I think If stoppit was tired she would just stop posting luv!
and if ur tired of reading this stuff then I suggest u and ur other nut case friend go and bang ur heads together. like!
Re: Laser Hair Removal
The cream is called vaniqa and has been around for ages, they are taking it off the NHS. Unless there is a new one but I have not heard of it. I've only ever heard bad things about Vaniqa and its side effects. But then, I hear a lot of bad stuff about Laser treatments on the face.
I was tired before I started, given I’ve posted a lot of this before and better worded since I had more time. No one wants to do me a favour and read those posts.
Anyway, even if I can help one person solve their hair problem, it’s all good.
Re: Laser Hair Removal
Sorry stoppit I was at at work and flipping through threads. At this point I think i am going to cancel my treatment appointment and make an appointment with a doctor and find out if this is a hormonel issue.
:( :( :(
Where do i begin, i can bet that if any of u see my facial hair when i dont thread or pluck it out, u will b horrified, Becos I spend hours every day removing it u wudnt know that i had a problem with facial hair. I am at my whits end now with this hair. I was diagnosed with PCOS last year.
I have always had alot of hair on my face, but it wasnt thick hair it was all very fine hair. But all of a sudden when i was like 18 my hair around my lower face chin neck became very coarse, dark and jus unsightly. My mum suggested i go 4 laser, i got around 20 sessions in total after which i gave up as things were not improving. At this point i knew i had a hormonal problem but the dr's were not really prepared to put me on any meds 2 correc the imbalance.
I felt awful for wasting my mum's money on 20 very expensive laser sessions, which also left me with pigmentation but that was due to the fact that i never worse sunscreen even the beautician told me 2 do so.
Fast forward a few years my facial hair is worst than it has ever been and i spend hours a day removing the hair, crying everytime I do. Im on medication now which has helped to regulate my periods etc and other features of PCOS, but the hair is such a nightmare. It realy affects ure confidence. Im so desperate that i am willing 2 give laser another go but scared at the same time.
I know electrolysis has been suggested but I have soo much hair it wud take forever to get it dun and where i stay there are no places that offer electrolysis :( :(
It really is an awful curse on a woman to have thiss :( :(
Tweety, how old are you now?
Btw, even men get electrolysis done to remove their facial hair...If they can be committed to doing that than you can too. An improved self-confidence can change a whole lot, obviously...I hope you can do something about getting electrolysis.
Re: Laser Hair Removal
Desi_Beautii - Good plan, especially since you say your hairs are coarse(r). That's usually an indicator that hormones are at play. You may need to see an endocrinologist for a proper assessment; GPs often miss stuff like this or dismiss it.
Re: Laser Hair Removal
Here you go (not written by me):
Alexandrite long pulse lasers have a wavelength of 755nm are the most effective lasers. Their limitation is that they can only be used safely on very light skin types (Fitzpatrick skin types I-III). Just because it is an alexandrite, does not make it the best on the market. Precision cooling of the skin prior to laser application, spot size (the larger, the better), exact delivery of an effective energy beam deep into the tissue, and proper training can make all the difference. Some of the most popular alexandrite lasers include GentleLASE by Candela Corporation (maximum 18mm spot size) and Apogee by Cynosure (maximum 15mm spot size).
Diode long pulse lasers with a wavelength of 810nm work ok on skin types I-IV, and could be a good option for patients with skin type IV when they are too dark for an alexandrite laser, but want a more effective treatment than with an Nd:YAG on finer hair. The most popular on the market is the LightSheer laser by Lumenus. Proper operation of diodes is absolutely necessary for good results, so operator skill is especially important when using this type of laser.
Nd:YAG long pulse lasers have a wavelength of 1064nm and are the only option for darker skin types (IV-VI), including patients of colour such as African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern. The limitation of these machines is that they are made to protect darker skin from burning, and are thus not as effective on finer hair. However, for patients with darker skin, Nd:YAG is the only safe option. If you have darker skin and fine or light-coloured hair, laser hair removal is probably not a good option for you, regardless of the type of laser used. In such cases, electrolysis is the only permanent option.
Re: Laser Hair Removal
My treatments (various, body) were with the Apogee Elite that has both a Alexandrite and a Nd:YAG so the clinic can treat all skin types with one machine.
Desi_Beautii - Good plan, especially since you say your hairs are coarse(r). That's usually an indicator that hormones are at play. You may need to see an endocrinologist for a proper assessment; GPs often miss stuff like this or dismiss it.
Well i already know that I have a thyroid problem... and I am on medication for it... and I have spoken to my endo about it before and she brushed it off....
... I dont know what to do... I think it may just be best for me to stick to tweezing while I figure out what the best thing to do is...
Re: Laser Hair Removal
^Your hormones may be under control if you're on medication but it doesn't necessarily mean that the hair would go away in that case. It may be just that what's there isn't going to get more now
If you want to go for electrolysis, you can start off with very short appointments treating hair in one concentrated area. If they come back finer (which they should if you're getting proper electrolysis) over the course of weeks and it stays like that, then you're probably okay and can think about investing proper time and money for the whole face.
Re: Laser Hair Removal
This Treatment not good enough...
I'm allergic to Emla and it hurts :(
Alhamdulilah i'm very satisfied though.. it's well worth the pain (maybe). Thank you stoppit for all your detailed responses and all the time you put-in in helping everyone.
I'm allergic to Emla and it hurts :(
Alhamdulilah i'm very satisfied though.. it's well worth the pain (maybe). Thank you stoppit for all your detailed responses and all the time you put-in in helping everyone.
Gina what did you do to get rid of the hair?
Re: Laser Hair Removal
Very informative thread, thanks stoppit! And I have to go for laser too before I start uni in September. Definitely kills your confidence, that's for sure.
Btw I want to go to a derm. for my laser. Is there a difference between going to a spa/laser center and going to a dermatologist for your treatments?
Also, does it make a difference if you get it from the same place for all 6-8 treatments? I might be moving so I won't be able to continue my treaments from one place. What should I do? I need to start asap though.
Re: Laser Hair Removal
Hi guys i thought i wud add my opinion to laser treatment im actualy havin laser treatment now im on my 4rth session wich was yesterday...and i hav noticed a huge difference on the sides of my face and my neck area i had really dark thick hair here after pluckin it was growing bk within 2 days i was sick of it now i hardly hav any hair there at all if i do its very fine and unnoticeable..wich doesnt bother me..im also havin laser treatment on my upper lip after threading and waxing its made tht area of my skin darker then my face..but laser is takin more time to work on my upper lip as i hav been told upper lip area will take time...im happy with the results tho the hair hasnt grown bk as quickly as it used too..so im not for the first time spending hours in front of a mirror removing every single hair on my face!!!! sooo happy!!!!
Re: Laser Hair Removal
Trust me queeniky you are definitely not the only one!!!
You said you noticed ur skin was darker after waxing and threading not the laser right?
What kind of laser was used on you?
Re: Laser Hair Removal
Can I just say that unless you have not had treatment for 6months to 1 year and not seen the hair come back, you cannot say how well the treatment has worked.
The clinics have you come back at far shorter intervals than you need to (as soon as hair starts to reappear) so you are in this cycle of going back for treatment and getting shedding without ever seeing if there is permanency in your results. And often the treatments drag on for way past a year because of this.
Re: Laser Hair Removal
^ Agree! Don't get over excited after 2-3 treatments with 6-8 week intervals. You have to wait 3-4 months to actually know if it is working.
I did some research on Hirsutism and read that there are herbal remedies for reducing hair growth. I'm not saying that everyone who is doing laser is suffering from hirsutism. Some doctors recommend BCP called Diane 35. Apparently, once you start you can't stop so I personally would take that risk.
I'm sure that there are better ways of curing Hirsutism (excessive hair is not limited to the face if you suffer from this) and one should consult a doctor.
Also came across a product called Vaniqa. It's a topical cream that slows down hair growth. It doesn't have permanent affects. It simply slows hair growth during the period that you use it. Once you stop, the hair growth goes back to normal. It does have side affects such as skin irritation and acne.
For more information on these topics refer to google and before trying anything, consult a professional.
And a special thanks to stoppit for her valuable contributions to this thread.
Re: Laser Hair Removal
Hey naqsa,
Yup, this is why hormone tests are so important. You need to get the hormones under control before you can eliminate the hair that is there. Sometimes getting the hormones under control in itself will solve a lot of the problem and one will notice a decrease in facial hair density and thickness. Diane and Yasmin are both prescribed for this.
You can stop the BCP at any time but then the hair will come back.
I'm not sure about any herbal remedies, it would be great if there was something that worked though.
I mentioned Vaniqa above. Like naqsa has mentioned, as soon as you stop using it, the hair will go back to how it was. A common side effect is acne. It can also make the skin very sensitive and even cause boils (I know one report of this). Just be careful.
Re: Laser Hair Removal
DB im not sure wat laser is used i cant remember the name but both my sisters hav had the treatment over 2 years ago and the hair is not visible at all now...mayb if u use a microscope u will probably c it its very very fine..i started treatment in early feb so its too early for me yet but ive noticed a lot of difference on my facial hair...my skin on my upper lip is darker due to waxin and threading for soooo bloody long i think i started when i was in my early teens the consultant at the clinlc i go to said it was skin disclouration...and hopefully laser shud sort it...i think its bc i hav dark thick hair under the skin on my upper lip and thts why its darker in tht area..but laser does mke the hair lighter in color too..lets just hope it works!!! Sooo far im sooo happy with the results!!! Nooo its not laser tht has made my skin darker it was darker way b4 tht..