Different methods for permanent hair removal

Permanent hair removal can be done in different ways. Before you proceed to treatment it is important that you know the cause of excessive hair growth. In case of problems with excessive hair, always contact your doctor. He or she can try to find the cause and help you choose the most appropriate treatment.

Laser therapy

If you regularly remove your hair, then laser therapy may be a good solution to get rid of your (over) hair permanently. A laser treatment is performed by a skin therapist and therefore (dark) hair can be permanently removed. The hair root gets damaged so that your hair hardly grows. This treatment is costly and has to be repeated several times in order to be able to remove almost all hairs. Laser therapy only affects hair that is darker than your skin and that has sufficient pigment. Gray, blonde or red hairs are therefore not suitable for laser therapy. Read more about the (side) effect and duration of a laser treatment >>

IPL (flash light)

Several beauty salons and clinics with skin therapists have a flash lamp - also known as IPL - that operates on the same principle as a laser IPL uses multiple types of light while laser uses a type of light. Depending on the skin and hair type, a choice is made for the use of IPL or laser. Read more about the (side) effect of IPL >>

Electric epilation

If laser therapy or IPL is not possible or has insufficient effect, because you have too light hair, for example, electric epilation is an alternative. This treatment is performed by a skin therapist. With a very thin needle, the hair follicle is touched and destroyed with heat. Electric hair removal is a long-lasting and sensitive treatment that needs to be repeated several times to permanently remove all hair.

Remark at home permanently

Nowadays there are devices with which you can permanently depilate at home. These devices work with IPL and are relatively easy to use. The devices for home use are less effective, so the treatment has to be repeated frequently. However, depilation at home is not recommended by dermatologists, as little is known about the effectiveness and possible damage these devices may cause to the skin. It is known that incorrect use can lead to permanent skin damage.

Laser therapy (laser hair removal)

Laser therapy - also called laser hair removal - can be used to remove excess hair. The hair root gets damaged so that the hair can hardly grow. Laser therapy consists of multiple treatments so that an optimal result can be achieved.

Laser hair removal process

A laser uses a special wavelength of light. This light penetrates through the skin and is absorbed into the pigment (melanin) of the hair and the hair follicle. The light absorbed by the pigment is converted to heat, thereby destroying the hair follicle. The surrounding skin is not damaged by the light.

Because laser therapy works on pigment, it is important that the hairs are darker than the skin and that they contain sufficient pigment (melanin). Otherwise there is too little heat to destroy the hair follicle. White, blonde, red and gray hairs contain little or no melanin and are therefore not suitable for treatment with laser therapy.

How does the treatment feel?

Treating hair with laser therapy gives a well-tolerated, short-term pain. The feeling during the treatment is similar to pinpricks or the shooting of rubber bands against the skin. After the treatment, the skin may feel a little warm but is not painful anymore. After the treatment the skin may be red and bumps around the hairs may develop. This reaction disappears after a few hours. After the treatment, the hairs grow out, after which they fall out after a few weeks.

Treatment process laser therapy

The number of treatments and the time between the treatments depends on the treatment location, the type of hair growth and the desired result. For an optimal result, an average of six to ten treatments are required. Between the treatments is about four to twelve weeks. This is because the hair goes through a certain growth cycle with different phases. Only in the growth phase is the treatment effective, because the hair is still attached to the hair follicle in the hair root. It is not possible to remove 100% of the hair. After stopping the treatment it is possible that the hair stays away for a very long period. It is also possible that the hairs grow back to a greater or lesser extent after stopping the treatment. Therefore, it may be necessary to undergo regular maintenance treatment.

Complications in laser therapy

Laser therapy is a relatively safe treatment, you can selectively heat and destroy the hair without damaging the surrounding skin. Nevertheless, complications can occur despite proper treatment.

Possible complications are:

The development of blisters and extremely red skin. Due to too much heat development in the skin, it can burn. This manifests itself in an extremely red and painful skin and / or blisters. This can be followed up for mounting and / or scabbing.

The emergence of dark or light pigmentation spots. The recovery can take months. In rare cases, the pigment change is permanent.

Increased hair growth. The inactive hair follicles can be activated by the heat in the skin. By continuing the treatment these hairs eventually disappear again. This is not very common.

In some exceptional cases, the therapy cannot catch on. The exact reason for this is different per person and often difficult to find out.

Prevent damage

Laser therapy is not harmful to the skin, provided you follow a few rules before and after the treatment. The following rules of life apply prior to laser treatment:

Use sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and factor 30 to 50 six weeks before and after treatment. Apply the cream daily. If you are outside for a longer period of time, perspire or come into contact with water, it is best to re-apply every two hours.

Avoid sunlight, sunbed and do not use self-tanning creams six weeks before, between treatments and six weeks after treatment. Stop four weeks before the first treatment and between the treatments by resins and epilation. Shaving, cutting or using depilatory creams are permitted.

Provide complete and honest information about your health situation, medication use and possibly pregnancy / breastfeeding. Some medications make the skin slightly hypersensitive, increasing the risk of complications. In pregnancy, the effectiveness of the treatment can be greatly reduced by the changed hormone balance.

Do not use make-up and care products in the treatment area on the day of treatment. This can react with the light causing complications.

Do not use any products on the skin for 12 hours after treatment. These close the skin and prevent the skin from losing the heat, which can cause complications.

The skin therapist can tell you more about the rules of life after the treatment.

IPL depilation

IPL hair removal and laser therapy are often used interchangeably. That is because both methods work with light. The biggest difference is the wavelength and the energy that is used. But what exactly is IPL and what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Dilute the IPL process

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. That means that very intense light pulses are given. The principle of IPL is based on that of the laser. Both destroy the hair follicle using light that is converted into heat in the pigment of hair and hair follicle. An IPL device uses different wavelengths simultaneously, while a laser uses only one specific wavelength. The energy per wavelength is lower for IPL than for laser. Depending on the skin and hair type, it is determined which treatment method is most suitable.

Laser therapy or IPL?

Dark skin (skin type 4-6) is not suitable for treatment with IPL due to a high risk of complications Dark skin can be safely depilated by using a laser with a long wavelength. With both laser therapy and IPL, the treatment must be repeated several times in order to achieve an optimal result. The hair colors light blond, gray, white and red are not suitable for both therapies, because these types of hair contain too little pigment.

Treatment trajectory IPL

The number of treatments and the time between the treatments depends on the treatment location, the type of hair growth and the desired result. For an optimal result, an average of six to twelve treatments are required. Hairs can stay away forever or grow back to a greater or lesser extent because inactive hair follicles can become active over time. It is rare that hair growth over time is equal to that before treatment. Nowadays there are also IPL devices for home use, these work with very low energy making them less effective than professional devices. They do not remove the hair but make it inactive. This results in a temporary reduction of hair growth. Improper use of the home appliances can cause permanent skin damage.

Complications at IPL

IPL is a relatively safe treatment, you can selectively heat and destroy the hair without damaging the surrounding skin. Nevertheless, complications can occur despite proper treatment.

Possible complications are:

The development of blisters and extremely red skin. Due to too much heat development in the skin, it can burn. This manifests itself in an extremely red and painful skin and / or blisters. This can be followed up for mounting and / or scabbing.

The emergence of dark or light pigmentation spots. The recovery can take months. In rare cases, the pigment change is permanent.

Increased hair growth. The inactive hair follicles can be activated by the heat in the skin. By continuing the treatment these hairs eventually disappear again. This is not very common.

In some exceptional cases, the therapy cannot catch on. The exact reason for this is different per person and often difficult to find out.

Edema formation (fluid retention) at the hair follicles.

Depilation men

Many men have hair on their bodies. Throughout the ages there have been different views about hair growth in the man. In some cultures, hair removal belongs to the daily rituals, while in other cultures hair growth is seen as masculine and attractive. Nowadays there are more and more men who want to remove their (over) hair for various reasons. The removal is done in the same way as with women.

Depilation in men

There are several reasons for men to depilate. For example, think of:

Annoying during exercise. Certain athletes such as runners, cyclists or wrestlers do this. Runners and cyclists because they are less likely to get an infection after a fall and it is common. Wrestlers are often rubbed with oil to feel smooth, hair growth is not desirable.

Hygiene. Hairs are a source of bacteria and hair growth is often seen as unhygienic.

Itching or skin irritations.

Ignitions. These arise because the hairs grow after shaving. The inflammations that arise can suffer from pigmentation spots and scars.

Aesthetic reasons. Some men see hair as disturbing. Body hair on the chest, back, abdomen and armpits are removed the most. Depilation of arms or legs is less common in men, but not impossible.

Long-term or temporary?

Men can use the same methods for hair removal as women. Waxing is a widely used method to remove hair on the chest or back. The hair stays away for a long time, the disadvantage is that waxing is a temporary treatment. Nowadays men therefore increasingly opt for permanent hair removal.