Laser Hair Removal for Hirsutism
Many people, when thay think of laser hair removal, associate it with hair removal for fashion reasons, however, for many women, excess body hair, or hirsutism, can be a debilitating condition which adversly affects their mental well-being and even their ability to function normally in society.
Hirsutism can occur in both men and women, but it is usually only in women where it is considered a major problem, 5-10% of women have some form of hirsutism. Women who have hirsutism can have thick,dark hair on their face, chest, abdomen and back. This thick hair is different from the fine “baby” hair which covers the body, or the hair that some women have on their upper lip, chin, breasts or stomach.
Common causes of hirsutism in women are excessive levels of androgenic hormones, such as testosterone, androstenedione, and DHEA, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). It is normal for women to have some testosterone, but when they have too much, hirsutism can result.
Too much hair in the wrong places can be emotionally devastating for many women, especially in our present day society which prizes smooth, apparently hairless skin, so dealing with the unwanted body hair can become of major importance.
In past times, the only option was shaving, but as we know, this leads to stubble and a thicker looking regrowth, and the inevitable cuts. Depiliatory creams can be used in some areas, but are prone to irritating the skin and are not suitable for sensitive skin areas.
Plucking and waxing (which is basically plucking a large area in one go) aren’t recommended for women who have hirsutism because they make the hair grow faster by increasing the blood supply to the follicle - the opposite result of what is wanted!
Electrolysis can get rid of hairs permanently, but each hair has to be treated one at a time, so it is not usually a good option in cases of hirsutism, where there is usually a large area to be treated.
Laser hair removal, on the other hand, can remove large areas of unwanted hair almost painlessly, so is ideal for treating hirsutism. The laser light damages the hair follicles so that unwanted hair falls out and is prevented from growing back. It is less effective on blonde, red or white hair, and on dark-skinned women - light skinned women with dark hair get the best results. You will need several treatments over a period of weeks. Laser hair removal is not 100% permanent - some regrowth will occur needing further treatments, but the hair that regrows is much weaker and finer than the original.
Although it is a relatively new treatment, the signs are that in the uk laser hair removal is the best option in tackling the terrible problems caused by hirsutism. Because the technology is still evolving, different clinics will be using different methods, each having advantages and disadvantages, so you should contact several different laser hair removal clinics to compare costs and find out which would be better for your particular circumstances.
