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Common Causes of Hair Loss in Children

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Hair loss in children can be quite frustrating and scary for parents. The good news is that most of the condition of hair loss in children is often temporary and can be effectively treated with proper diagnosis. One must understand that some cases of children with hair loss can be effectively treated with medications while for some medications may not work until the causative factor is avoided. This article will brief on some of the common causes of hair loss in children and their management.

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is one of the common causes of hair loss in children. Children often have recent illness, usually high fever, flu, surgery, severe emotional stress, sudden weight loss. About 1-3 months following illness, your child may have hair loss. But then their hair begins to grow again in about six months without any treatments. The hair loss in TE doesn’t have specific pattern like patches but rather appears thin throughout the scalp. It is thought that this hair loss occurs because the hairs those were in their growth phage suddenly transform into resting phage. Hairs then falls out until new hair grow then follow the normal growth phase. Hair usually takes around 3 and 6 months to re-enter into growth phase.

Treatment of TE is usually mild to high potency topical steroids. Response can be experienced within 4-6 weeks but some may not respond to steroids, reason is unknown. Other options are Minoxidil (mixed results) and Diphenylcyprone (DCP, not to use below 12 yrs)

Tinea Capitis

Tinea capitis or ringworm of the scalp is another cause of hair loss in children that are caused by fungus which invades the hair shaft resulting in breakage of hair. They have more recognizable signs and symptoms with itching and circular or oval patches of lesion with hair loss. Hair is usually broken at the surface of the skin and the remaining looks like black dots on the scalp. Tinea capitis can be transmitted by contact from infected individual through the sharing of combs, brushes, hats, towels etc. Boys tend to be affected more than girls and most commonly seen among 3-10 years.

Tinea capitis can be easily treated with topical antifungal however if left untreated it can be very tender and infected leading to kerion. Several anti-fungal options are available in the form of shampoo, creams and lotions that can effectively treat tinea capitis. If the infection is extensive and unresponsive to topical medication, oral anti-fungal medications in combination with topical medication can effectively cure tinea capitis.

Bacterial Infections

Sometime bacterial infection also can cause hair loss in children. It is often temporary and resolves once the infection is treated.

Traction Alopecia

Traction alopecia or physical damage of the hair is also common in children especially schooling girls who wear tight braids and ponytails with ribbons in it. In case of newborn and infant they can lose hair on the back of their head due to constant rubbing against their bed. Other factors that can cause traction alopecia are combing, curling, stratening, fluffing etc. This can lead to hair follicle damage and may take upto 3-4 months to heal before they start to grow again.

 

Hair Pulling

Just like thumb sucking, many children have habits of pulling their hair which can lead to hairfall. It usually stops when they reach 3-4 years old. In order to avoid hair pulling you may get a short haircut for your child.

Trichotillomania

Some child may have obsession of compulsive hair pulling which is classified under obsessive-compulsive disorder. This usually happens when child is in tension, nervous or can’t resist pulling and feels pleasure and relief when pulling their hair. Hair loss in trichotillomania can be quite noticeable with irregular patches of incomplete hair loss with broken hairs of varying length. This may sometime include eyebrows and eyelashes as well. The habit of pulling hair is often encountered when the child is studying, watching TV or few moments before sleep.

In most cases avoiding the habit and the causative factors like emotional stress or other psychological issues should resolve the case spontaneously and hair will start to grow back. Never scold your children if you notice him/her pulling hair, a better counselling that can help your child deal with the issues is an good option.

Alopecia Areata

Although exact cause of hair loss is a mystery, alopecia areata is considered as autoimmune disorder (immune system mistakenly attacks own hair follicles). This lead to complete hair loss in round or oval patches but unlike ringworm the area involve is smooth with no scaling, redness or broken hairs. It is estimated that in about 20-30% of cases there is usually family history of hair loss in this pattern. Ridging or pitting of the nails is also seen in around 25% of the children with alopecia areata. In about 5% of the children, alopecia areata may progress to alopecia totalis. Good news is that new hair grows back within a year in more than 80% of the children with alopecia areata.

Although there is no cure for alopecia areata, several medications have been tried in an attempt to stimulate the hair growth with mixed results. Intralesional injection of corticosteroids (triamcinolone acetonide) is often used with satisfactory result. Other options are topical corticosteroids and Immunomodulators like tacrolimus. In addition minoxidil has been used successively in most cases of alopecia areata.

Alopecia Totalis and Alopecia Universalis

In case of alopecia totalis all the scalp hair is lost and in alopecia universalis all the body hair including scalp is lost. In this case the possibility of hair regrowth is less. Treatment are topical steroids, Immunomodulators, oral steroids, and light therapy.

 

Other Causes of Hair Loss

In addition to the above mentioned causes, there are several other causes of children hair loss which are listed below:

  • Malnutrition
  • Thyroid disorders (hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism)
  • Chronic illness like diabetes, systemic lupus erythematous
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • Excessive vitamin A intake
  • Biotin, zinc and other minerals deficiency
  • Structural abnormalities of the hair shaft leading to dry, brittle and easy breakage of hair.
  • Chemotherapy and radiation therapy (anagen effluvium)

 

 

Piedra: Hair Fungus Infection with White Piedra and Black Piedra

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Piedra, also known as trichomycosis nodularis is a common asymptomatic fungal infection of hair shaft. Two types of piedra have been described namely black piedra and white piedra. Both types of hair fungus ultimately may lead to hair breaking because the shaft is weakened by cuticular penetration.

Black Piedra

Black piedra is caused by Piedraia hortae and is characterized by the presence of firmly attached, black/brown, hard nodules on the hair shaft. It is commonly seen in scalp hair, less frequently observed in the beard, moustache and pubic hair. Nodules may be seen on the frontal scalp and vary in size ranging from 1mm or more in diameter. As fungus grown in the hair shaft, the hair may break easily. If untreated the infection may last for years.

White Piedra

White piedra is caused by species of Trichosporon genus and is characterized by the presence of loosely attached whitish/ light-brown or cream colored soft nodules on the infected hair shaft. Their size may vary from microscopic to 1 mm in diameter. White piedra usually affects facial (beard, mustaches, eyelashes and eyebrows) underarms and genital hairs and less commonly scalp. As white piedra affects outer lipid layer, the soft white nodules can be easily detached from hair shaft. Broken hair is less commonly seen than black piedra.

How is it diagnosed?

Most diagnosis is based on direct clinical as most cases are characteristics. If there is confusion fungal testing can be done to exclude other disease like trichomycosis axillaris.

Treatment of Piedra

Shaving the infected hair is the best and simplest treatment and is curative therapy for both cases of white piedra and black piedra. Topical uses of anti-fungal medications like 2% ketoconazole, 1% terbinafine, 2% miconazole for at-least 2-3 weeks may also aid in the cure and prevent relapse. To achieve more successful results, Alternate days shampooing with antifulgal shampoos in combination with above topical cream and lotions may be needed. In severe and unresponsive oral antifungal medications like itraconazole may be given along with topical medications.

Female Baldness-Why does it happen and can we stop it?

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A common misconception is that only men go bald. Pattern baldness affects women too. Ladies can start to lose their hair just like men. However female baldness is more diffuse not forming a widow’s peak in front or a crown in the back of the head making it harder to notice. Some women can start losing their hair from the early age of 20, but this is a gradual process and may go unnoticed even until the woman is 30 years old. The hair loss may not have a genetic cause; it can be caused by diseases such as thyroid disease or anemia. Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis is a huge cause of hair loss in women everywhere. To make sure you do not have this disease all you have to do is take a very simple blood test. It is a known fact that men get the baldness gene from their mother and it is suspected that it is the same for women.

Some people used to think that wearing hats or certain head gear would cause hair loss but that is just a myth. What is truly harmful to your hair is the custom to brush it with 100 strokes. If you are already losing your hair those 100 strokes will do nothing but accelerate the process .Same goes for certain hair styles like tight braids, pigtails or dreadlocks. Other hair loss myths are that longer hair does not accelerate baldness by putting extra weight on the already weakened roots. Or that shampoo in excess is not bad for your hair and it only takes away hairs that were going to fall out anyway. Another myth is that coloring your hair does not damage or burn it.

A change in your hair can also be noticed during pregnancy. This is a very strange period for your body .Your hormones rage and fluctuate causing some women to actually get thicker, fuller heads of hair. The cause for this is unknown but it is suspected to be caused by the number of hairs that cycle in the resting period of hair growth.

After delivering the baby or about six month after that, there is a risk of hair loss. We do not know a way to prevent this pregnancy hair loss yet but it may be that you are just returning to your pre-pregnancy hair volume and all that you are shedding is the hair gained in the hormonal period.

Treatments for hair loss in women can be: Rogaine, hair powder fibers or Propencia.

Female pattern baldness like all conditions can be scary and overwhelming at first. My advice is, do not obsess over it. The stress you put yourself through when thinking about going bald actually makes you go bald faster. Take it easy, have a balanced diet, avoid fatty foods, and keep yourself hydrated and you can slow down the progress of your hair loss.

Can I fight hair loss?

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If you are losing your hair do not give up hope. There are many ways you can fight it. First of all stop worrying. Stress is a major factor in hair loss, so the more you worry, the more your  loose your hair. Solution for hair loss ranges from surgery to just having a better diet.

Take hair fiber powder for example:

If your hair has just started thinning than this is just the solution for you. This powder is made specially to attach itself to your existing hair, giving the impression that it is fuller and thicker. This is not a permanent solution, it is meant as a temporary filler until the medication you are taking (Rogaine, Propencia) kicks in. It is quite affordable, prices start at twenty dollars. And the risk for side effects is minimal.

Propencia and Rogaine. These are very good solutions. If you are young and are being plagued by male or female pattern baldness this is the solution for you. These medications are approved by the FDA in the United States of America. Depending on where you live maybe you will need a prescription to buy Propencia. They can be taken individually but they work best in a combo.

If you have been taking them for a few months and they do seem to be working do not worry. It may take about 6 months for this medication to kick in so persevere. The thing with pattern baldness is that timing can save your scalp. The earlier you start treatment, the bigger the chance for it to work.

Surgical Options:
You can choose this option if all others fail and if you can afford it. It can be done by transplanting hair from other areas of your body like your back. Another way is by reducing the scalp. The doctor will remove the bald area from your scalp and stich the remaining areas together.

But please be careful when choosing this option. Do your homework. Inform yourself about the risk and always go to a good doctor. After the said surgery it is recommended to take Propencia to maintain the hair and not let it die off.

A very impressive type of hair transplant is that of micrografts. It is a very delicate procedure where individual hairs are taken and transplanted onto the balding scalp. This method however, is slow and will take many sessions so I repeat: choose your doctor carefully! Not only is it time consuming but it is also expensive ranging from 10 to 20 thousand dollars.

Wigs and Hair pieces:
This option I would not recommend personally. It is a time-honored tradition for balding men to wear wigs. But the wig degrades over time, does not look natural and if discovered it is a great source of shame for many people.

In conclusion there are many ways to fight baldness but one method out of all of them is most effective and its dirt cheap. Do not lose your confidence along with your hair.

Why am I Losing my Hair?

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We all fear hair loss. But why do we fear it? It is a normal part of the human life cycle and it is still one of the most feared things that can happen to you. Some people even prefer getting a dangerous disease than actually losing their hair.

The short answer is that nobody wants to look unattractive. I know it is not fair that other people get to keep their hair and you must lose yours but we must all play the hand that we are dealt. First of all do not panic. Not all types of hair loss are permanent, and the ones that are permanent can be delayed by even 10-15 years. So why does our body shed our scalp hair? To understand this we must go through the growth cycle.

Why am I Losing my Hair
Why am I Losing my Hair

There are 3 phases in the life cycle of the human hair: The first phase (anagen) is the most active phase where the hair actually grows in length. The second phase (catagen) is the phase where the hair starts to weaken and get thinner. And the third phase is the telogen phase that is a resting period for the hair.

As I previously said not all hair loss is permanent. It is perfectly normal to lose about 100-150 hairs a day. Do not panic if your hair is shedding .It is also normal on the course of a life time for your hair to get progressively thinner. If you are losing more than 150 hairs a day, that is a reason to worry. The causes can range from head fungus, bad diet, stress, menopause, thyroid disease, iron deficiency, genetic etc… For all the other causes there is a way to repair the hair loss. Avoiding fatty foods and keeping yourself hydrated and healthy can save your scalp.

The most feared of these causes is the genetic one. A common misconception is that if your father is bald, you will be bald to. That is actually not true. The gene responsible for male pattern baldness is transmitted by your mother….so if you are losing your hair stop blaming your father. However, being said that, men whose fathers had experienced hair loss are twice more likely to experience hair loss themselves, regardless of the mother’s side of the family.

But why would this gene survive in us? Evolution is known for facilitating survival not impeding it? Well, it is speculated that it is a built-in anti-adultery mechanism. The way it works is: You keep your hair for long enough to have children (early or mid-20’s) and then this gene kicks in. It is making you less appealing to the opposite sex and limits your sexual options, thereby assuring that you stay with your partner and help raise the kids. That is why we still have this gene; it has survival benefit for our children.

This is just a short background to make you understand why this is happening to you, to see that it is perfectly normal and make no mistake there are ways to fight it

Common Causes of Hair Loss in Women

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Hair loss is a universal problem in all men and women. Though it is not life threatening condition, most women finds it worrisome and leads to stress and emotional disturbance that can adversely affect the quality of life.

Several conditions contributes to hair loss in women that may include stress, metabolic conditions, drug intake, environmental conditions, mechanical trauma, hair disorders and genetic factors. The most common cause that accounts for almost 90% of hair loss in women are due to disturbance in hair growth cycle (Acute or Chronic Telogen effluvium ) and due to disorder of hair follicle (female androgenetic alopecia or female pattern baldness) . While both conditions are treatable, several months of therapy may be required for effective results.

Acute or Chronic Telogen effluvium: It may occur at any age but is not common in childhood. It may be characterized by persistent shedding of hair that runs a fluctuating course over several months or years. It result from shift of large number of anagen (Growth phase) hair into telogen or resting phase, which will usually shed off 3 months after the shift.

This may be due to several underlying triggering factors. Most common factors are listed below:

  • History physical or emotional stress
  • Childbirth
  • Sustained high fever
  • Surgery
  • Low protein diet
  • Chronic iron deficiency
  • Heavy metals such as arsenic or selenium
  • Systemic diseases
  • Inflammatory scalp disease (eg. seborrheic dermatitis, erythroderma)
  • Severe infection
  • Drug (Anticoagulants, retinoids, beta- blockers, cholesterol lowering drugs)

Post partum telogen effluvium: It occurs due to hormonal changes which causes sudden shift of hair cycle from anagen phage to telogen phage. This condition usually subsides after 4-6 months with regrowth of hair spontaneously.

Treatment Modalities:
Acute cases of Telogen effluvium is usually self-limiting and resolves with in few months of avoiding or treating the triggering factors. Although in case of chronic telogen effluvium, complete recovery may not be possible but good cosmetic outcome can be achieved with proper treatment. The most important factor in treatment in to find out the contributing factor and treat accordingly. In case of low protein or iron deficiency adequate protein intake and iron supplements should be taken. Surgical treatment like hair transplant is not effective in case of telogen effluvium.

Female Pattern Baldness: Female pattern baldness is a genetically mediated biological process determined by sensitivity to androgens. It results in gradual and progressive thinning, depigmentation and decrease in volume of hair which permits the scalp to be seen. It usually presents as diffuse thinning of hair on the crown. Unlike male pattern hair loss, women pattern hair loss never reaches to complete baldness.

Female pattern baldness is a multifactorial condition which may be due to aging, changes in level of hormones and family history of male or female pattern baldness.

Treatment Options:
Although several treatment options have been tried for female pattern hair loss, 2%-5% Minoxidil is the only drug approved by FDA for treatment of female pattern hair loss. Other options that have been considered are:

  • Oral anti-androgens (cyproterone acetate, spironolactone)
  • Topical 17?-estradiol
  • Finasteride
  • Hair transplant surgery

Treatment with either of the medications or procedure is expensive because you must continue the medication for at-least 6 months to see the effectiveness and hair transplant is expensive. Hair loss may start again after you stop using the medication. If you are comfortable with the hair loss you can use some cheap measure to deal with it like change hair styles, use hair wigs or any other visual deception methods.

References:
1.Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine
2.Rook’s textbook of dermatology

Best Treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis

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Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin problem usually affecting the lipid-rich areas of the skin.  It is commonly seen on face (nasolabial folds and eyebrows), external ear canal, scalp, and chest and less commonly seen on axillae, umbilicus areas and groin.

Seborrheic dermatitis affects around 5% to 10 % of total population. The mild or initial form of seborrheic dermatitis is dandruff.  Seborrheic dermatitis most frequently occurs during winter. It is harmless, chronic, superficial, inflammatory disease characterized as flake like red, scaly patches associated with burning or itching. The scales often are yellow or greasy in appearance.

Treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis

Most of the mild cases can be treated with normal shampoo if applied in sufficient quantity. If normal shampoo doesn’t respond, you can easily get some of those over the counter medicated shampoos which are available in most of the local stores or pharmacy. Shampoos containing Zinc Pyrithione (Head and shoulders), Selenium Sulphide (selsun Blue), Ketoconazole (Nizoral), ciclopirox, Salicylic acid and Sulphur (Sebulex) and Tar derivatives are good and well tolerated. Just make sure your shampoo contain any of these ingredients.  For better outcome, use the shampoo at least 4-5 times a week. Most treatment fails because people don’t give continuity after the symptoms has subsided. Once the symptom subsides, keep using the shampoo for at least 1-2 times a week for few weeks then every week for few months and so.  This way you get complete control on your Seborrheic Dermatitis.

Moderate seborrheic dermatitis involving other areas besides scalp can be treated with topical creams and lotions like those containing corticosteroids and anti-fungal agents like miconazole, ketoconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine, butenafine and ciclopirox. Long term use of corticosteroids is not suggested.

If this preparation is not working as expected, consult a dermatologist. Seborrheic dermatitis treatment may vary with individuals. Your doctor will confirm the diagnosis (as other conditions might also resemble seborrheic dermatitis) and prescribe you the best medications accordingly. For some unresponsive cases your dermatologist may prescribe some stronger medications with or with out combination with some oral antifungal medications. There is no permanent cure for seborrheic dermatitis. Be sure to take proper hygienic and preventive measures to avoid further recurrence.

Top Three Hair Removal Methods

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It is a desire of every men and women to remove dark hairs from the skin and this desire continues till we die. The effort to remove hairs from skin can be seen from adolescents to old age people. There are several people who always wondering in search of effective hair removal methods and here one can acquire detailed information on the subject. Most men and women are suffering from extra hair growth at face, legs, armpits, bikini line and other common parts of body. Basically, there are several methods to remove hair and some of them include trimming, waxing, shaving, using epilator, electrolysis, depilatory creams and through laser technology.

Shaving Hair Removal
Shaving is considered as the most common and easy way to remove hairs. It does not make hair shaft thicker, darker or grow faster. It is better to apply some sort of moisturizer before shaving as it can prevent any type of scrape or cut. Moisturizer also allows the razor to glide over the skin easily. Some of the common moisturizers which are easily obtainable include water, hair conditioner, body wash or shaving cream.

Wax Hair Removal
Wax Hair Removal is another effective way to remove huge amount of hairs in one time. In this, the wax is applied on the skin by warming the wax. After applying the hairs become embedded in wax and keep the hair weak to be easily scratched from the skin. It is always recommended to perform this procedure in experienced supervision as the warm wax can hurt badly.

Electrolysis Hair Removal
Electrolysis Hair Removal is performed to remove the hairs permanently and most people opt for this method in order to get rid from extra hairs in the body. Electrolysis is one of the permanent hair removal methods considered in worldwide for its effectiveness and one should acquire this treatment from a licensed professional in order to achieve best results.

Laser Hair Removal
Laser Hair Removal provide you with the option to treat the large number area in relatively more effectiveness and within a short duration of time then previous methods of permanent hair removal. It is somewhat expensive then other methods and single session may not permanently remove your hair.

So, it can be said that there are so many methods of hair removal but the above are the experimented and most effective treatments.

Seborrheic Dermatitis Of The Scalp

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Seborrheic Dermatitis, also know as seborrheic eczema is a common problem in general population. It almost affect 5% of the total population. It is harmless,chronic, superficial, inflammatory disease characterized as flake like scaly patches associated with burning or itching. The scales often are yellow or greasy appearance. Seborrhoic dermatitis can affect any parts including eyebrows, eyelids, nasolabial creases, ears, lips, sternum, axillae, umbilicus, groin, gluteal crease and most commonly scalp. Here we’ll discuss the treatment options for seborrheic  dermatitis of the scalp.

Seborrheic  Dermatitis of the scalp is most common in winter and early spring and almost goes out during summer.  Dandruff is also a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. The casautive factor for seborrheic dermatitis is complex but studies shows lipophilic yeast pitryrosporum ovale is the main culprit behind it. Various medications like chlorpromazine, cimetidine, haloperidol, lithium, gold and psoralens may also cause or aggravate seborrheic dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious or related to diet and can be easily treated with proper scalp care .

Some cases that  resembles like seborrheic dermatitis may actually be scalp psoriasis, so consult your dermatologist or general physician before you start any over the counter treatments. These two disease may sometime overlap, but psoriasis tends to have more heavier silvery scales which bleeds easily when scalp are removed and itching may be severe in seborrheic dermatitis then in scalp psoriasis.

What are the treatment for Seborrheic Dermatitis of scalp ?

For some less severe cases of scalp seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff,  normal regular shampoo might do the trick. Moderate cases can be treated with over the counter medications containing selenium sulfide, tar, ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, salicylic acid, fluocinolone and resorcin. These shampoos should be used not more then 2-3 times a week with a regular shampoo in between as required.  If you use any hair spray, wax and creams to style your hair, it should be completely stopped.

There are many types of options available on market including shampoos, sprays, creams,ointments, gels, lotions and  oils containing either above mentions medications alone or with combination with mild corticosteroids. Corticosteroids lotions will give the quick results when used for short time, but these agents are not suggested for longterm use and not suggested for use in face as it may give rise to corticosteroids induced rosacea. So avoid using steroids until and unless prescribed by your dermatologist.

In some severe and unresponsive cases of  Seborrheic Dermatitis of scalp oral medications may also be taken with prescription. They may include some antifungal medications like fluconazole and ketoconazole. These medications are usually used in combination with topical medications for better and fast result. Seborrheic dermatitis may come and go, there is no permanent cure. Be sure to take proper hygienic majors to avoid future outbreaks and  using antifungal shampoo once  every 2-3 months might prevent future outbreaks.

If you have any questions regarding seborrheic dermatitis treatment please ask us at our skin care forum.

Laser Hair Removal

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Removal of unwanted hair is a universal problem . There are some traditional hair removal methods like shaving, waxing, plucking, bleaching. But these are no permanent hair removal for those wanting permanent removal, so these techniques are being replaced by some new techniques like the use of chemical depilatories and electrolysis for permanent removal of hair. As a matter of fact electrolysis is only the method which provides permanent removal of hair. But these technique may not be favourite to all populations due to pain, inconvenience, tiring, highly qualified specialist dependent, risk of scarring, and its difficulty in treating large area.

To overcome such difficulties Lasers were finally developed. Lasers provide you with the option to treat the large number area in relatively more effectiveness and within a short duration of time then previous methods of permanent hair removal. These lasers and light sources specifically targets your hair follicle (the area where hair growth occur) with a beam of light passing through the skin. The laser heats the dark target matter called melanin within a hair follicle and destroy it without affecting other area of skin. Most often used lasers for hair removal are those with wavelengths in the red and infrared portion of electromagnetic spectrum as they can effectively penetrate to certain required depth of your skin and target melanin within the hair follicle. Some commonly used lasers for hair removal are Nd:YAG, diode, ruby, alexandrite lasers and an intense pulsed light source.

Even though Laser hair removal is the most effective methods, single treatment session may not give the permanent result so the treating sessions need to be repeated depending upon the type and area of treatment. As hair growth cycle has three phases: active growth phase, transition phase and rest phase. It is said that during the active phase the hair is most sensitive to lasers and light source. As all hair are not at the same phase of active growth at a given time, thats why multiple session of lasers are required at different time interval to complete removal of hair.

Not all laser works on all type of skin. Different types of lasers are being used on light and dark skinned individuals. For a light skinned person lasers like diode, alexandrite, ruby and a light treatment like Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) are better in reducing the hair. As for darked skinned persons Lasers with a longer wavelength like Nd:YAG lasers are the better options.

So if you are planning for a laser hair removal you should first consult a dermatologist. Based on your hair type, skin color,tanning, tattoos if there are any in treating areas, previous medical history like abnormal scarring, any thyroid problems or history of medications like isotretinoin your dermatologist will suggest the best possible lasers and treatment conditions. Be sure to tell your past medical history if you have any.

So how Laser Hair Removal is done:

Before the treatment begins you are suggested to avoid any tanning sessions, plucking and waxing atleast for few weeks. Chemical hair removal products may be used 1 week prior to laser treatment and shaving can be done 1-2 days pior to laser treatment. On the treatment day you should keep the area to be treat clean and free of all cosmetics. Before the procedure begins topical anesthetic cream are applied to make sure you won’t have any pain or discomfort. Most of the lasers used have cooling device so you won’t have any discomfort. Single treatment might not give the permanent result as discussed above so three or more sessions may be required for better result. Laser treatments may be repeated every five to eight weeks.

Are There Any Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal?

You may notice mild swelling and redness around the area being treated. So ice pack or mild topical steroids may be used after the treatment to reduce redness and swelling. You should avoid sun exposure and must use some sunscreen with atleast SPF 30 after the treatment session.

Long term side effects like permanent scarring and skin change are rare. Few immediate side effects like mild swelling and redness may occur which will subside with in 2-3 days. For some people infection or blistering or (for people with herpes simplex) herpes simplex outbreaks may occur. Sometimes there may be temporary skin darkening or lightening but will go gradually.

Finally, There are many online and offline services claiming for the permanent hair removal. Laser hair removal is a million dollar business and everyone is after it. So don’t just follow the cheap services, fake advertisement, testimonials and promises that they make, rather go with a reputed and well experienced dermatologist. Money doesn’t matter as long as you care about your personality and complexion.

If you have any doubt in mind or anything you would like to ask please ask us at Hair Disease and Condition on DermaTalk Skin Care Advice Forums.

Edited by: Dr. Saiyan Amatya