LET’S TALK EXCESS HAIR…
Aside from paying your taxes and the fact that we are on this earth temporarily, another solid truth is that many of us don’t like excess hair. In fact, laser hair removal has been proven to be one of the most psychologically rewarding cosmetic procedures due to its impact on how we feel about ourselves. When we were babies, we had terribly cute Vellus Hair, which is simply the baby fine colorless hair that covers our body. But then comes puberty and hormonal changes in our body and as a result, some of this vellus hair is stimulated by androgens (hormones) to become darker, curlier, and coarser. We call that hair Terminal Hair.
Hirsutism is unwanted terminal hair from excess andr
ogens or increased sensitivity of hair follicles to androgens. Many times hirsutism is stimulated by hormones, with common causes including congenital adrenal hyperplasia, polycystic ovary syndrome, tumors, cushing’s syndrome, and medications. Other times the cause of hirsutism is unknown and that is considered idiopathic hirsutism. While we can try to correct the excess hair with birth control, or medications such as metmorfin, or spironolactone; we usually need to tackle this situation with other alternatives of which I believe laser hair removal is one of the most effective ones.
However, in the process of getting rid of that unwanted hair, we cannot forget to take care of our skin. In fact, our skin needs to be managed.
The goal is to control the products that we use in order to reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation, bumps, redness, and irritation. In this sense, remember to avoid sun protection and fade products that are “skin friendly”, to protect the skin barrier, and to not use irritating products. Instead, we recommend you use chemical free sunscreen, avoid antibiotics and irritating chemicals, and use sulfate free cleansers. Don’t use sunscreen with SPF above 40 because these may contain too many u/v absorbing chemicals resulting in a higher risk of hyperpigmentation. Some other examples include Kojic Acid and Hydroquinone, which are u/v sensitizers that make the skin more sensitive to sun exposure.
When in doubt, just call Med Aesthetics Miami at 305-356-7402. You can also email us at info@medaestheticsmiami.com or look us up online at www.medaestheticsmiami.com
