My Visit to LaEstetica International

I went to LaEstetica International (Ortigas Branch) for my first IPL-underarm laser hair removal 2 weeks ago. I asked a dear friend to call up the clinic for my appointment.  Because of some errands I had to make that day, I was 30 minutes late on schedule. I wasn't able to meet Dr. Almond Derla but the attendants were very accommodating. The clinic seemed to have a lot of customers that day but I did not mind waiting for 10 minutes as I read the magazine I grabbed from the clinic’s rack.

I know I asked the name of the lady who assisted me but I am just no good with names. Anyway, as I lay down the treatment bed, the staff asked me if I applied deodorant or any cream (like whitening cream) on my underarms.  Since I applied deodorant, the staff cleaned my underarms first with cleanser before shaving my underarm hairs with epilator.   

The treatment was just a few minutes really. After applying gel on my armpit, she used the IPL machine (it’s like a scan gun that you see in supermarket   cashier counters), clicked it a few times on each of my underarms and that’s it. I was told not to use deodorant until the next morning and was not allowed to wet the treated areas until the next day. In case I have to remove my underarm hairs, waxing is not advised but she said I could shave instead. Whitening creams can be applied after two days.

The treatment was short and tingly. No, it did not hurt but I felt the small electric currents on my skin every time the IPL gadget clicked.  My armpit hairs usually grow back the following day after shaving but after my first IPL session, I noticed slow hair growth. My armpit hairs became visible after a week. They are in fact thinner and the hair color is lighter. I can actually count the hairs unlike before. Because I really want to see IPL’s effect, I did not shave my armpit hairs for 10 days.  It’s noticeable that my hair regrowth are lesser now.

I am hoping that a couple of sessions will totally reduce if not eliminate my underarm hairs. My next session is a month after the first treatment. Since the session is just 10 minutes or less, I’ll still have plenty of time to do other things on my IPL treatment day... like shop!!!! 

Btw, LaEstetica branches are available in the Philippines and Palau. Checkk  out their website: http://www.laestetica.com.ph/

What Causes Dark Underarms?

 

Everybody wants to have flawless skin like Anne Hathaway. A typical skin problem we encounter is underarms discoloration. Those who can afford it will spend money just to get smooth, silky, and even-toned underarm skin. But sometimes, all the creams and ointments we use seem to be insufficient, especially when we want to achieve lighter underarms. Don’t give up hope just yet. I listed three major causes of dark underarms and how to solve these problems.

Underarm Hair

This could be the culprit why you have dark armpits. The thicker and more hair armpits you have, the darker your underarm will look. Shaving will not solve the problem since the roots of the hairs will still remain under your skin. This could still cause dark underarms. You can solve this by eliminating the hair follicles from the roots. Consider IPL-underarm laser hair removal. A few sessions will permanently reduce underarm hairs. It will also soften the hair follicles and consequently lighten the hair colors. IPL-underarm laser hair removal will also spare you from chicken skin or raised bumps and hair ingrown. Be sure to go to qualified clinics to ensure effective treatments. In the Philippines and Palau, try dropping by Dr. Almond Derla’s clinic, LaEstetica International. His staff will gladly assist you if you have any queries regarding the treatment. You can also visit the website to know more about the services offered in his clinics.

Impurities

Deodorant, dirt, and sweating can accumulate over time. Maybe you just need to exfoliate your armpits regularly to remove the impurities and dead cells. So grab your favorite exfoliating soap and scrub away those impurities!

Hyper-pigmentation

Dark underarms could be due to your genetic make-up. You can try using whitening creams to make your armpits lighter. If creams don’t work, consider bleaching and peeling but like IPL-underarm laser hair removal, go to qualified clinics, like LaEstetica International.

So before throwing away your sexy sleeveless outfits, remember that there is still hope to make your dark underarms lighter. For all you know, one of the solutions I mentioned may be the answer to your shady problem.

Homemade Waxing for Silky Smooth Underarms

A nice pair of silky, smooth, and hairless underarms could give plus sexy points for women. Just look at how flawless Megan Fox and Kate Winslet’s armpits are! They look hotter with those underarms right? They say that one way to have smooth armpits is by waxing. Here’s a Waxing recipe that you could do at home to achieve that silky smooth underarm:

Home Waxing Recipe

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups sugar
¼ cup lemon juice

¼ cup water

Make sure that the stove is turned into medium to low heat. In a saucepan, combine sugar, lemon juice, and water. Stir constantly until the temperature reaches 250 degrees Fahrenheit.Turn heat down and let simmer for about 35-40 minutes. Stir constantly until the color turns into golden amber. Let it cool a bit before pouring into thick plastic or glass container with lid.

FOR APPLICATION:

Wooden spatula

Waxing strip

The mixture is ready to use when its temperature is still warm. Spread a thin mixture on the armpit using a wooden spatula with the direction of hair growth. After applying the wax, put the waxing strip and press a few times before ripping it off. When sugar hardens, just reheat the mixture in the microwave for 15-20 seconds.

Of course, it’s difficult to do this alone, so better have a waxing session with a gal friend. Waxing at home instead of going to a salon is a practical way to achieve smooth armpits. However, waxing could leave short, blunt hair tips that are often below the skin. This could result to curling of the hairs and ingrown. One way to eliminate hair ingrown is by IPL- underarm laser hair removal treatment.

Through IPL- underarm laser hair removal treatment, hair will fall out on its own and hair will permanently be reduced after a few sessions. It definitely costs more than waxing but the procedure only takes a few minutes of your time (unlike waxing) yet hair regrowth is slower than with waxing.

When undergoing this kind of treatment, go to dermatological clinics for best procedures. Philippine and Palau residents can visit LaEstetica International, a dermatological clinic owned by Dr. Almond Derla. For more information, you can visit http//www.laestetica.com.ph

Home Remedy for Dark Underarms

There is this cream colored gown that Angelina Jolie wore where she looked like a Greek goddess. It’s so beautiful that I’m sure every woman would want to wear. It is sleeveless and flowing. For some women, wearing it would not pose any problem. For some, sleeveless dresses or tops could be. One of the reasons could be attributed to dark underarms.

Here are ways to lighten those dark underarms that you can do at home:

What you’ll need…

• 1 tbsp curd, 1 tsp gram flour, pinch of turmeric, and 1 tsp. milk. Mix all the ingredients together, apply the mixture to the armpits and rinse it with cold water when it dries.

• 2 tbsp pure water, 3 drops each of olive oil, wheat germ oil, jojoba oil and any citrus oil. Shake the contents well so that it forms a milky emulsion and then apply this lotion to your underarms. Olive oil is rich in natural oleic acid which is an excellent skin moisturizer while wheat germ and jojoba oils contain several fat soluble vitamins and fatty acids. Citrus oils are acidic in nature and help to bleach the skin naturally. You could use this cream on a daily basis as it is an excellent dark underarms treatment.

• 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp cucumber juice, and a pinch of tumeric powder. Mix all ingredients until it becomes a thin paste. Apply it on the armpits and leave it for 20 minutes. Wash it off with cold water.

Top 3 Causes of Dark Underarms:

1. Build up of dead skin cells. Dark spots under your arms may be the result of dead skin cells that are trapped in microscopic “hills and valleys” on your skin.
2. Usage of antiperspirant and deodorant. In theory, some ingredients in these products (perhaps the fragrance) could be reacting with the skin to cause discoloration.
3. Excessive shaving of armpits. When you shave you cut the hairs off at, or just below, the surface of the skin. If your hairs are slightly darker than your skin color, they can give the appearance that your skin has a dark stain when it`s really just sub-surface hair.

Instead of shaving the armpits, you could consider IPL or laser hair removal. Through pulsed light or laser the hair follicle is weakened. Do not expect immediate result, but with a few sessions (depending on skin, hair type, and hair growth phase), you will see the significant result. Philippines and Palau residents could seek professional help through Dr. Almond Derla’s clinic—LaEstetica International. For more information, check out his website at http//www.laestetica.com.ph

Ways to Get Rid of Hairy Underarm

No photoshop here. It is really Julia Roberts' armpit! She probably did not shave on purpose to make a statement but it doesn't look very attractive right? It's still better to see ladies with smooth and hairless underarms.  Recently, I noticed that there are also more and more men wanting to have shaved armpits.

Unfortunately, maintaining a hairless underarm is very time consuming. Primary reason is because hair grows really fast. Ever tried the razor only to find out in a day or two stubbles growing on your armpits?

Here are some other ways to remove the unsightly hair:

 

1.       Pluck it with tweezers

This could hurt especially for beginners but you’ll get use to it as more hairs are plucked. The process could be very lengthy since you can only pluck one hair at a time but growth rate is slower compared to shaving with razor.  

2.      Use underarm epilator 

 

Epilators pluck hair from the root and this cannot happen without feeling the sting, at least the 1st few times.  This is less time consuming than plucking.

3.      Wax it

 

Either you do it yourself or go to a derma clinic. Yes there is discomfort but less minimal than the first two I mentioned above.

4.       Hair Removal Cream

An easy do-it-yourself way to get rid of hairs. However, test the product first before using to check for allergic reaction. This is not recommended for everyone since the product could work depending on your hair and skin type.

5.  

    5.      Underarm Hair Removal using Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

 

By using specific wavelengths of light, IPL underarm hair removal could permanently eliminate unwanted hairs in the armpits. Numerous dermatological clinics are now offering this new technology. If you are in the Philippines --- particularly near Ortigas, Tomas Morato, or Davao del Norte --- drop by Dr. Almond Derla’s clinic at LaEstetica International. Palau residents are also fortunate to have LaEstetica International in Meyuns, Koror.