Hair today and gone tomorrow treatments

Hair or varicose veins should be removed by an experienced physician.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Whether you're planning a spring break or just getting ready to uncover once the weather gets warm, the time to start thinking about beauty is now!
We're all born with hair from head to toe, whether the peach-fuzz variety or thicker, darker strands. But if you find yourself in a hairy situation on your face, legs, under your armpits or beyond, there are medically based treatments to take you from furry to fuzz-free.
The solution is to seek laser and IPL hair removal.
An advantage of laser therapy is that it can treat any area of the body, including the face, lower back, arms, legs and bikini area. But that advantage can also turn into a disadvantage, one you can avoid if a dermatologist or plastic surgeon administers the laser. Because of an increase in consumer reports of burns, discoloration, scarring and other unsatisfactory results, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery has recommended that laser hair removal be performed by an experienced physician only.
Advance planning
Before baring your arms and legs -- or donning that bikini -- devise a plan: Typically, you'll need four to 10 treatments, depending on your hair type (darker, coarser hair requires fewer treatments), on the area being treated and on the specific device being used. Treatments are every four to six weeks. A successful course of treatment removes about 90 percent of hairs from the treated area. A touch-up is needed once every few years or sooner to take care of the remaining 10 percent. And any hairs that grow back are usually thinner and finer -- that is, less noticeable.
In the month before treatment, don't get a tan. Don't tweeze or wax or use electrolysis -- hair has to be in the follicle for the laser to have a target. You can shave the day before; hair doesn't have to be grown out for the laser to work. And don't plan your treatment the day before heading to the beach: After the procedure, sun exposure to the treated area is a no-no and sun block is a yes-yes.
The procedure itself is not painless -- it feels like the snap of a rubber band -- although different devices produce varying levels of discomfort. Treatments can last from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the size of the treated area. Cost: About $1,500 for a full-leg treatment series
Springtime blues
If the veins on your legs have you feeling blue, consider erasing them -- permanently. Sclerotherapy and laser treatment can ameliorate nearly everything from spider veins to benign varicose veins (those that don't pose a health risk).
Some leg veins can be more than a cosmetic issue. Abnormally swollen or enlarged blood vessels can lead to pain in the legs as well as to health conditions such as phlebitis (inflammation of the vein), thrombosis (clots in the vein) and venous ulcers (open sores due to poor circulation and fluid retention).
For these reasons, consulting with a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, vascular surgeon or radiologist with added certification in venous treatment is essential. Even with benign veins, plan ahead: The results of treatment are not instantaneous. Although permanent, treatment does not prevent new veins from forming.
Sclerotherapy
Injecting a sclerosing solution directly into a spider or varicose vein can make veins less prominent and visible. A laser uses targeted light to collapse and seal off the blood supply of visible veins. Both are outpatient, no-anesthesia procedures requiring no recovery time and just 24 hours off from moderate exercise.
Following treatment you may need to wear support hose or a compression wrap for two days to two weeks. Three to four monthly treatments may be required to completely erase visible veins, depending on the size of the area. The average cost is $350 per session, depending on the size of the area treated. With sclerotherapy, there is a risk of forming blood clots at the injection site; with laser treatment you may develop bruising or scarring. Both treatments have a potential for developing pigmentation changes