Editing Hair removal (section)

==Forms of hair removal and methods==
* '''Depilation''' is the removal of the part of the hair above the surface of the skin. The most common form of depilation is [[shaving]] or [[Cutting|trimming]]. Another option is the use of [[chemical depilatory|chemical depilatories]], which work by breaking the [[disulfide bond]]s that link the [[protein]] chains that give hair its strength.
* '''Epilation''' is the removal of the entire hair, including the part below the skin. Methods include [[waxing]], [[Sugaring (epilation)|sugaring]], [[epilator]]s, [[laser hair removal|lasers]], [[Threading (epilation)|threading]], [[intense pulsed light]] or [[electrology]]. Hair is also sometimes removed by [[plucking (hair removal)|plucking]] with [[tweezers]].

===Depilation methods===
"Depilation", or temporary removal of hair to the level of the skin, lasts several hours to several days and can be achieved by
* [[Shaving]] or [[wikt:trim#English|trimming]] (manually or with electric shavers which can be used on pubic hair or body hair)
* [[Chemical depilatory|Depilatories]] (creams or "shaving powders" which chemically dissolve hair)
* Friction (rough surfaces used to [[wikt:buff#Verb|buff]] away hair)

===Epilation methods===
"Epilation", or removal of the entire hair from the root, lasts several days to several weeks and may be achieved by
* [[Plucking (hair removal)|Tweezing]] (hairs are tweezed, or [[Plucking (hair removal)|pulled out]], with [[tweezers]] or with fingers)
* [[Waxing]] (a hot or cold layer is applied and then removed with porous strips)
* [[Sugaring (epilation)|Sugaring]] (hair is removed by applying a sticky paste to the skin in the direction of hair growth and then peeling off with a porous strip)<br />[[File:Threading in Wenchang.ogv|thumbnail|Threading in [[Wenchang]], Hainan, China]]
* [[Threading (epilation)|Threading]] (also called ''fatlah'' or ''khite'' in [[Arabic]], or ''band'' in [[Persian Language|Persian]]) in which a twisted thread catches hairs as it is rolled across the skin
* [[Epilator]]s (mechanical devices that rapidly grasp hairs and pull them out).
* [[Drug]]s that directly attack hair growth or inhibit the development of new hair cells. Hair growth will become less and less until it finally stops; normal depilation/epilation will be performed until that time. Hair growth will return to normal if use of product is discontinued.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eflornithine Monohydrate Chloride (Eflornithine 11.5% cream)|url=http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?condition=Hair%20and%20scalp%20conditions&medicine=Eflornithine%20Monohydrate%20Chloride&preparationEflornithine%2011.5%%20cream|work=nhs.uk|publisher=NHS|access-date=23 March 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419080955/http://www.nhs.uk/medicine-guides/pages/MedicineOverview.aspx?condition=Hair%20and%20scalp%20conditions&medicine=eflornithine%20monohydrate%20chloride&preparationEflornithine%2011.5%25%20cream|archive-date=19 April 2014}}</ref> Products include the following:
** The [[pharmaceutical drug]] [[eflornithine hydrochloride]] (with the trade names Vaniqa and Follinil) inhibits the [[enzyme]] [[ornithine decarboxylase]], preventing new hair cells from producing [[putrescine]] for stabilizing their DNA.
** [[Antiandrogen]]s, including [[spironolactone]], [[cyproterone acetate]], [[flutamide]], [[bicalutamide]], and [[finasteride]], can be used to reduce or eliminate unwanted body hair, such as in the treatment of [[hirsutism]].<ref name="Becker2001">{{cite book| vauthors = Becker KL |title=Principles and Practice of Endocrinology and Metabolism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVfzRvaucq8C&pg=PA1004|year=2001|publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins|isbn=978-0-7817-1750-2|pages=1004–1005}}</ref><ref name="Niewoehner2004">{{cite book| vauthors = Niewoehner CB |title=Endocrine Pathophysiology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6gezJTHaAVMC&pg=PA290|year=2004|publisher=Hayes Barton Press|isbn=978-1-59377-174-4|pages=290–}}</ref><ref name="FalconeHurd2013">{{cite book| vauthors = Falcone T, Hurd WW |title=Clinical Reproductive Medicine and Surgery: A Practical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TAYnR1b8jRkC&pg=PA120|date=22 May 2013|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4614-6837-0|pages=120–}}</ref><ref name="pmid24455796">{{cite journal | vauthors = Erem C | title = Update on idiopathic hirsutism: diagnosis and treatment | journal = Acta Clinica Belgica | volume = 68 | issue = 4 | pages = 268–274 | year = 2013 | pmid = 24455796 | doi = 10.2143/ACB.3267 | s2cid = 39120534 }}</ref> Although effective for reducing body hair, antiandrogens have little effect on facial hair.<ref name="Heath2006">{{cite book | vauthors = Heath RA |title=The Praeger Handbook of Transsexuality: Changing Gender to Match Mindset|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YQldwi3LVYoC&pg=PA152|date=1 January 2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-275-99176-0|pages=152–}}</ref> However, slight effectiveness may be observed, such as some reduction in density/coverage and slower growth.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} Antiandrogens will also prevent further development of facial hair, despite only minimally affecting that which is already there. With the exception of [[5α-reductase inhibitor]]s such as finasteride and [[dutasteride]],<ref name="Becker2001" /><ref name="Blume-PeytaviWhiting2008">{{cite book| vauthors = Blume-Peytavi U, Whiting DA, Trüeb RM |title=Hair Growth and Disorders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pHrX2-huQCoC&pg=PA36|date=26 June 2008|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-3-540-46911-7|pages=36–}}</ref> antiandrogens are [[contraindication|contraindicated]] in men due to the risk of [[Feminization (biology)|feminizing]] [[side effect]]s such as [[gynecomastia]] as well as other [[adverse reaction]]s (e.g., [[infertility]]), and are generally only used in women for cosmetic/hair-reduction purposes.<ref name="ShalitaRosso2011">{{cite book| vauthors = Shalita AR, Del Rosso JQ, Webster G |title=Acne Vulgaris|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CIPOBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA200|date=21 March 2011|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-61631-009-7|pages=200–}}</ref>

===Permanent hair removal===
[[Electrology]] has been practiced in the United States since 1875.<ref name="michel">Michel CE. Trichiasis and distichiasis; with an improved method for radical treatment.  ''St. Louis Clinical Record'', 1875 Oct; 2:145-148</ref> It is approved by the [[Food and Drug Administration|FDA]]. This technique permanently destroys germ cells{{citation needed|date=October 2015}} responsible for hair growth by way of the insertion of a fine probe into the hair follicle and the application of a current adjusted to each hair type and treatment area.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} Electrology is the only permanent hair removal method recognized by the FDA.<ref>{{cite web|title=Removing hair safely|url=https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm048995.htm|publisher=United States Food and Drug Administration|access-date=August 15, 2011}}</ref>

===Permanent hair reduction===
* [[Laser hair removal]] (lasers and laser diodes): Laser hair removal technology became widespread in the US and many other countries from the 1990s onwards. It has been approved in the United States by the FDA since 1997. With this technology, light is directed at the hair and is absorbed by dark pigment, resulting in the destruction of the hair follicle. This hair removal method sometimes becomes permanent after several sessions. The number of sessions needed depends upon the amount and type of hair being removed. 
* [[Intense pulsed light]] (IPL) This technology is becoming more common for at-home devices, many of which are advertised as "laser hair removal" but actually use IPL technology.
* [[Diode]] epilation (high energy [[LED]]s but not [[laser diode]]s)