Blog with Dr. Irwin

Hair Removal

Can Tumeric Powder Remove Hair?

Posted in Hair Removal, Hair, 2011 on Aug 18, 2011 | Permalink

I'm 19 year girl my doctor advised me to use acne-star soap to reduce pimples. After using that I had small dark hairs in my upper lip. My family advised me to rub it off with turmeric powder and now the hair is gone but I notice dark stains. What should I do to get rid off it?

Wow - that’s one I’ve never heard - about rubbing tumeric powder on the skin to remove hair. I love tumeric to cook with but I really wouldn’t advise rubbing it on your skin because it... more

What to do about the darkening caused by tweezing in african american skin?

Posted in Pigment problems, Hair Removal, Hair, African american skin, 2011 on Jul 29, 2011 | Permalink

Not sure what to use..I have been removing hair from chin by tweezing I am african american and this has caused hyperpigmentation so that the area is extremely dark and very noticeable. I have been on the website looking at bleaching and lightening products but sort of wary because there are so many and my skin does tend to breakout. what can i use to bring that part of my face back to the same color as the rest of my face or should i see a dermatologist.

I think a lot of women have this problem. In lighter skin types, it shows up as reddish discoloration around the hair follicles and, in darker skin types, more dark brown. It's caused by... more

Is there a difference between prescription "bleaching" creams?

Posted in Melasma, Hair Removal, Hair, Brown Spots, 2011 on Mar 31, 2011 | Permalink

Dr I, What do you think about Epiquin micro. I try Tri_luma was thinking aobut switching. I use Renova at night, but does it help what brown spots that well?...I also like to try Vaniqa cream for unwanted facial hair, Your thought. ty

The Triluma is very hard to find right now. We are having the equivalent specially compounded for our patients when we need it. The Epiquin micro is excellent. It doesn't have the mild... more

What is the best way to permanently remove facial hair, especially along the lip line?

Posted in Hair Removal, Hair, 2011 on Mar 02, 2011 | Permalink

What is the best way to permanently remove facial hair, especially along the lip line? I'm menopausal and new facial hair is very annoying. Suzanne

The answer to this depends on your skin type (color) and the color of the hair. If your skin is darker, look for someone who does a lot of hair removal and has a YAG based hair removal... more

Problems with hair removal and brown spots with light olive skin.

Posted in Sun Protection, Pigment problems, Melasma, Hair Removal, Hair, Brown Spots, 2010 on Oct 22, 2010 | Permalink

Dr Irwin, Thanks for sharing your expertise! My qs is about hair removal and lentigoes. Which specific laser do you recommend for facial hair removal for type 2/type 3 skin? (light olive with dark hair)? What is your opinion on LightSheer v/s Alexandrite v/s ELOS (by Syneron)? I have had 7 treatments of ELOS but the hair still comes back (though not any more within the 6 week interval, more like 12 weeks). Is it true a traditional laser will get faster results than ELOS? The clinic also used ELOS on another setting on my lentigoes but after 2 x crusting and improvement, it didnt reduce the pigment any further. Of course i use sunblock daily (la roche posay meroxyl sx 50+ and clinique spf 15 powder on top of that - based on your recommendation for layering- thank you!), but despite this, this summer the spots all came back, with vengeance- there is now more general melasma under the eye area on both cheeks which looks like it will become one giant patch. I'm 42, and don't take any medication or hormones.

In my opinion, the Elos Syneron system is not the best for hair removal. Best choices for you with light olive skin would be the LightSheer or any of the Nd:Yag based systems. If the hair... more

What can I do about problems with irritation from tretinoin?

Posted in Pigment problems, Hair Removal, Hair, Finding a Good Doctor, 2010 on Jun 01, 2010 | Permalink

I was in India for a vacation till end of march and two weeks later went to a hair removing laser clinic, and started developing red patches on my skin and continued applying tretinoin on top of that, then the Dr gave me desonide to apply for a week and started on tretinoin again, my skin started peeling (more irritation, could see some pink skin underneath), then stopped tretinoin, how long can i stay without it, i have been on it for 7 years and it was going very well (0.05%). Can i ever go back to it?

I think I have this straight. You were using the tretinoin without problems until the India vacation, the laser hair removal (assuming on the face?), and then the desonide.

It takes the... more

Is it ok to do laser hair removal during a period?

Posted in Lasers, Hair Removal, Hair on Apr 12, 2010 | Permalink

------------------------------------------------------------- is it good to have a laser hair removal (bikini) during my periods? Thank you for your time :)

It really doesn't make any difference where you are in your menstrual cycle. If you take ibuprofen though for your period, you'll be a bit more likely to get a bruise. Dr.... more

Which hair removal laser to buy????

Posted in Hair Removal, Hair on Mar 02, 2010 | Permalink

hello,i'm dr.olga from ukraine and living in jordan,i'm planing to open beauty clinic and i need hair remuval machine,what the better to bring diod lazer(lightsheer)or ipl,so i can do hair mremuval and also some skin procedureplease i'm so confuse,please i need your advise

Dr. Olga - I have to confess, I'm a little worried that you are planning to open a clinic to treat patients in Jordan and don't know the answers to these questions. Could you consider... more

Latisse - does it really work? And, laser hair removal.

Posted in Latisse, Hair Removal, Hair, Eyelashes and Eyebrows on Aug 31, 2009 | Permalink

I was wondering if latesse really works for eyelashes. There website gave me yours. I\'m very interested in this product if it works. I\'m also interested in hair removal. Hope to hear from you soon.

This seems to be the Latisse week! Yes, it does really work. It's also safe as long you have healthy eyes - as in no glaucoma, infections, etc. If you're not sure about your eye health,... more

Flat Warts on the Legs

Posted in Hair Removal, Hair on May 01, 2009 | Permalink

I have a few flat warts on my legs and am using retin-A to treat them. I hate the mess with waxing (and my skin is too sensitive for Nair) but have been told not to shave with with a regular razor or electric. I am considering an epilator. Are epimators ok to use or would they fall in the same category as an electric razor? I don't care to ask my male dermatologist who told me to "go hairy" when the Nair didn't work.

In general, there are a number of different options for flat warts on the legs. Best, but most expensive, is laser hair removal and, with the right type of laser, all skin types can be... more

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