HEALTH by Sarah Stacey

Q My daughter has dark facial hair on her upper lip and sideburn area, which has made her anxious and withdrawn. She is 19. Is there an effective treatment? A Facial hair can be very distressing. It may be a symptom of a hormone imbalance so your daughter should consult her GP. Temporary solutions include depilatory creams, bleaches, waxing and threading, but the right laser treatment can tackle excess hair long-term. Consultant dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe (drnicklowe. com) recommends two types of laser, depending on skin colour. The Nd:Yag is safer for olive or tanned skin while the Alexandrite laser is suitable for lighter skin. Both work well on dark hair.

Targeted laser treatment can provide long-term reduction in the majority of cases. According to the journal Dermatologic Surgery, a minimum of three treatments with the Alexandrite laser gives an average of 74 per cent permanent hair reduction. ‘Patients will get greater reduction after more sessions,’ says Dr Lowe. Count on at least six treatments at six-week intervals. You can extend the time between sessions with Vaniqa, a prescription cream that reduces hair growth from the follicles.

Beauty salons may recommend intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment but Dr Lowe counsels against this because it only gives temporary reduction of hair growth Also, there is a greater risk of burning, blistering and pigment disturbance. With the Nd:Yag and Alexandrite lasers there is little risk of these side effects and patients will only need to use routine sun protection.