Fraxel® Chatswood, Sydney

We have a culture that views facial and body hair as unattractive and there is now a baffling array of hair removal alternatives that all claim to solve the problem for you. But what works, what doesn’t and how do you know if it is safe? Everyone knows about shaving, waxing and plucking but these are painful, tedious, repetitive and restrictive options often resulting in ingrown hairs, pigmented scarring and increased hair growth. In recent times there has been an explosion in the number of discount laser hair removal centres claiming to rid you of hair; pain free, forever and at an alarmingly discounted price. I get asked all the time whether these really work and are they safe? I always say, “Do your homework before you let anyone touch you with an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) or laser system.” We have become quite desensitised as to how potentially dangerous these hair removal systems are as they become more accessible. They can cause blisters, burns and scars and need to be operated by qualified, skilled staff. The first step is to research the equipment. Not all hair reduction systems are created equal. Some are excellent but the cheaper ones are too low-powered to effectively kill the follicles and only temporarily disable the hair allowing them to regenerate over time and continue to grow.  Look for clinics that use systems that are able to be individualised to you and your particular needs. So many systems out there are designed to be basic to use and require little or no training for staff. They are in essence, ‘point and shoot’ machines that only give a few very low setting options that may not be that effective. Good machines allow the operator to individualise the treatment based on your age, skin colour, hair colour, hair thickness and allow them to adjust the energy output.  Call the clinic to book your appointment or speak to a nurse.