Acne is a skin condition that involves the sebaceous glands at the base of the hair follicles. The glands naturally produce oil to lubricate the skin and hair. Sometimes, the oil glands are stimulated to make more sebum or oil. When there is too much of this oily liquid, the pores of the skin may become clogged. Bacteria can then get trapped inside the pores and multiply, and this can lead to acne formation. Acne commonly appear on the face, neck, chest, shoulders, and back.

What causes acne?

• genetics
• environmental factors such as humidity and pollution
• premenstrual cycle in females
• pregnancy
• stress
• some cosmetics or skin care products that are pore-clogging
• certain medications

What are treatments for acne?

How do acne scars form?

There are many types of lasers that are used for hair reduction and hair removal. Thus, it can be difficult to understand which type of laser would be best suited for you. You should consider the laser machine based on your skin type (colour), and how quickly you want to see results. Generally speaking, the more basic lasers are cheaper treatments which produce slower results. The more advanced laser treatments will result in  in quicker and more noticeable results.

The Ruby laser is the oldest type of hair removal laser but is now somewhat outdated. It can only be used on small areas and cannot be used on those with tanned or dark skin.

The Alexandrite laser has a slightly longer wavelength than the Ruby laser, which means it can be used on a wider range of skin tones, although it is still not suitable for use on darker skin types. The high laser repetition rate also means it can be more painful. For darker skin, the Nd:YAG Laser is more suitable to use. However, it also has weaker melanin absorption, which means it requires more treatments to see results. It is less effective on fine hair.

Today, one of the most modern and commonly used laser systems today is the Diode laser. It is suitable for fair to medium skin types, and can even be used on darker skin types.

How does the diode laser work?

The laser targets the pigment melanin located in the hair follicle. The pigment then absorbs the light and the energy is converted to heat, which in turn weakens the hair follicle. The hairs in the active growing phase are affected, and their damage leads to delayed hair regrowth. With the diode laser, multiple follicles are targeted at a time ,making it very effective on large body areas. The hairs will begin to fall out about a couple of weeks after treatment. The damaged hair follicles do not produce hair, and many of them are permanently destroyed. Some follicles will rebuild as part of the body’s natural healing process, and they will need to be treated again.

Compared to other laser systems, the Diode laser has a longer wavelength allowing for safer and deeper skin penetration. Treatment is quicker and more effective, as large areas of skin can be treated at any one time. Another benefit is that there is less risk of epidermis (skin) damage and therefore recovery after each treatment  is faster. Each laser treatment leaves you with less and less hair and you will gradually notice the difference after each treatment.

Best Ways to Get Rid of Unibrow Hair in Men

Eyebrows that connect in the middle, also known as unibrows, are just one of those features men do not want to have! This seemingly single eyebrow is formed when the edge of the two eyebrows meet above the bridge of the nose.  Although it is said that the unibrow has been prized by ancient cultures throughout history, most people nowadays find that unibrows are not very attractive on men. With the current trend in male grooming and with celebrities like David Beckham sporting perfectly shaped brows, more and more men are making an effort to keep their brows in place!

Getting rid of the unwanted unibrow hair can be tricky, as one may accidentally remove the brows as well, which could look rather strange! The method you choose will depend on the thickness of the hair, the time you have to maintain your brows, and the treatment you can afford or are willing to spend on.

One way of removing the unibrow is by plucking. Simply use your trusted tweezers (ideally a good brand like Tweezerman) to pull each unwanted hair by the root. This is a very effective way to get rid of the unibrow as one has full control of the specific hairs to take out. Although quite painful, it will keep your brow shape for at least a few weeks.

Alternatively, eyebrows can be threaded at a clinic, salon, or spa. Threading is an old method that uses cotton thread to remove unwanted hair by pulling the hair from the follicle (best left to an expert). Hair regrowth becomes more sparse and finer after regular threading.  Threading is probably just as painful as threading and you really should only have threading done by an experienced person.

If you would rather not pluck or thread your  unibrow, then you can als o consider for waxing. This is best done professionally. While waxing at home will definitely be less expensive than a salon or spa, removing a unibrow by waxing is a rather tricky procedure as one may accidentally remove the edge of the brows or remove too much. The downside is that after waxing, hairs may grow back about a couple of weeks later, requiring a repeat of the process.

For those who are not willing to spend much time on grooming those stray hairs, the method that gives the longest lasting results is laser hair removal. This method is best carried out by a professional at a clinic or spa. The laser focuses light into a narrow beam. This light penetrates the skin to disable the hair follicle without damaging the surrounding structures. Laser is meant to be a permanent solution and ultimately if you want to get rid of your unibrow, laser will save you time, money and convenience in the long run.

Ways to Remove Cheek Hair in Men

If you find yourself frustrated by excess facial hair, then you are not alone. It is estimated that a man will shave around 20,000 times in his lifetime. Furthermore, facial hair seems to grow in unusual places in some men, like the cheek area. Most men (and equally women) may find this quite unattractive, thus the quest for the most efficient way to remove facial cheek hair.

What are the ways to remove cheek hair in men?

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Nipple Hair in Men

Chest hair develops during the late stages of puberty and growth continues subsequently. Some men are very hairy, while others may not have chest hair at all. The pattern of growth also differs with each individual. Hair usually grows at the centre and sides of the chest, below the collarbone, and sometimes may grow at the periareolar area, which is simply called nipple hair.

How do you remove nipple hair?

While some hairy areas of the body can easily be dealt with by shaving, this may not be true for the nipple area. Plucking the hair out may also seem to be the simplest way to remove nipple hair, but this can lead to ingrown hairs– these are hairs that have curled back round and re-entered the skin, resulting in painful, inflamed skin with tiny bumps.

Since the nipple region is quite sensitive, hair removal methods need to be gentler. For nipple hair removal, professional laser is still the best way to go. With laser a highly concentrated light is beamed into a hair follicle. The concentrated heat damages the hair follicle to inhibit future hair growth in the area, making the results permanent.

Laser hair removal is a much safer alternative to home treatments like waxing, tweezing or shaving, since it can be directed at the hairs without damaging the surrounding area. Results are long-term, with some people seeing noticeably lesser hair with each session, and others having permanent hair loss. Another plus with laser hair removal is the speed of the procedure. The laser can target an area about an inch in diameter, treating several hairs every second.

Among the five main types of hair removal machines, the diode laser is proven to be the most effective. It can cover a larger area and has a fast repetition rate. Compared to other laser systems, the diode laser is made up of diodes or semiconductors. These are then put together to form the light source of the laser. Based on safety and efficiency, the diode laser is the best to use for nipple hair removal as it can be used even on darker skin and on coarse hair such as that found on the chest area.

Advantages of Diode Laser over Intense Pulsed Light

Diode lasers and Intense Pulse Light are methods for long term or permanent hair removal. While both are effective, many ask: is there a difference between IPL and diode laser?

IPL (Intense Pulse Light) is not a laser hair removal method although it does have similarities. IPS is similar to laser in that light energy is absorbed into target cells by colour (melanin). The light energy is then converted to heat energy which damages the target area. IPL delivers many wavelengths in each pulse of light instead of just one. It may be considered like a “shotgun” approach to hair removal. The broad wavelength range leads to the simultaneous emission of different wavelengths allowing the various chromophores (part of the molecule responsible for its colour) such as hemoglobin, water, and melanin to be targeted at the same time. With IPL or laser hair removal, melanin is the target chromophore. The hair follicles which are in the anagen phase are the most responsive to IPL since the hair shaft contains the largest amount of melanin. As IPS targets a broad area, it is very important to ensure the skin and hair colour are not the same in order to avoid burning the skin. It is for this reason that IPS is not recommended for use on those with dark hair and dark skin as the IPS would not be able to differentiate between the two, resulting in possible burning.

It should be noted that hair colour is another important factor in the efficacy of hair removal using IPL. Coarse and dark hair tend to respond better than lighter and finer hair, making IPL not ideal for the latter type of client.

A diode laser on the other hand, uses a light beam with a narrow spectrum. The lasers selectively damage the melanin in the hair follicles, resulting in the disruption of hair growth while leaving the surrounding tissue unharmed. Unlike IPL, Diode Laser has a deep penetration level and can target even the most coarse or stubborn hairs. It has superior melanin absorption, making it safe as a hair removal method for all skin and hair types and different body areas. An experienced technician can treat areas such as a man’s face (including cheek), ladies nipple area and other sensitive areas.

Dermatologists and hair removal specialists use lasers to remove unwanted facial and body hair safely and efficiently. Laser hair removal is among the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures. Those who are tired of having to shave, wax, or pluck regularly or simply do not have the time to devote to removing unwanted hair opt to have laser treatments.

The process works by using an intense beam of light directed at the hair follicles. The heat produced is absorbed by the pigment in the hair roots, which is called melanin pigment. The laser weakens and  causes damage to the hair follicle. Each treatment weakens the follicle, until the hair follicle can no longer sustain hair growth. Darker hair, which has a higher amount of melanin, absorbs more light. The more light that is absorbed, the more effective the hair removal treatment. Laser treatment is less effective on light hair since it has very little melanin to absorb the light.

As with any cosmetic procedure, there may be associated risks with laser hair removal. This includes the potential damage to the surrounding skin if not done properly. The other effects include skin irritation, mild pain, redness, discoloration, and swelling. Since laser is absorbed by melanin, there is a higher risk of damage on darker skinned individuals. The majority of cases where damage occurs is where laser hair removal performed by an unqualified or inexperienced technician.

The good news is that there are newer laser therapy options that offer more focused light, thus safer even for those with darker skin. The risks dramatically decrease when the treatment is done by a qualified laser hair removal specialist who has properly assessed your situation.