What methods are currently available to get rid of that unwanted hair? There are several.
You can pluck the hair, but that often leads to scarring, and if you break the hair off beneath the surface of the skin, it is hard to treat with other methods.
There are lotions or creams called depilatories that can dissolve the hair and rid that area of hair for some time. Most of these are harsh chemicals. Many contain the active ingredient found in Drano! As you can imagine, they can be very unfriendly to your skin.
 Another option is electrolysis. This involves passing an electric current through each individual hair follicle to destroy it. It is slow and it takes several treatments, but is usually effective.
My favorite treatment is permanent hair reduction using either laser or IPL. This works very well in the right patient, and it is faster and usually less painful than electrolysis. We have known for a few decades that light of specific wavelengths is absorbed well by the pigment melanin. This is the pigment that gives skin and hair its color. By varying the wavelength of the light, one can target different tissues, including hair. The light energy is converted into heat in the hair shaft and is transmitted to the hair follicle. This destroys the follicle, and that hair will not grow back. For this method to work, one has to use the proper wavelength of light, the proper intensity, with the proper duration of exposure. Some lasers work well in lighter skin types, while others work better in people with darker skin.
For maximum effectiveness, laser hair reduction should be in synchrony with the hair growth cycle. The laser will only destroy actively growing hairs, and only 20% or less of the hair is in the active growth phase at any one time. Facial hair tends to have a shorter growth cycle, allowing treatments at about 4 week intervals, whereas hair removal on the legs may require a longer treatment interval of 12-18 weeks.
 Some people have an unusually difficult time with unwanted hair. This includes those who get shaving bumps, or pseudofolliculitis barbae. This problem occurs when a hair curves back on itself before erupting through the skin and causes an ingrown hair. This causes inflammation which may in turn cause a cyst to form. There are specific lasers that will treat ingrown hairs and shaving bumps.
Another group of people who have a difficult time are those with polycystic ovarian syndrome. These women form cysts on their ovaries that may excrete androgen type hormones, which cause excessive hair growth. Your doctor can probably help you out if you suspect that this may be your problem.
If you want to say goodbye to your razor and harsh hair removal chemicals this summer, now is the time to act. You have nothing to lose except that unwanted hair!
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