All you want to know about Brazilian Wax Part 2

So one may ask what is the big deal about Brazilian wax? Why all the controversy?

Well take a few strands of hair from the pubis or the anal area in your hand- and pull then pull out manually- get the idea? It is no piece of cake. Most describe it as painful – excruciating. In addition, once the hair has been removed, the area around the pubis and anus remains hypersensitive- while you may look sexy and have smooth pubis, thoughts of pain are more common than eroticism.

In any case, some women do get this procedure done only once and then stick to another gentler method of hair removal.

The actual technique of Brazilian waxing is the same as waxing anywhere else on the body. Warm wax is applied and covered by cloth. When the wax has settled for a few minutes, the cloth is pulled and the wax pulls out the hair from the roots. Most people scream, some cry, others laugh—but rest assured it is a painful experience. In addition, the pain does not immediately go away. Sometimes the pain lingers on for 3-10 days. Besides pain, there are a few rare complications. Sometimes in individuals with very thin and sensitive skin, small piece of skin come off also, there is redness, blisters and one can even develop an infection- all this so that one can wear a thong.

There are even home kits for Brazilian waxing but the pain is not any less. For women, waxing should be avoided during midcycle, as the vaginal area is very sensitive during this time period. Similarly, women who are pregnant should avoid Brazilian waxing as the pain is magnified many fold.

All you want to know about Brazilian Wax

For the novice, Brazilian wax is simply another term to describe bikini waxing. However, over the years, Brazil waxing has been modified and there are many variants of the same procedure. Women who do not like hair in the pubic and groin area or those who prefer to wear thongs/skimpy bikinis usually undergo Brazilian waxing. Removing hair from the bikini line is not a new thing- it has been practiced in some form in many cultures and races.

In some parts of the Middle East, removal of bikini hair has been practiced for over 3000 years. Nothing much has changed about hair removal except that now we have different names and fancy procedures to remove hair from the same body part.

With Brazilian waxing, one generally removes all hair from the pubis and the anal area. In some cases, only a thin strip of hair will be left on the pubis mound. However, there are many variants of Brazilian waxing and the consumer can always request what they want (not everyone wants hair from the anus to be removed).

Some types of Brazilian wax involves removal of hair from the frontal pubis and groin area, and in some extreme cases, hair is removed from the pubis, anus, rectum, and even the buttocks. Removal of all pubic hair is also sometimes known as a Full Brazilian wax, Full bikini wax or the Hollywood wax.

Why does one pull their hair out? (Trichotillomania)

Hair pulling or Trichotillomania is a complex disorder and no one really knows why the individual pulls his or her hair. There are some risk factors which have been linked to this disturbing disorder and include:

Family history. There is a tendency for Trichotillomania to run in families. If there is a family member, either parent or sibling who has engaged in this behavior, chances are that or you may be affected. The chances of another family member developing same problem are about 5-25 percent.

Age: Trichotillomania usually first develops just after puberty and unfortunately in some cases, is life long. Children as young as 5-6 have been known to pull their hair. In such cases, it is not know if this is a case of temper tantrum or other behavior related problem. In children and teenagers less than age 16, the most common triggering factors are stress, the home environment, and school life. Common stressors in these individuals, which induce hair pulling, are changing school, divorce, death of a parent, constant moving and hormonal changes. It is commonly observed that younger children often pull their hair during bedtime or eating. Teenagers pull their hair in the daytime, most commonly in their bedroom, bathroom or in some secret location.

Gender: From medical follow-ups, it appears that women are more affected. However, these numbers have a treatment bias, as more women tend to seek help. Most men hide this problem and feel embarrassed to seek help. Overall, it appears that both genders are equally affected by Trichotillomania.

Feature of Hair: A few individuals pull out their hair because of a body image distortion. They simply do not like their hair. Some individuals do not like the color, others do not like the style and yet others hate the texture.

Emotions: The great majority of individuals who pull their hair out have emotional problems. Many of these individuals deal with their negative emotions (stress, anxiety, fatigue, loneliness, tension) by pulling out their hair. Estimates indicate that at least 40-70 percent of individuals who have Trichotillomania also have other mental disorder like depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or some type of eating disorder (bulimia, anorexia)

Reinforcement: Some individuals find that after pulling the hair, they feel better. These individuals often pull the hairs and hold it close to their skin, which gives them a good feeling. Unfortunately, this creates a positive reinforcement and leads to a cycle of hair pulling.

Unfortunately, even when these risk factors are identified, treatment is difficult and relapses are common.

Laser Hair Removal Part 2

Can a suntan affect laser hair removal?

Sure. After an individual has a suntan, laser hair removal should not be done. One has to wait at least 4-6 weeks for the tan to disappear before the laser can be used. If the laser is used on an individual with a suntan, the chances of a scar, blistering, and skin discoloration are very high

What types of lasers are used to remove hair?

There are many types of lasers available to remove hair. The most commonly used lasers include the Ruby, Nd: YAG, Pulsed light, diode laser, and Alexandrite. The diode and the Nd: YAG are often used to remove hair from dark skinned individuals

Are there any preparations required prior to laser hair removal?

In general no. After the consultation, the health care professional will look at your skin, hair type and obtain photos to document the progress. Lasers are most effective at removing short stubs of hair growth. Therefore, the only thing required prior to a laser treatment is not to shave for a few days. Prior to the treatment is it is highly recommended that one not wax, pluck or pull the hairs

How is laser hair removal done?

Laser hair removal is an outpatient procedure. There are spas, clinics and many health care facilities using laser to remove hair. Before the start of the procedure, your eyes will be shielded from the intense laser beam by dark goggles.
The laser is like a small pen and emits an intense beam if light. The light enters the skin and generates heat. The heat then destroys the hair follicle.

Does the laser hurt?

Yes, it hurts. Despite what the technician or anyone says, laser does hurt and not just a wee bit. It is like a hot burn and not fun. To minimize the pain, the technician may apply a topical anesthetic (it rarely helps). Further, many lasers also have a cooling tip at the end to minimize the pain. Some technicians numb the skin with an ice pack before the treatment. In any case, laser hair removal is not pleasant experience.

When the laser destroys the hair, one can smell the hair burning. The duration of the laser procedure can take anywhere from 5-20 minutes, depending on where you want the hair removed.

What is cost of laser hair removal

The cost depends on where you want the hair removed and how much. In general, each laser session can cost anywhere from $300-$600. Because there is a bandwagon of people using laser to remove hair, select your technician well. Not only may laser not work but it definitely is not a fun experience getting burnt from a laser.

Laser Hair Removal Part 1

For some individuals, hair is a real nuisance. Over the years there have been methods devised to remove hair- just the number of methods advertised on a daily basis should inform the consumer that there is no ideal method of removing hair (no different from methods touted to promote weight loss)

There are many methods to remove hair and all of them have their pros and cons. The newest method of removing hair is laser. Laser mania is on the increase in North America. Whenever a problem with the body cannot be fixed, it appears the laser is always called in. thee are a number of portable lasers now available for hair removal and essentially they all work in the same way.

Where can hair be removed with the laser?

Laser can be used to remove hair from any almost any part of the body except the eye and the ear. Laser is currently used to remove hair from the chin, upper lips, bikini line, hands, back, chest armpits and legs laser hair removal permanent?

Is laser treatment permanent?

NO. Despite the media hype and what the health care professionals claim, laser is not a permanent treatment for hair. The majority of individuals who undergo hair removal with the laser notice absence of hair anywhere from a few months to a few years. To maintain the hair free benefit, future laser treatments are required.

Can laser remove hair in everyone?

Unfortunately, No, lasers are not for everyone. However, it is possible to predict who will respond to laser hair removal and who will not. The most important factors that determine success of a laser is your hair type and skin color. Individuals who have dark hair and fair skin get the best results. Overall, when the skin color is light and the hair is dark, the result will be satisfying. Individuals who have dark skin generally do not get the same results and in fact, many require a different type of laser and more treatment sessions

All individuals who have a dark skin color should seek a center that has experience in dealing with this dilemma. Special lasers must be used for dark skinned individuals

Vaniqa and Hair Removal Part 1

For the moment, Vaniqa has only been recommended for use in women only.

Certain individuals should not use Vaniqa. These include the following:

- Men should not used this product – no testing has been done
on this gender
- Women who are pregnant or breast feeding should not use this
drug because the Vaniqa has not been fully evaluated on the fetus
- Females under the age of 12 should not use this drug
- Vaniqa is only supposed to be applied on the face and chin.
- Vaniqa is not supposed to be placed inside the mouth, ears,
vagina, and anal area
- Further, if one has broken or inflamed skin, Vaniqa should be avoided.

To use Vaniqa, apply a thin layer of cream and rub it in for a few minutes. This is best done at bedtime. Apply the cream once more in the morning. The cream should be left on the skin for a minimum of 4 hours. If you have shaved, plucked, or waxed your skin, Vaniqa should not be applied for at least the next 4 hours.

Always thoroughly wash the hands after using Vaniqa.

Once the cream is dry, one can apply a moisturizer or sunscreen.

The earliest results are seen at about 4-8 weeks.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell in whom Vaniqa will work in whom it will not.

Vaniqa hair removal cream is not covered by any medical insurance plan or Medicare. The cost of Vaniqa is not cheap and ranges anywhere from $90-$120 for a month’s supply.

Vaniqa is only available with a prescription and there are only discounts if you buy more than 3 months supply (remember the old trick, buy two get one at 50%). Because there is no guarantee it will work, it is hard to recommend this product. Testimonials are hard to come by and despite the dealers making a lot of hype, anecdotal reports indicate that this cream is both a waste of money and time.

Final Verdict- Junk save your money and continue with the conventional razor or wax.

Vaniqa and Hair Removal

In the last few years, much has been made about a topical cream that can remove hair. The drug known as Vaniqa or Eflornithine was initially used to treat parasitic infections in Africa and was observed to cause hair loss. However, the drug company realized it could make more money selling this cream for hair removal than help poor children in Africa. So now the drug is heavily marketed as a hair loss product in the West.

Vaniqa is available as topical preparation and has been shown to remove hair in some individuals.

MIND YOU, Vaniqa does not work in all people for hair removal. While exact numbers are lacking, the number of people who respond to Vaniqa is anywhere from 10-50%. Even the hair removal intensity is not the same in all individuals. All the data reported are by the manufacturers and dealers and hard facts are not available.

Vaniqa appears to act by getting absorbed in to the skin and stopping growth of more hair. The drug has to be applied everyday for 8 weeks. All consumers should understand that this is not a permanent hair removal method. As soon as you stop the drug, hair will restart to grow.