Permanent Hair Removal : All you need to know about permanent hair removal for problem hair, bikini lines, underarms and other areas of the body.
Permanent hair removal, also known as epilation, is a method of hair removal that destroys not only the surface hair but also the hair root that lies beneath the surface of the skin. The effectiveness of permanent hair removal varies widely depending of the method used. While epilation methods such as waxing, plucking and threading are commonly practiced, these are not usually covered by the term 'permanent hair removal', as they only remove hair for several days or weeks. When people talk about pemanent hair removal, they are usually talking about laser, intense pulsed light or electrology treatments.
Probably the most common method of permanent hair removal is laser hair removal. This treatment involves the use of laser light beams to destroy hairs. The method is very precise and accurate, and effective for several years. However, the treatment takes time and several sessions to complete, depending on the size of the area. Laser hair removal is also quite expensive. A popular alternative is intense pulsed light treatment, which uses an xenon lamp. Intense pulsed light treatment can be performed by a physician and is much cheaper than laser. It also takes less sessions. Electrology is the most permanent hair removal method, but takes between one to four years to complete, as each hair is destroyed one by one.
Despite all their claims, only electrology or electrolysis can realistically be called permanent hair removal. Other methods will only remove hair for several years at a time. Risks are fairly minimal if the treatment is performed by a licensed professional, but scaring, skin darkening and acne breakouts can occur. Following most permanent hair removal treatment sessions there is a period of discomfort, when the skin is blistery and easily irritable. Usually this condition clears up quickly however. Be sure to discuss your options with several physicians, specialist clinics and other professionals before undergoing any treatment.
