Laser hair removal can be an excellent cosmetic treatment option for women with excessive facial and body hair, improving self-esteem while decreasing shaving frequency.
Certain medications can interfere with your results, such as oral contraceptive pills containing estrogen and progestin. You should also avoid tanning before sessions as well as medications which cause photosensitivity.
Hirsutism
Hirsutism, or excessive hair growth in the face and body, can make women uncomfortable and embarrassed, which can adversely impact both self-image and quality of life (QOL). Some sufferers even become depressed; however, hirsutism is treatable with treatments designed to make patients more comfortable by decreasing or eliminating unwanted hair growth.
Hair removal methods such as shaving, waxing and depilatory creams may work to temporarily get rid of unwanted hair; however, these solutions don’t last and need frequent upkeep and maintenance. Furthermore, these practices may lead to skin damage, inflammation and even cause hormone imbalances; thus it is crucial that we identify their underlying source and address it effectively.
Hirsutism may be caused by an inherited disorder like polycystic ovary syndrome or adrenal gland dysfunction; however, in other instances no identifiable cause for their hirsutism can be identified; this could be a result of too much androgens or having hair follicles that are oversensitive to androgens; diabetes or obesity could also play a part. Other possible triggers may include adipose tissue hyperplasia, androgen-secreting tumors or even uterine fibroids.
Women suffering from hirsutism should consult their physician regarding various treatments to address it, being aware of all possible risks involved with each of them and discussing them openly with her physician. When trying to conceive, any medications which suppress hair growth must not be prescribed as this could disrupt ovulation; additionally, any mechanical hair removal treatments must not be performed while pregnant as it could result in severe injuries to her unborn fetus.
Women suffering from hirsutism can use birth control pills to regulate their hormone levels and help balance them out. Birth control pills that contain the second- or third-generation progestin levonorgestrel or desogestrel may help decrease hirsutism; these can be taken alone or combined with medications that suppress androgen production such as Yaz (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol) as well as Diane 35, Dianette or Ginet-84 to take effect.
Hormone imbalances
Hormones produced by your endocrine system act as chemical messengers throughout your body, telling organs and tissues how to function optimally. Too little or too much hormone production may impact both appearance and health; typically your doctor can detect whether there is an imbalance with just a blood test; other tests include X-rays, ultrasound scans or biopsies as appropriate.
Based on your symptoms, they may recommend treatments or medications to balance hormone levels within your body, including hormone replacement therapy, thyroid medication, birth control pills or other hormone-alternative methods. Hormonal imbalances are often seen during puberty, pregnancy and perimenopause – in addition to due to polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis or hormone-related cancer.
Certain birth control methods may help treat hormone-related issues like acne and hirsutism. Combination pills that contain both estrogen and progestin such as Yaz, Diane 35, Dianette, or Ginet-84 may improve skin and hair quality while anti-androgen progestin pills like Yaz, Diane 35, Dianette or Ginet-84 contain anti-androgen progestins like drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol/cyproterone/ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate can reduce hirsutism (18). It may take up to 12 months before significant improvements occur in terms of reduced hirsutism (18).
Infertility
Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular cosmetic treatment, using a concentrated beam of light to target and destroy unwanted hair. Available at most spas and beauty salons, the treatment should generally be safe; however, side effects such as hormonal imbalances that could potentially impact fertility should be discussed with an experienced medical provider before undertaking this treatment.
Many women worry that laser hair removal could increase their risk of infertility. The primary concern lies with its laser beam of light that penetrates skin layers to reach follicles far removed from any reproductive organs, yet no definitive evidence points to any link between laser hair removal and infertility.
Select a reputable spa and use the appropriate laser type and wavelength to address your skin tone and hair color needs. Technicians in spa should be trained in assessing both to provide you with optimal results. They should also be knowledgeable of any medications that have recently been taken by you or that have recently been prescribed to you.
Women undergoing laser hair removal may also experience other adverse side effects, such as scarring and inflammation of the skin. This may affect fertility by disrupting tissue, leading to abnormal menstruation cycles, and decreasing cervical mucus levels which is essential for conception.
Laser hair removal increases the risk of yeast infections. A yeast infection occurs when too much Candida bacteria grows in a woman’s vulva or pelvic region, leading to symptoms in both areas affecting fertility such as pain, itching and burning in her vaginal canal. Although antifungal drugs may treat yeast infections quickly enough for conception to happen naturally again; untreated cases could make conception even harder than it already is! For this reason it is recommended that women trying for pregnancy should postpone laser hair removal until after having completed their family plans have finished their family planning goals.
Side effects
Laser hair removal uses heat to destroy hair follicles and stop growth, which is far more effective than plucking, tweezing or waxing and lasts longer than shaving. Although not permanent solution; most individuals require multiple sessions in order to see good results; it works especially well on people with light skin and dark hair as the contrast allows the laser easier access to their follicles; unfortunately it does not work well on blonde or white hair types though.
If you are taking hormonal birth control and concerned about how this might impact your laser hair removal sessions, consulting with a physician is recommended. They will examine you to see if excessive hair growth could be due to hormonal imbalance; depending on the cause they may provide treatment such as low dose progestin or anti-androgenic pills such as Drospirenone and Cyproterone Acetate which have been proven effective against hirsutism (18).
Notifying your laser professional of all medications you are currently taking, even those taken for other purposes, is crucial to ensure effective laser treatments. Some drugs can make skin more susceptible to laser light exposure and may lead to blisters or discoloration when exposed to laser radiation; especially important is informing them if taking photosensitive drugs like aspirin.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy may also have an impact on hair growth. While you should not anticipate an increase in growth during gestation, some women may notice slight regrowth after giving birth due to hormones rebalancing during this period – a situation which typically should not cause concern.
To avoid regrowth, it’s a good idea to maintain a regular laser hair removal schedule and strictly abide by pre and post-session care recommendations. Furthermore, avoid engaging in physical activities or wearing clothing which might rub against the treated area during exercise or wear and tear. Should regrowth appear, we advise getting at least two top up sessions every 8-10 weeks as an attempt at reduction.
