Do you suffer from stubbles, dark discolourations, sweaty downpours, red bumps and the embarrassing armpit lump? We ask the experts from the SW1 Clinic for their pit-perfecting tips to help you slip into your favourite sleeveless summer dress. (And no, unicorn-coloured armpit hair is not part of this sleeveless pursuit!)
Stay In The Clear
Bushy strands, prickly stubbles and bumpy ingrowns do not bode well for a sexy sleeveless summer.
“The right technique and a fresh blade are crucial to get a closer shave with less skin trauma and lower risk of red, inflamed razor bumps or ingrown hairs,” advises Dr Chua Han Boon from The SW1 Clinic. “Those with sensitive skin may want to avoid strong epilation creams which can cause irritations and consequent skin darkening.
Waxing is, of course, the other common de-fuzzing method. “This is best left in professional hands as we’ve seen bad skin reactions, especially with home waxing. Results last longer than shaving but there’s no hard data that it’ll always make the hair grow back thinner, contrary to popular belief.”
Laser Hair Removal gets to the ‘root’ of the problem by going disabling the hair follicles at base to keep you super-smooth, virtually fuzz-free and carefree on the long haul. Depending on the hairy situation, a series of 5 to 6 treatments are generally needed to reduce the density and thickness progressively since hair grows in cycles. Pesky ingrowns are eliminated as well. However, these treatments will not work on fair blonde or grey hairs as pigment in the hair shafts is targeted by the laser.
Get Rid Of Stains And Smells
Mercury is rising, along with the demands of your life. And you’re stopped in your tracks by embarrassing pit stains on your clothes and malodor as sweaty pits take an uncontrollable leak. “Sweating is our body’s way of cooling down naturally. But people with excessive sweatiness or hyperhidrosis have hyperactive sweat glands which over-react 4 to 5 times more to stimuli like heat, physical activity or emotions,” the doctor explains.
“Millions worldwide, both teenagers and adults, suffer from this socially disabling condition silently without realizing that there are new treatment options available,” says Dr Chua.
Botox Hyperhidrosis is a non-surgical FDA-approved treatment that has been widely used by doctors to control severe sweatiness in the underarms, palms and feet. Proven safe and effective even when antiperspirants, remedies and meditation have failed, each well-tolerated treatment will keep your underarms dry and spirits high for an average of 6 to 7 months without the need for any downtime.
Ultherapy Hyperhidrosis is a relatively new treatment that uses the Ultherapy treatment to permanently reduce the amount of perspiration from the underarms. For those who are not familiar with this FDA-cleared non-invasive face lifting treatment, Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound which induces a productive wound healing response within the deeper layers of the skin. In a small study, underarm sweating was reduced by 80% after 2 Ultherapy treatments were given 28 days apart. It is believed that that the ultrasound energy worked by heating and either destroying or disabling the sweat glands.
Lighten Up Darkened Pits
Repeated trauma (such as daily shaving or minor abrasions from scratchy materials), or chronic irritation (with deodorants, antiperspirants and sweat) often result in dark discoloration in the underarm. “Some of us produce excess pigment at the slightest injury, and the underarm skin is rather delicate and frequently takes a great deal of abuse,” says Dr Chua. “That makes the armpits surprisingly common victims of persistent hyperpigmentation.”
For more severe cases of pit pigmentation, the pico pigment laser will prove more effective, according to Dr Chua. Add a gentle chemical peel to exfoliate away dull dead skin that can trap more skin-irritating impurities, and speed up renewal of healthier and visibly brighter skin.
Dump The Lumps
These may actually be axillary or armpit breasts. “This cosmetically unsightly condition is extremely common, and it can affect shoulder movements and result in irritation from clothing in severe cases,” says Dr Tan Ying Chien, Consultant Plastic Surgeon from The SW1 Clinic. “Unfortunately, it is also under recognized, even though it is highly treatable.”
Resistant to deflation despite rigorous training, a source of embarrassment for even slim swans, and a limiting factor to clothes choices – these spare tyres call for more radical measures to eradicate.
“Minimally invasive Axillary Breast Reduction, using advanced liposuction techniques, comes with minimal discomfort when performed under local anaesthesia, and a much shorter recovery period as compared to traditional excision surgery.” Ladies, you will also be thrilled to learn that this procedure leaves no obvious telltale scars.