Hair Removal Methods Research Articles

Hair Removal by Using Laser Different

The need for a rapid, famous method for hair removal has led to the development of various laser for hair removal. These include ruby, alexandrite, diode, and Nd:YAG lasers. This research discusses the basic principles of laser hair removal, examines theoretically the properties of specific laser systems, and focuses on patient selection and treatment protocols for the various systems designed to ensure safe and effective treatment.

Is There a Relationship between Preoperative Shaving (Hair Removal) and Surgical Site Infection?

The preoperative preparation of patients for surgery has traditionally included the routine hair removal at the operating site as a part of cleanliness. This literature review will investigate the relationship between preoperative hair removal and surgical site infection. It aims to identify the best method of hair removal to reduce the infection if hair removal is necessary, and to apply the evidence findings into nursing practice.

Review of Hair Removal in Traditional Medicine and Its Clinical Application

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to discuss the diagnostic classification of the traditional medicine for pilosis, and the hair removal treatments in traditional medicine and its clinical application. Backgrounds : In recent years, appearance and beauty have become main interest that have positioned in the medical area. In clinical Korean medicine, a variety of methods such as moxibustion, superficial bleeding, multiple microneedling, facial meridian massage, herbal medicine facial pack, laser acupuncture, and intense pulsed light (IPL) have been applied. Methods and Results : Pilosis, a condition of abnormal hair growth, is stated for the first time in the publication, [Pathogenesis and Manifestations of All Diseases] by Chao Yuan-fang in 610 A.D. It shows that pilosis has been recognised as a disease for ages in Asia. Reviewing several publications, we found multiple approaches to pilosis were already existed in korean medicine. They include internal medicinal classification and its' medications. Acupuncture treatments also focused on regulation of radical causes and superficial removal of abnormal hairs. Specific treatments includes body and ear acupuncture, ear acupressure, hypodermic acupuncture, hypodermic acupuncture injection, laser acupuncture treatment. Physical and chemical methods of hair removal were widely invented. we resulted that significant scientific approaches to pilosis are under way in the korean medical field, and found a variety of medical treatments such as herbal medicines and dermatological methods. Conclusions : Hair removal treatments for pilosis in traditional medicine has a long history. Combined with advanced modern technology it can achieve greater advance in cosmetology.

Threading meaningful lives: respectability, home businesses and identity negotiations among newly immigrant South Asian women

This article investigates how women who have come to the United States as brides of South Asian professionals use threading, a hair removal method, as a home business to negotiate new challenges they face as newly immigrant women. Based on participant observation and in-depth interviews, the article focuses on how these young women combine their expected roles as wives and mothers in a new country with their own aspirations to win the respect of spouses, in-laws and children via threading. The article demonstrates how these women find meaning and identity through threading and evidences how they negotiate respectability by stressing their connections to home and domestic roles even as they dissociate themselves from beauticians who work at salons. Although they disrupt extant notions of ‘good wives and mothers’, these women nevertheless articulate this disruption within existing models and, more often than not, desire to be the bahu that their mothers-in-law admire.

An overview of unwanted female hair

Unwanted facial hair (UFH) is an important but often overlooked issue, with over 40% of women experiencing some degree of UFH. In the female population a wide spectrum of unwanted hair concerns is represented - from biologically normal but undesirable to excessive unwanted hair with an underlying pathology. While women may seek to manage unwanted hair across their bodies, UFH is a particular concern, due to its negative impact on perceived femininity. There may not always be a direct correlation between degree of severity diagnosed objectively by the physician and level of concern and impact upon the patient. This review discusses the spectrum of facial hair experience and outlines the clinical approach to unwanted hair management including UFH. It highlights the importance of a treatment regimen which should respond to the causation factors and needs of the individual. This will lead to a holistic treatment approach including evaluation of the implementation of emotional coping strategies and on-going support, lifestyle modifications, pharmacological interventions (to address underlying pathologies) and the use of cosmetic hair removal methods as either a stand-alone or adjunct treatment as appropriate to the individual.

Hair removal utilizing the LightSheer Duet HS hand piece and the LightSheer ET: A comparative study of two diode laser systems in Chinese women

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy, safety and pain associated with the use of the LightSheer Duet HS as compared to the original LightSheer ET diode Laser for axillae hair removal in Chinese women. Methods: Thirty-six Chinese women received three axillae laser hair removal treatments using the LightSheer Duet HS on one side and the LightSheer ET on the other side. Subjects were evaluated for hair removal efficiency. The immediate pain associated with the treatments was noted. Results: At 1 month following the final laser treatment, hair reduction on the LightSheer Duet HS side and on the LightSheer ET side was 81 ± 13% and 85 ± 9% respectively. There was no statistical difference. Immediate pain scores at the first session on the LightSheer Duet HS sites and LightSheer ET sites was 5.71 ± 1.74 and 6.86 ± 1.80 respectively, which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Following the second and third sessions, immediate pain scores of the LightSheer Duet HS sites were both less than those of the LightSheer ET sites, but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: The LightSheer Duet HS laser is a safe and effective method of hair removal in Chinese women. Treatment with the LightSheer Duet HS causes less pain.

Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection

Although preparation of people for surgery has traditionally included removal of hair from the incision site, some studies claim that preoperative hair removal is harmful, causes surgical site infections (SSIs), and should be avoided. To determine if routine pre-operative hair removal (compared with no removal) and the timing or method of hair removal influence rates of SSI.. For this second update we searched the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (searched 12 August 2011); The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 3); Ovid MEDLINE (1950 to August Week 1 2011); Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations August 11, 2010); Ovid EMBASE (1980 to 2011 Week 31) and EBSCO CINAHL (1982 to 11August 2011). No date or language restrictions were applied. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi randomised trials (QRCTs) that compared:1) hair removal with no hair removal; 2) different methods of hair removal; 3) hair removal at different times before surgery; and, 4) hair removal in different settings (e.g. ward, anaesthetic room). Three authors independently assessed relevance and quality of each trial. Data were extracted independently by two authors and cross-checked. We included 14 trials (17 comparisons) in the review; three trials involved multiple comparisons. Six trials, two of which had three comparison arms, (972 participants) compared hair removal (shaving, clipping, or depilatory cream) with no hair removal and found no statistically significant difference in SSI rates however the comparison is underpowered. Three trials (1343 participants) that compared shaving with clipping showed significantly more SSIs associated with shaving (RR 2.09, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.80). Seven trials (1213 participants) found no significant difference in SSI rates when hair removal by shaving was compared with depilatory cream (RR 1.53, 95% CI 0.73 to 3.21), however this comparison is also underpowered. One trial compared two groups that shaved or clipped hair on the day of surgery compared with the day before surgery; there was no statistically significant difference in the number of SSIs between groups however this comparison was also underpowered.We identified no trials that compared clipping with depilatory cream; or investigated application of depilatory cream at different pre-operative time points, or hair removal in different settings (e.g. ward, anaesthetic room). Whilst this review found no statistically significant effect on SSI rates of hair removal insufficient numbers of people have been involved in this research to allow confidence in a conclusion. When it is necessary to remove hair, the existing evidence suggests that clippers are associated with fewer SSIs than razors. There was no significant difference in SSI rates between depilatory creams and shaving, or between shaving or clipping the day before surgery or on the day of surgery however studies were small and more research is needed.

Contrast improvement in scattered light confocal imaging of skin birefringent structures by depolarization detection

Here we describe a method for enhancing the contrast in imaging skin birefringent structures. The method relies on polarization-dependent optical properties and is implemented using cross polarized confocal microscopy. The experimental data obtained using ex-vivo and in-vivo measurements on human scalp hairs and human skin demonstrate a significant dependence of the change in polarization of light that interacted with the birefringent hair on the orientation of the incident polarization. The polarization dependent contrast, defined as the ratio of intensity measured for different orientations of the incident polarization when observed using cross polarized confocal microscopy furthermore depends on the hair type/degree of pigmentation and on the focusing depth inside the hair. No such dependence was observed for the upper skin layers, including the stratum corneum and epidermis. We propose a new method for enhancing the contrast between the skin and the birefringent hair by the use of cross polarized confocal microscopy combined with the variation of the polarization of the incoming light. Potential applications of this method include imaging of hairs for assessing the efficacy of hair removal methods and measurement of skin birefringence. The underestimation of the birefringence content resulting from the orientation related effects associated with the use of linearly polarized light for imaging tissues containing wavy birefringent structures could be minimized by this method.

Evaluation of two methods of preoperative hair removal and their relationship to postoperative wound infection

When a surgical operation is to be conducted through a hair bearing part of the body, hair removal is often performed. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of two methods of preoperative hair removal to postoperative wound infection in a developing country where razor shaving is very popular. Consecutive consenting patients scheduled to have such operations were randomized into two groups. One group had hair removal by shaving with a razor blade while the other had hair removed by depilatory cream. Adequacy of hair removal and presence of skin injuries and/or reactions were noted preoperatively. Details of the procedures were recorded and patients were then assessed for postoperative wound infection. A total of 165 patients were studied. Of the 79 patients who had hair removal by depilatory cream, hair was completely removed in 70 (88.6%) compared to 53 (61.6%) of the 86 patients who had razor hair shaving (p < 0.0001). Skin injuries were noted in 24 (27.9%) of the razor group and 3 (3.8%) of patients who had depilatory cream, (p = 0.001). Thirteen patients (7.9%) had postoperative wound infection including 2 (2.5%) in the depilatory cream group and 11 (12.8%) of the razor group. A significant association was found between preoperative skin injuries and postoperative wound infections. Preoperative hair removal with razor shaving predisposes to skin injuries which in turn significantly influence postoperative wound infection rates. Such injuries and resultant wound infection are fewer when depilatory cream is used for hair removal.

Efficiency and safety of Lightsheer 800 nm diode laser in hair removal

Objective To evaluate the efficiency and safety of hair removal with Lightsheer 800 nm diode laser. Methods Lightsheer, 800 nm diode laser, was used to remove hairs from different areas, including hairlines, lips, whiskers, armpit, chest, back, limbs and bikinis area, in 432 patients. Results At least twice treatments, the maximum 29 times, were needed to achieve satisfactory results. Total effective rate increased with the treatment times but depended on the different area:63.4 % of hairlines, 67.7 % of lips, 71.9 % of whiskers, 100 % of armpit, 100 % of chest, 100 %of back, 82.6 % of limbs and 100 % of bikinis area, respectively. The adverse effect was observed with temporal hypopigmentation in 4 patients and hyperpigmentation in 9 patients, without any scar formation. Conclusions Lightsheer 800 nm diode laser is a safe and efficient method of laser hair removal. Key words: Hair removal; Diode laser; Efficiency

E-shaver: An improved DullRazor ® for digitally removing dark and light-colored hairs in dermoscopic images

We present an efficient and improved method for hair removal from dermoscopic images, which is faster and can remove hairs more effectively as compared to the existing and widely used DullRazor ®. To do so, we first detect the predominant orientation of hairs in the image by using Radon transform, followed by filtering the image by Prewitt filters using the orientation of existing hairs. Undesirable effects, such as non-hair structures and noise are removed from the image by thresholding–averaging–thresholding, followed by smoothing. The proposed scheme has the advantage of removing bubbles, as well. Implementation of our proposed scheme on different dermoscopic images validates its improved performance.

Hair removal methods: A comparative study for dermoscopy images

Removal and restoration of hair and hair-like regions within skin lesion images is needed so features within lesions can be more effectively analyzed for benign lesions, cancerous lesions, and for cancer discrimination. This paper refers to “melanoma texture” as a rationale for supporting the need for the proposed hair detection and repair techniques, which incompletely represents why hair removal is an important operation for skin lesion analysis. A comparative study of the state-of-the-art hair-repaired methods with a novel algorithm is also proposed by morphological and fast marching schemes. The hair-repaired techniques are evaluated in terms of computational, performance and tumor-disturb patterns ( TDP) aspects. The comparisons have been done among (i) linear interpolation, inpainting by (ii) non-linear partial differential equation ( PDE) and (iii) exemplar-based repairing techniques. The performance analysis of hair detection quality, was based on the evaluation of the hair detection error ( HDE), quantified by statistical metrics and manually used to determine the hair lines from a dermatologist as the ground truth. The results are presented on a set of 100 dermoscopic images. For the two characteristics measured in the experiments the best method is the fast marching hair removal algorithm ( HDE: 2.98%, TDP: 4.21%). This proposed algorithm repaired the texture of the melanoma, which becomes consistent with human vision. The comparisons results obtained, indicate that hair-repairing algorithm based on the fast marching method achieve an accurate result.

Laser hair removal as adjunct to surgery for pilonidal sinus: Our initial experience

Background:Chronic pilonidal disease is a common debilitating condition. It is a cause of considerable morbidity and social embarrassment. This prospective randomized study compared permanent laser hair removal following the excision of pilonidal disease with conventional methods for hair removal.Materials and Methods:Patients undergoing surgery for pilonidal disease were randomized to two groups: those using laser hair removal methods following completed healing of wounds (group I) or regular post-healing conventional methods for hair removal, mainly razor and depilatory creams, for at least 6 months (group II). Group I patients received regular, monthly laser hair treatment sessions using Alexandrite laser for four sessions.Results:Group I patients had a mean age of 23.6 ± 4.7 years. Group I patients had monthly laser hair removal session and then they were regularly followed up within the proposed schedule. They found the procedure comfortable with no complications. Group II patients had a mean age of 23.7 ± 6.6 years; they reported difficulty in maintaining hair removal with these conventional methods, and mostly, by the end of the first year, all cases stopped maintaining regular hair removal. Recurrence occurred in Group II patients (two cases) mostly due to failure in maintaining hair removal and area hygiene.Conclusions:We advocate the use of laser epilation after surgery for pilonidal sinus as it decreases the chance of recurrence but larger studies with long-term follow-up are still needed to approve this conclusion.

Faun Tail Nevus and Spinal Dysraphism: Cosmetic Improvement with Alexandrite Laser Epilation

Faun-tail presents as an abnormal lumbosacral hypertrischosis and may be associated with spinal dysrasphism. In addition to the problems due to spinal anomalies, patient's physico-social life may also be affected. Here, we report a case of 13 years old female patient with Faun-tail in association with sypinal dysraphism, in which cosmetic improvement was achieved with the help of Alexandrite laser. Alexandrite laser can be the method of choice for permanent hair removal method due to its safe, effective and easy to apply properties.

Watershed segmentation of dermoscopy images using a watershed technique

Automatic lesion segmentation is an important part of computer-based image analysis of pigmented skin lesions. In this research, a watershed algorithm is developed and investigated for adequacy of skin lesion segmentation in dermoscopy images. Hair, black border and vignette removal methods are introduced as preprocessing steps. The flooding variant of the watershed segmentation algorithm was implemented with novel features adapted to this domain. An outer bounding box, determined by a difference function derived from horizontal and vertical projection functions, is added to estimate the lesion area, and the lesion area error is reduced by a linear estimation function. As a post-processing step, a second-order B-Spline smoothing method is introduced to smooth the watershed border. Using the average of three sets of dermatologist-drawn borders as the ground truth, an overall error of 15.98% was obtained using the watershed technique. The implementation of the flooding variant of the watershed algorithm presented here allows satisfactory automatic segmentation of pigmented skin lesions.

Hair removal in women with an 800-nm diode laser: self-reported satisfaction and expectations from treatment are not the same / Uklanjanje dlaka kod žena diodnim laserom talasne dužine 800 nm - zadovoljstvo i očekivanja od postupka nisu isti

Abstract Laser hair reduction is an established method for unwanted hair removal. A significant esthetic component to the treatment necessitates patient-related outcomes are duly taken into account. Satisfaction and expectations may be either interrelated or independent outcome measures. A mail survey was sent out to 250 women who had undergone laser hair removal at least 6 months after their last treatment. The 6-item questionnaire concerned areas of the body treated, number of treatments, perceived hair loss, level of satisfaction with the treatment, fulfillment of expectations from the treatment, and reasons for not being satisfied with the treatment and/or unmet expectations. Response rate to the mail survey was 69%. One hundred fifty five (90%) patients were satisfied with the treatment, whereas 18 (10%) patients were dissatisfied with the treatment. Treatment did not meet expectations in 33 (19%) patients. When looking into the causes of their dissatisfaction and/or unmet expectations, the lower effectivness was the only factor which significantly affected the above otcomes (p&lt;0.05). Though we intuitively link expectations to satisfaction, their relationship is complex, and further studies should aim at construction of standardized scales to measure patients’ satisfaction and expectation, in order to further improve effectiveness of laser hair removal.

Risk Factors for Spinal Surgical Site Infection, Houston, Texas

Because of an increase in the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) following spinal procedures at the study hospital, we conducted a study to determine risk factors associated with the development of a SSI. Case-control study. A community hospital in Houston, Texas, with more than 500 beds. Fifty-five case patients who developed SSI after spinal surgery and 179 control patients who did not develop SSI after spinal surgery. We examined patient- and hospital-associated risk factors for SSI by using existing data on patients who underwent spinal operations at the study hospital between December 2003 and August 2005. Multivariable analysis was conducted using logistic regression to determine significant risk factors associated with SSI. The presence of comorbidities (odds ratio [OR], 3.15 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.20-8.26]) and surgical duration greater than the population median of 100 minutes (OR, 2.48 [95% CI, 1.12-5.49]) were identified as independent risk factors for SSI. The use of only povidone-iodine for preoperative skin antisepsis was found to be protective (OR, 0.16 [95% CI, 0.06-0.45]). Specific operating room, hospital staff involved in the procedures, workers' compensation status, method of hair removal, smoking status, or incontinence were not statistically significant. The presence of comorbidities and increased surgical duration are risks for postoperative infection. The use of only povidone-iodine was found to decrease the risk of infection.

Adherence to Surgical Site Infection Guidelines in Italian Cardiac Surgery Units

Data on the adherence to surgical site infection (SSI) prevention guidelines in Italian cardiac surgery units are lacking. A multiple-choice questionnaire, structured into eight sections following the Centers for Disease Control 1999 (CDC) guidelines, was prepared and sent to 24 surgical units participating in a national study group (GIS-InCard); this units perform over 20% of all cardiac surgical procedures in Italy. Answers were stratified based upon the evidence of the recommendations: grade IA (ten questions), grade IB (52 questions), grade II (11 questions), and no recommendation (seven questions). 17 of the 24 units (72%) returned the questionnaire. Adherence to grade IA recommendations was 69 +/- 34%, with five units (29%) showing a > or =80% adherence. Adherence to grade IB and II was 65 +/- 26% and 71 +/- 28%, respectively. Adherence did not vary significantly depending on the evidence of the recommendation, i.e., grade IA, IB or II (p = 0.72). Low adherence levels to grade I recommendations were observed on hair removal: (1) it was performed systematically in all male patients (0% adherence), (2) it was performed on the morning of the intervention in 29% of centers, and (3) the method of hair removal was adequate in 41% of cases. Despite 94% of units having written guidelines on antibiotic prophylaxis, only 65% administered antibiotic prophylaxis with the correct timing - i.e., on anesthesia induction. Adherence to CDC SSI guidelines in Italy is fair. The evidence of the recommendation does not influence adherence. Organizational improvements, especially those regarding hair removal and the timing of antibiotic prophylaxis, should be implemented in most hospitals.

Laser epilation is a safe and effective therapy for teenagers with pilonidal disease

Pilonidal disease (PD) is a frustrating condition because of a recurrence rate as high as 30%. Hair insertion is the essential cause of the disease. Therefore, hair removal with shaving is a part of many postoperative regimens. These methods are resource intensive and adversely impact the life-style of both patient and family. Therefore, we investigated the use of laser epilation (LE) of the intergluteal hair in adolescents with PD as a method of permanent hair removal. Methods A retrospective review of all patients with PD who underwent LE from 2003 to 2006 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md, and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, was performed. Laser epilation of the intergluteal hair was carried out with a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser (Coolglide Vantage, Altus/Cutera, Brisbane, Calif) at a standard fluence (joule/square centimeter), pulse duration, and repetition rate based on skin phototype. The patients were observed for hair regrowth and recurrence. Results Twenty-eight teenagers (17 males, 11 females; mean age, 17.2 ± 1.4 years) underwent LE. Eight patients presented with abscess and were managed by incision and drainage followed by excision and open wound management, 17 patients presented with a cyst or sinus and underwent excision and primary closure, and 3 patients with asymptomatic sinus were managed nonoperatively. Laser epilation was performed after complete wound healing or immediately in those patients with asymptomatic sinus disease. Laser epilation was well tolerated and without complication in all patients. Intergluteal hair was completely removed in all patients. Patients required an average of 5 ± 2 LE therapy sessions for hair removal. All patients underwent at least 3 LE sessions (range, 3 to 7 sessions) at 4-week intervals. One female developed a recurrence. The mean follow-up for the group was 24.2 ± 9.9 months. Conclusions Laser epilation is a safe method to remove intergluteal hair in teenagers with PD. This technique is an effective adjunctive therapy for the treatment of PD that may reduce recurrence.

Superficial Liposuction for Permanent Hair Removal

Introduction: Superficial liposuction is the most common procedure for facial and body contouring. This article reports the results of a study in which superficial liposuction was utilized for permanent hair removal on the face (sideburn areas), the chin including the submental area, the neck, back, and upper and lower extremities of female and male patients. Possible complications are discussed. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients (25 women and 5 men) between 22 and 65 years of age were included. All patients were of Fitzpatrick skin types III or TV. Results: In 22 patients, 19 women and 3 men, 70–80% complete hair loss was noted by all observers in a single session. Follow-up at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years, showed no hair regrowth in any patient in the hair loss areas. In 8 patients, 6 women and 2 men, 50–60% of hair loss was noted after a single session. Complete hair loss was noted in all cases in the central areas where liposuction of the subcutaneous fat was complete, the direction of the dermal tunnels was superior, and where subsequent inflammation and postoperative hardening were intense. Conclusion: Superficial liposuction for hair removal is a quick method of permanent hair removal in selected patients removing maximum number of hairs in a single session. It is safe in experienced hands.