What is the best way to remove unwanted hair?

The pursuit of eliminating unwanted facial and body hair is a challenge for desi skin.  Dark hair and brown skin poses a unique set of challenges.  The most important factors in selecting the best means of hair removal are as follows:

1. Longevity (hopefully permanent) removal of hair
2. Ease of removal (painless, limited number of sessions)
3. No side effects of scarring
4. Price

Below is a brief summary of these four factors.

Threading
This is the least expensive and perhaps one of the easiest means of removal.

1. Longevity:  Threading is only a temporary form of hair removal. Hair typically grows back within 1-3 weeks
2. Ease of removal:  Can be painful. Usually threading is limited to small areas such as upper lip, or eyebrows
3. Side effects:  minimal 
4. Price:  inexpensive 

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Waxing
Similar to threading

1.  Durability:  Similar to threading in that hair typically grows back 1-3 weeks
2. Ease of removal: Typically waxing is less painful than threading and can be done on larger areas (ie leg, back, etc)
3. Side effects:  Minimal although small chance of discoloration/irritation. Unfortunately, waxing may lead to ingrown hairs that may then scar in desi skin.
4. Price:  inexpensive 

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Electrolysis

A permanent means of hair removal but has fallen out of vogue with newer laser treatments that equal permanent nature of hair removal without the large time commitment.

1.  Durability:  US FDA approved as a permanent means of hair reduction
2. Ease of removal:   Painful.  Needle placed into individual follicles.  Requires multiple sessions.  Very time consuming.
3. Side effects:   very safe, there is a small risk of discoloration and scarring if not done properly.  If you opt for electrolysis, make sure your technician is a board certified electrologist.
4. Price:  moderately expensive (from $15 to $100 a treatment) 

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Laser

There are multiple types of lasers. In our next blog we will discuss which laser is best for desi skin tones – stay tuned! 

1. Durability:  if done properly laser can reduce hair growth permanently by 80- 95% 
2. Ease of removal: Quick and relatively painless if done properly. Your dermatologist may use numbing cream or cold air to help minimize pain.
3. Side effects:  If done by an experienced dermatologist side effects should be minimal. However, laser in desi skin is tricky. If not done properly there are many risks of laser- burns, discoloration, and scarring to name a few. 
4. Price: depending on area, can be between $100 (lip) to $400 (back) a session. If done properly, it should only take 4-6 treatments to achieve permanent hair reduction. Thus, laser and electrolysis eventually end up costing the same. 

Meet Dr. Mohiba Khan Tareen

Dr. Tareen is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan, where she was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.  She continued her postgraduate studies at the University, where she earned her medical degree and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.  In her senior year of medical school, she received two different and distinct honors.  The Michigan Association of Physicians from India (MAPI) awarded her work with an academic scholarship and the American Medical Women’s Association awarded her as one of the five top female graduates in her class.

Dr. Tareen completed her dermatology residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, New York.  During this time, she also lectured extensively and has had her work published in the medical literature.  Dr. Tareen is currently a clinical instructor in Dermatology at Columbia where she actively teaches the dermatology residents.

Dr Tareen completed a Cosmetic and Laser Fellowship where she specialized in advanced aesthetic techniques. She is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the Women’s Dermatologic Society.

In her free time, Dr Tareen enjoys spending time with her son.  She and her husband, also a physician, reside in New York City.