Hair removal
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Hair removal key facts
Hair removal
Unwanted hair can affect how you look and feel about yourself. Luckily there are many ways to help you get that hair-free smooth skin. Shaving, threading, plucking, epilators and other more advanced treatments such as laser hair removal and electrolysis.
Here, we will look at some of the more popular hair removal methods, how effective they are and their potential side effects. Wherever you’re removing hair from, this guide will help you make the best choice for you.
Understanding hair growth
Hair growth begins under the skin in our hair follicles. It varies from person to person and is affected by our genetics, hormones, and overall state of health.
The two main types of hair on our bodies are
- Vellus hair: Soft, fine, short hair, found on the chest, back, and face
- Terminal hair: Coarse, dark, long hair, normally found on our scalps, underarms, and pubic area
Temporary hair removal methods
Shaving
Shaving is the most common method of hair removal. It uses a razor or electric shaver to cut the hair off at the skin’s surface and is effective for leg, arm, and facial hair. It is however, a temporary measure.
- Shaving is affordable and convenient, and suitable for large treatment areas
- Shaving can cause razor burns, ingrown hairs, stubble regrowth, and requires frequent maintenance
- You should use a sharp razor and moisturise the skin before shaving and shave in the direction of hair growth
Plucking
Plucking involves pulling each hair out individually using tweezers. This is a good way to remove hair from eyebrows or stray hairs on the face. This provides longer-lasting results as it removes the entire hair shaft.
- Plucking is not expensive, but is precise. It is particularly effective for shaping eyebrows
- This can be time-consuming and painful. Ingrown hairs and scarring may occur if not done correctly. It is not recommended for hair removal from larger areas
- Tweezers should be sterilised before and after use for good hygiene
Hair removal creams
Hair removal creams (depilatory creams), are applied to the skin. Hair removal creams contain chemicals that work by dissolving the hair shaft, allowing the hair to be wiped away.
- Hair removal creams are easy to use, affordable, and provide longer-lasting results compared to shaving. They can be used on various parts of the body
- Some individuals may experience skin irritation or allergic reactions to the chemicals in depilatory creams. It is important to follow the instructions carefully and perform a patch test before applying the cream to larger areas
- Read the product labels to ensure you are using the right cream for the intended area. Test a small area of skin first to check for any adverse reactions. Be cautious not to exceed the recommended application time to avoid skin burns
Waxing
Waxing provides longer-lasting results than shaving or creams, as it removes the hair from the follicle.
- Waxing leaves the skin smooth and hair-free for several weeks. It can be done at home or by a professional. Waxing can be used on various body parts, including the legs, bikini area, and upper lip. Use moisturisers or lotions after treatment to soothe your skin
- Waxing can be painful, especially for individuals with sensitive skin. Improper waxing technique can lead to skin burns, redness, and ingrown hairs. It is not recommended for individuals using certain acne medications or with certain skin conditions
- Ensure the hair is long enough for effective waxing (around ¼ inch). Apply the wax in the direction of hair growth and remove the strip quickly against the direction of hair growth. Consider seeking professional waxing services for sensitive areas or if you are new to waxing
Long-lasting hair removal methods
Laser hair removal
This method of hair removal is more long-term. It uses an intense pulsed light (IPL) to destroy hair follicles, disrupting their growth. The laser heats the pigment in hair follicles, preventing it from regrowing. Laser therapy is mainly used on areas such as the chest, arms, underarms, legs, face, and bikini line.
Treated areas can develop rashes. Using a cool ice pack on the skin will help reduce the redness and swelling, as well as giving pain relief. Avoid direct sunlight on the treated area after treatment as your skin will be more sensitive. Also, use sunscreen (SPF30) for at least 4 weeks after treatment on treated areas, regardless of the weather.
Laser hair removal can have side effects, including:
- Tenderness, pain, or discomfort
- Reddening or swelling of the skin
- Blistering, crusting, or bruising
- Change in colour of the skin, either lightening or darkening
- Scarring
- Burns from the laser
- Bacterial infections
The cost of laser treatment will depend on the area of the body you have treated and how many treatments you need.
- Laser hair removal offers long-lasting results, with many individuals experiencing permanent hair reduction over multiple sessions. It can be used on larger areas of the body and is suitable for most skin types. There’s no evidence, suggesting laser hair removal causes skin cancer
- Laser hair removal can be expensive and may require several sessions to achieve the desired results. Laser hair removal is safe, but some individuals may experience side effects such as temporary skin redness, swelling, or pain and discomfort after treatment that may last for some time. Laser therapy may not be suitable for pregnant women or those with certain skin types. Laser hair removal does not work as well on darker skin tones. It works better on those with pale skin and dark hair. It is not as effective on tanned skin or hair that has been bleached by the sun. You will need to let your tan fade before having laser treatment. Also, it is not guaranteed that laser hair removal will remove of all the hair
- Choose a reputable clinic or provider with experienced professionals. Follow the recommended treatment schedule and avoid sun exposure before and after laser sessions to minimize the risk of complications
You will need further treatments depending on you as an individual and the part of your body you are have treated. Removal of facial hair may need treating every 4 weeks, while the removal of body hair may need treating every 6 to 8 weeks.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis removes hair permanently. Needles are inserted into each hair follicle to deliver an electric current that destroys the root of the hair. There are two primary methods of electrolysis: galvanic and thermolytic. Galvanic electrolysis uses chemicals while thermolytic electrolysis uses heat.
- This is a permanent hair removal method and is suitable for all types of skin and hair colour
- Electrolysis may need multiple treatments making it time-consuming. It can be painful causing redness of the skin with scabbing and swelling
- You should look for an experienced dermatologist to perform the procedure
Considerations and additional tips
- Consider your skin type, hair colour, and preferences when choosing a hair removal method
- Perform a patch test on a small area of skin before trying any hair removal method to check for any adverse reactions
- Follow the instructions provided with each method of hair removal and consult a dermatologist if you have any concerns
- If you are taking medications that may affect hair growth, speak to your healthcare provider before starting any treatments
- Hair removal may not provide permanent results as pattern and regrowth rates can vary from person to person
- Exfoliate and moisturise to maintain smooth and healthy skin between sessions
- Speak to a dermatologist if you have persistent or excessive hair growth to rule out any underlying medical conditions
- Hair removal is a personal choice. Choose the method that best suits your needs
Conclusion
There are many different techniques available for the removal of hair. When deciding you should think about how effective it will be, the cost and potential side effects of the method you are planning to use. Remember to follow the correct instructions to achieve the best results.
Speak to a hair removal specialist for recommendations tailored to you and your needs. With the right advice and knowledge, you can enjoy smooth, hair-free skin.
Sources
Service Guide
Everything you need to know about Getting Treated Privately
What does the Get Treated Privately service do?
The Get Treated Privately service is a private prescribing service which is designed for adults aged 18 years and over, who are experiencing health issues and who would like to receive a fast-track assessment and if applicable, a treatment plan from a qualified prescribing clinician. Treatments are dispensed and delivered to your home or workplace from our regulated online pharmacy.
Is this a safe service?
Yes. Our formulary of medications prescribed and conditions treated are controlled, governed, and continuously risk-assessed by our Medical Director, Dr. Aseel Hamoud. Unlike other prescribing services which operate using faceless questionnaires, our service is conducted through remote video consultations, also known as synchronous consultations. This builds patient safety and prescribing appropriateness into our service, ensuring our prescribing clinicians can be satisfied with who and what they are treating. There is no guarantee of supply of medications, and any prescriptions supplied are at the sole discretion of our clinician prescriber. There is no charge for the consultation.
What is a prescribing clinician and is it safe for me to use them on the NowPatient platform?
Our prescribing clinicians are board-certified pharmacists, nurses, or doctors who can also prescribe any medicine for any medical condition, subject to accepted accreditation and good clinical practice. They are all registered with their respective regulatory bodies. For example, a pharmacist independent prescriber is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Each prescribing clinician undergoes an extensive background check including a disclosure and barring service check (DBS). In addition, they undergo a rigorous license verification process. When you book an appointment with our prescribing clinicians you will see their full name, license number, and any specialized credentials they have.
Is the service available worldwide?
Yes, the Get Treated Privately service is available worldwide.
Do I need to pay for this service?
Yes. This is a private service. You do not need to pay for the consultation. You only pay for the cost of the medication you are prescribed.
How do I book a consultation?
Once you have logged into your account, you will need to navigate to the Get Treated Privately quick action widget which is located at the bottom of your dashboard. You can then select one of the following actions – ‘Search Treatments’ or ‘Search Conditions’.
Depending on the search type, you will be taken to a consultation booking screen. You will then need to select a date and time that is convenient for you, along with the preferred language of the prescribing clinician you wish to choose. You will then see a list of all available clinicians. From this list, you can filter clinicians by gender and then select the clinician you would like to confirm for your booking.
Once you have approved this, you will see a summary of the appointment including preliminary information about the consultation. At this point, you will also be able to add a reminder to your calendar. Always ensure your account health profile is up to date before any consultation. This ensures that our clinicians have the most up-to-date information about your current health status and anything that may influence their prescribing decisions. You will receive a push notification and email reminding you of your consultation, 30 minutes before it is due to start.
You can ‘star’ the Get Treated Privately quick action widget to have it display in the ‘My Favourite Widgets’ section of your dashboard, for ease of future booking or checking active or past orders.
What happens during the remote video consultation?
During the consultation, the clinician will ask you a series of questions that will allow the clinician to diagnose your health condition and consider possible treatment options. At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide if a treatment plan is a safe and appropriate option for you.
If it is, the clinician will discuss the various treatment options that may be available, so that you can jointly agree on the option that is most suited to you. Once you have jointly agreed on a treatment plan, the clinician will issue a prescription order which will be available in your ‘shopping cart’ at the end of the consultation.
Also, with your consent, the clinician may wish to inform your GP of the treatment that was prescribed. We recommend that you agree to this since your GP is responsible for your overall care and they should have a record of this consultation and medication prescribed. In addition, our clinician may take the opportunity to advise you on your overall health including advice on healthy living or stop smoking.
What happens at the end of the consultation?
At the end of the consultation, you will receive a notification which will summarise the outcome. It will also advise if any referrals were made to your GP, along with any other advice that was given to you by the clinician.
If a GP referral letter was issued, you will be able to view a copy of this in the ‘My Documents’ section of your dashboard.
If you were prescribed a treatment plan, it will now be available in your shopping cart. When you go to your shopping cart, you will be able to checkout and make payment. Once the checkout is complete, your prescription order will be sent to our regulated online pharmacy for processing.
What if the prescriber does not prescribe what I want?
We operate a safe and effective service. This means that our prescribing clinicians always exercise their clinical judgment when prescribing. Unfortunately, we do not operate a service where you can demand a certain medication. If you are not prescribed anything, then you will not be charged.
Will I get status updates for my order?
Yes. When you place an order with NowPatient, we will keep you fully updated with the status of your order. Every time the status of your order changes, you will be notified immediately. These notifications will appear in your ‘My Notifications’ section on your dashboard. You can click the notification and it will take you to your active orders screen which will give you a timeline overview of the progress of your order. This can also be accessed using the ‘My Orders’ quick action widget which is on your dashboard. Here, you can access active and past orders.
How will my order be delivered?
All orders are shipped in discreet and unmarked packaging. This means it is suitable for delivery wherever you require (home, work, or a neighbour). For thermo-sensitive orders (e.g. Insulin or weight loss injections) we use cold chain-validated packaging. Your parcel will normally receive an estimated delivery window from the courier on the day of delivery.
For your protection and safety, your first order can only be delivered to the address that is registered with NowPatient. Future orders can be delivered to any other address, for example, your workplace.
Do you ship cold-chain or temperature sensitive products?
Yes. We use a specialist courier service for all thermo-sensitive deliveries. This is to ensure that cold chain integrity is always maintained and thus the product quality, safety and efficacy.
Learn more about how we handle the delivery of temperature sensitive products.
Where do you deliver?
We currently deliver to all postcodes/zipcodes worldwide. Some postcodes in rural areas may have a slightly longer delivery time.
When will my order arrive?
- UK – Royal Mail Tracked 24 & Signed for Delivery – Next day delivery
- Europe – Royal Mail Tracked – Typical delivery of 3-5 working days
- Worldwide – Royal Mail – Typical delivery of 5-7 working days. If a tracked option is available for your country via Royal Mail, this service will be applied.
What should I do if my order has not arrived?
Delivery is normally made promptly after your dispatch notification is received. You can check the tracking details of your order in the ‘My Notifications’ section of your dashboard, at any point after dispatch.
Unfortunately, packages can sometimes get lost in the delivery system, if after 10 days you have not received your delivery, please contact us and we will do all we can to resolve the problem.
Can you prescribe GLP-1 weight loss injections?
Yes. However, with GLP-1 weight loss medications, the license requires that there are support resources put in place as part of the plan including coaching for a healthy lifestyle, exercise, and diet. Our clinicians will discuss this with you, if you are prescribed this type of treatment.
You can learn more on our Weight Loss Programs feature page.
About Telehealth
Everything you need to know about video consultations
Are remote video consultations right for me?
How do I know if the remote video consultation service is safe?
Do I need to verify my identity during the remote video consultation?
Can I have a chaperone (carer, friend, family member) join a remote video consultation?
How can I be sure that you are handling and protecting my data securely?
How is my data stored?
Are my consultations confidential?
Can I select which clinician I have my consultation with?
Will my doctor be informed of any consultations I have through the app?
Do remote video consultations save money for health systems?
Are remote video consultations safer than online questionnaires?
What quality of care can I expect to receive from a remote video consultation?
Why am I being asked to provide my Blood Pressure reading?
If I don’t have a Blood Pressure monitor, how can I provide my readings?
Is the remote blood pressure monitor safe and medically accurate?
How does the remote blood pressure monitor actually work?
When and how is my remote blood pressure reading taken?
What devices does the remote Blood Pressure monitor work on?
Why do my results keep failing when using the remote blood pressure monitor service?
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WHY WE BUILT NOWPATIENT
We are committed to helping everyone, everywhere live healthier lives
The NowPatient virtual care platform provides you with access to trusted health information, affordable treatments, management of chronic health conditions and continuous monitoring for health risks. NowPatient can be accessed by downloading the App or using your web browser.
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Your Questions Answered
For your peace of mind, we can answer your questions quickly
What does NowPatient do?
NowPatient is an online pharmacy & telehealth service that is available in the US and UK. Our service is FREE and packed with useful features that can help you save money on the cost of your medications, access virtual treatments, and provide tools that can help improve your overall health.
Get started today and benefit from medication reminders, Get Treated Privately, NHS online pharmacy, GP appointment booking, Rx savings card, Drug Coupons, US drug savings programs, health conditions information, genetic testing, home test kits, BMI Risks, Type 2 Diabetes Risks, pollen meter, air quality monitor, and lots more!
Our service is operated by experienced medical professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom. You can view the online services that we provide by clicking Features.
UK users can safely and securely buy medicines online that treat a wide range of medical conditions. UK customers can also order NHS prescriptions online with the benefit of free tracked delivery.
US customers, regardless of insurance coverage, can enjoy huge savings on prescription medications using our various drug savings programs including drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.
Where is NowPatient located?
NowPatient has offices in the United Kingdom and United States.
In the UK, we are located at:
NowPatient
28 Chipstead Valley Road
Coulsdon
Surrey
CR52RA
In the US, we are located at:
NowPatient
8911 North Capital of Texas Highway
Suite 4200 #1263
78759
Austin, TX
How can I contact NowPatient?
To contact NowPatient, please use the contact form available on the Contact Us page.
Alternatively, if you need to speak to us, you can reach us on the following numbers:
UK telephone number – 020 388 51 500
US telephone number – 1-866-967-1977
Who owns NowPatient?
NowPatient is owned and operated by Infohealth Ltd, a licensed online pharmacy with services spanning the UK, US and Rest of the World. Infohealth Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 04004930 and our registered office is at Lynwood House, 373 – 375 Station Road, Harrow, England, HA1 2AW.
Our website is www.nowpatient.com. Our App is called “NowPatient” and can be downloaded from the App Store (for Apple devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).
Can you tell me more about your NHS online pharmacy?
NowPatient’s Pharmaceutical services in the UK are provided by Infohealth Limited trading as ‘Infohealth Pharmacy’.
Our dispensing pharmacy is regulated and authorized for internet sales by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), registration number 1036487. You can view our license credentials on the General Pharmaceutical Council website. Our superintendent pharmacist who is responsible for the safe and effective oversight of medicines supplies is Mr Amish Patel (Registration Number 2042705).
Medicines are not ordinary items of commerce. All medicines or healthcare product sales are made under the supervision of a registered pharmacist who is licensed by the GPhC. At all times, we endeavour to provide a professional and transparent service whose primary goal is to ensure that the best interests of the patient are served.
How do I make a complaint?
From time to time, we accept that our service levels may not be up to your expectations. NowPatient welcomes concerns, compliments and complaints as valuable feedback that will help us learn from your experiences and make improvements. Feedback can be provided via our clear and transparent Complaints Procedures.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s prescribing services for treatments offered?
Our prescribing services are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). We provide the following regulated activity:
• treatment of disease, disorder, or injury
• transport services, triage, and medical advice are provided remotely
• caring for adults over 65 years old
• caring for adults under 65 years old
NowPatient prescribing services are run by Infohealth Limited. The Clinical Safety Officer and nominated individual is Mr Navin Khosla.
Can you tell me more about NowPatient’s US services?
Our head of US services is Dr. Jamie Winn.
You can lower the cost of your prescription medications using our various savings programs which include drug coupons, savings card and manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs.
We do not provide any prescribing services or dispensing services in the United States.
Is NowPatient legit and can I trust information from NowPatient?
Yes. NowPatient provides trustworthy and accessible clinical, health education and prescription services. We are also trusted by the NHS to deliver clinical and NHS repeat prescription dispensing across the whole of England. In the United States, we work with over 65,000 pharmacies to deliver considerable costs savings for our users.
NowPatient is operated by experienced licensed medical professionals in the United Kingdom and United States. Our Medical Team can be found here.
Our service is trusted by thousands of patients worldwide. You can read their reviews on our Trustpilot:
What are NowPatient’s opening hours?
Our office hours are:
UK – Monday-Friday 9am-6pm GMT
US – Monday-Friday 8am-5pm EST
Please note that we are closed at weekends.
In the event of a medical life-threatening emergency please call:
UK – 999
US – 911
In the event of a medical emergency which is not life-threatening please call:
UK – 111