasis or other skin disorders. It is also recommended to have a professional perform the method for safe and effective hair removal.
What makes laser treatments a great option is that they target and heat the follicles to disable future hair growth. There are no chemicals, as well as cutting or pulling the hair out involved. Many laser treatments are also US FDA-approved for permanent hair reduction. Modern devices can also treat different skin hair and types with fewer side effects.
At Cutis Medical Laser Clinics, we have different laser and light-based treatments that can permanently reduce body hair. These methods remove hairs in the active growth stage (anagen) and you’ll need several sessions to achieve permanent hair reduction or remove about 80% of hair.
– uses pulses of light energy to hundreds of hair follicles in a short period. It is safe and effective on all skin types and tones, including those with
darker and tanned skin.
– uses high peak powers with shorter pulse widths for a fast, comfortable, and effective treatment. It can target fine and light hairs and treat different skin types.
– uses both light and heat energy (LHE) to destroy hair follicles. LHE delivers light and thermal energy to the follicles, which means there is no damage to the skin during the procedure.
– uses gentle pulses of energy at a higher frequency to target the pigment and stem cells responsible for hair growth. It can treat all skin hair and types, especially Asian ones. Check out the
five reasons to consider SHR.
The main concern with laser hair removal is that it costs more initially. While this is true, they eliminate or reduce the long-term cost associated with hair removal. As it has a more permanent result, you won’t have to spend a lot of time, money, and effort on shaving or waxing. Just be sure to get the procedure from a medical or aesthetic clinic with doctors on-site to perform or supervise the treatment.
Choose a hair removal method that is effective and longer-lasting. Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics today and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor in Singapore to learn more about our laser treatments and which one is right for you.