Band together! Put pressure on these companies

Start here! Share your feelings
#1

Hi all,
Just reading through some of the posts on this site and am glad to know I’m not alone in my constant suffering with this problem. I too suffer from depression and serious self confidence issues because of my excess hairyness. I won’t go to the beach without my shirt on and am terrified of having an intimate relationship because I’m worried how my partner might react when they find out (like someone else on this forum said it’s totally different from being overweight or any other problem which is visable on the surface, in that case people know what they are getting into. With excess hair its only when you get intimate that they will find out and then its an unwanted surprise, with most likely an end to the relationship.) I really think its one of the worst problems as well because if you are overweight or there is something else you don’t like at least you can work on it or have surgery, with excess hair our current options are pathetic…but hopefully not for long!

Shaving everyday is useless and no comfort as the stubble is back by evening. Laser and IPL are incredibly overpriced, require multiple (embarassing) sessions spread out over many months and offer seriously questionable results for a very large investment of time and money.
Electrolysis does work but requires MUCH more time than laser, is MUCH more painful, is still very expensive, plus it requires many more embarassing visits to remove hair from certain “areas”.
So I have to ask the question: Just what the heck is wrong with the science in this field of study? Why aren’t they tackeling the issue of fast, PERMANENT, painless, hair removal? Surely if such a product came about what woman in their right mind wouldn’t use it on their legs or underarms to avoid shaving for the rest of their lives, or men for their backs, etc? i.e. you could market such a product to most people on the planet. Billions are just sitting there to be made for whoever makes this breakthough.
I find it laughable that in a society where anyone can get anything on their body nipped, tucked, or sucked, breast implants, collogen lips, botox, etc, etc WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE HIGH TECH SOLUTION FOR UNWANTED HAIR WHICH MANY MORE PEOPLE SUFFER FROM!?!?
Whew! Sorry had to vent there…but this is a share your feelings thread so I think that was ok? Speaking of which I also think it is important in these threads to discuss the issue of hope and hopefully a little faith in science which seems to finally be waking up to this problem. Pretty soon there will be more options than the pathetic ones we have today.

So I did some research and found some companies who are working on solving the excess hair problem FOR GOOD! Check out the “Restricted, experimental methods” thread on this site for more info as well. I just wanted to sum up what we have been discussing over there for those who think that there isn’t a new and better way to solve this problem coming up soon if we all band together and pressure these companies to continue working on developing their products. Perhaps just sending a short email stating what a real breakthrough would mean to you and that you support their effort would be enough. Or maybe even an investment in their stock if you care to really back them? But remember the stock market is risky business guys, be very careful and get independent advice from a broker.

I will mention first companies that should have products out sooner than the others.

http://www.photoderma.com/

This company states that they should have a product out for home use by the end of this year. The secret is in their patented gel that they apply before laser light is applied, apparently this should improve upon current laser and IPL’s often inability to treat lighter colored hair or on darker colored skin tones while also boosting the all around effectiveness of laser immensly. Apparently the big breakthough was finding a gel that could penetrate the hair follical and be safely activated by the light source to kill the hair but not the surrounding tissue.

http://www.questpharmatech.com/

These guys are essentially doing the same thing as Photoderma and currently have a six month clinical trial underway to determine the effectiveness of their “gel” and the light source to be used. According to emails exchanged with the company, if this trial is successful they hope to have a product ready for home use in 2008. It should be noted that both Quest and Photoderma have been a little reluctant to promise permanent results but this is probably to cover their own backsides and I belive permanency is their intention.

www.sirna.com

This is the mother of all hair killing companies. They could be the company that comes out with the miracle cream we all desire. ie. No lasers, needles, or waxing, just a cream that kills hairs permanently, painlessly. They claim to be able to do this in mice and other animals in testing by using DNA (or SiRNAs) to silence the gene that causes the protein in the hair follicle to grow. Sorry I’m not a science buff so this is a very general idea of how it works. Clinical trials were due to start early this year but last December they were bought by Merck (huge pharmaceutical company) and Sirna’s current pipeline projects will now have to be approved by Merck to get the go-ahead, if you want to send an email to anyone it should be to Merck begging that they continue Sirna’s “hairless” program. We need to convince these guys that there are people literally screaming for a simple effective solution to this problem.

http://www.applisonix.com/

This company is using sonic technology to transmit through the hair to heat up the follical and kill it. Could be time consuming as it appears to be a hair by hair process but would be painless and long lasting, if not permanent.

I just think it is important to get the buzz out about these companies. Tell your friends and others who suffer with the problem to get the word out and send an email or anything. I think the whole problem with excess hair solutions and why they have taken so long to solve this age old cosmetic problem is because people are embarassed to talk about it. We need to talk about it and let these companies know people are really suffering out there and can’t live their lives the way they want until some kind of breakthrough is made.

If we make enough noise big companies like Merck will use their billions of dollars to fask track products such as Sirna’s. After all, no company should want to come second in this race.

#2

Re: Laser hair removal - hair on your back or chest is not that big a deal or that unique. These people are professionals and see that everyday. You want to talk about embarrassing? I am getting laser hair removal on my genitals and I do fine (although it was a little awkward at first, but they quickly put me at ease.

Just my 2 cents.

#3

Out of the above, I think that Quest Pharmatech shows the most promise. If anything, I think they will improve the efficacy of laser and other light treatments. I would be happy with a treatment that will show guaranteed permanence, say at 60 to 80 percent. We will know for sure how effective this treatment is by June when phase II trials end.

I’ve pretty much decided that Sirna’s treatment is at a dead end unless something major comes up in the very near future. The deal between Sirna and Merck should be concluded by the end of March (I believe they gave a finality for this deal at the end of the 1st quarter of this year).

Their phase I trials for trichozyme were supposed to start this quarter, but it didn’t. If we don’t see anything by the 2nd or 3rd quarter, I am convinced this has been buried. I hope I’m wrong though.

#4

You have to also take into account the following issues that will still be issues even with “new” methods of removal. These issues basically make it seem like the current methods, especially laser hair removal, are not great solutions.

  1. Take one step back. The CAUSE of excessive hair varies from person to person. On top of that, there isn’t enough information at this point to figure out what else causes it besides the known factors. On top of that, many of those who have an diagnosable issue don’t realize that they do. Most women with PCOS don’t know that they have it and don’t even consider the possibility for example because they don’t even know what it is. And most family physicians are not knowledgeable enough on the issue since causes of excessive hair are not really taught in med school.

The main problem with these issues is that even if you develop a miracle product, it can only kill the hair that’s currently there. The bigger issue needs to be addressed if there is something in one’s body stimulating growth. Otherwise, the body will just develop more hair after this batch is killed.

  1. Any new product that removes hair has to somehow deal with the fact that hair grows in cycles. That concept on its own already makes one need to have multiple treatments no matter what.

  2. The problems lie a lot of times not with the method, but with the person administering that method. The fact that many laser operators just don’t know enough about hair removal and operating hair removal lasers to achieve results has a huge impact on the seeming ineffectiveness of lasers in a lot of cases. Add to that that a lot of laser machines are just not good.

  3. All companies are motivated by money. But due to the nature of this business and the desperation of the customers seeking these treatments, there are way too many companies only interested in the easy money they can get. Also, the reason many go out of business fast. It’s a lucrative business since they get a lot of money up front by selling packages worth thousands of dollars.

#5

I’m glad that you are comfortable with it now Nikki but I feel that many people, myself included, shy away from doing anything about the problem simply because they are too embarassed to bare all (and yes I too mean genitals, buttocks, etc) in front of a stranger for hours on end for a problem which is in itself very embarassing. Excess hair simply isn’t discussed in our society so we hide it as best we can and dread anyone else knowing about it.
I was shocked when I first started worrying about my hairyness that there wasn’t a simple cream or prescription that I could take to kill my hair forever, simply and privately in my own home. Boy was I mistaken, I had the horror of finding out that I would have to bear all in front of some stranger for months and perhaps years to solve the problem. Pathetic I thought, but now I know the issue is much more complex and yes scientists have been working hard on the problem. An effective simple home use product would mean the world to many people who simply cannot afford overpriced laser and electroylsis or are too embarrassed to go that route. I’m just saying that I really hope one of these companies can deliver ASAP.

#6

Yes I thought about the cycle problem as well but Quest have also adressed this issue in one of their press releases. In that they state that the gel they have developed should be able to penetrate all hair follicles on the skin (even dorment ones). So that if the gel is in all of your follicles and it is activated by the light applied it should in theory kill all hair follicles, even ones that have not produced hair as of yet. Therefore one could be hairless on all areas in which the gel and light was applied, in the first treatment, permanently…well in an ideal world anyway. But apparently it is true that you are born with all the hair follicles you will ever have, ie. the body does not produce new hair follicles as you age, but it’s only that more hair follicles become active as you age. Taking these factors into account you have to admit Quest’s product sounds quite promising, but I suppose only time will tell.
Fingers crossed.

#7

Eddy,

I think many things you mentioned above accurately hit the mark.
Let me add 2 thoughts.

Firstly, the situation for people dealing with excessive hair has never been better than now. Novel cheap and efficient technologies are supposed to come on the market starting this year.

Secondly I wouldn’t burry sirnas magcic cream that fast. Why should a company give up a product which could bring them billions of dollars. And more important: Not Sirna owns the technology, but Angela Christiano, who could sell the intellectual property right to any company on earth.

I believe we don’t have to wait that long for a cheaper and more efficient way of removing hair.

#8

I didn’t mean to say Sirna’s product is dead. They were supposed to start trials in the last quarter of 06. That didn’t happen. Then it was supposed to start in the first quarter of 07. That didn’t happen. Now, after March 31st when the first quarter ends and Mercks acquisition of Sirna is legally complete, if nothing comes up, I seriously doubt we will be hearing much about this product any time in the near future.

I can’t comment on whether Dr. Christiano still owns the intellectual property to this product. As far as I know, there are a number of people that have been involved in the products development. If Sirna owned the technology and now Merck owns Sirna, there could be difficulties in anyone involved in the product development from selling it to anyone at this point.

I really hope I am wrong and the coming 2nd quarter brings about some news.

I’m more interested in Quest’s trials. At least we are seeing progress here. Phase II trials have already began and the Phase I trials showed great promise. I also like the fact that Quest has been open to questions from the general public for the most part. Any time I have wrote Sirna, I’ve never once gotten a response.

#9

Hi jme1.

Can we count on you to keep adding to this thread as you see new information?

I just can’t imagine any business putting the brakes on something that could bring them billions of dollars if a product works. How naive am I? This would be a real breakthrough on par with if someone discovered a way to solve our energy dependence by using trash to run our cars.

#10

Hi Jme1,

I wrote something more under the restricted forum cos I think this technological stuff doesn’t belong to the feelings forum.

#11

Yeah sorry about that. I think I used the first half of my original post to vent on the feelings I had that there is no simple solution being provided by the scientific community. This really distressed me when first researching permanent hair removal. Since the “restricted” forum describes itself as “products that are still many years away” I thought it would be good to let newbies on the site know that some of these breakthough products could be on the market by the end of this year or next.

I think the “feelings” of wishing for a breakthrough that will allow sufferers to treat this problem quickly, painlessly, permanently, and eventually privately are strong enough to warrent this discussion in the feelings forum. But maybe that’s just me?

#12

Eddy, I also want to add that you’re really underestimating just how many people are dealing with the same problem as you and are just covering it up well, probably just like you do. Just read the stories on this forum. And that’s a tiny percentage of men here. There are many many more. I think realizing that it is really a widespread thing might help you get over the fear of professional treatments. I mean, compared to many other things that people go into surgery for and doctors see on an everyday basis, this really is cosmetic and minor. Just think about it. A nurse at a hair removal clinic who performs hair removal all day long basically sees people with the exact same problem as you every 30 minutes, every single day, for years. They really have seen everything and are used to everything. Fortunately for you, you won’t even surprise them. And in the end, what you’re doing is basically taking care of the problem. Is it really worth wasting the best years of your life hiding? I think it always helps make you feel better when you realize you are SO not alone in this. Most people who work at the clinics btw have had the procedure themselves and really understand the problems extra hair creates. They are very professional and very friendly about everything. Think of it as a urologist appointment. Not to be too graphic, but does thinking about possibly being not as well-endowed as others prevent anyone from going for their exams?

#13

Eddy,

it’s definitely a very good thing that you share your feelings about your problems and your feelings about possible breaktrouhgs here. And you can tell by the responses that you are not alone.

But the thing is, that some question arose concerning more the technological aspects of the new methods and we discussed them under the restricted forum. And you are right: Someone should replace “still many years away” with “a few years away” or something similar.

#14

Sometimes I wonder if by time they come up with something easy, affordable, reliable ect - that I’ll be too old to care. LOL

#15

That’s a very practical comment, Jessica and probably one that has passed through everyone’s mind. Easy, affordable and reliable should be underlined, but I will add safe to that mix.

#16

I agree with Jessica. Since I’ve had my treatments done, life has been that much better overall, WHILE I’m still in my 20s :slight_smile:

#17

All the ones mentioned I think are belonging to the category permanent removal. For me as a boy (I suppose this doesn’t go for girls) there are only a few parts that I wouldn’t mind completely hair-free, such as the penis, the back(+neck), the ears and between the eyebrows. On the rest, like my arms,legs and abdomen I would like to have some hair growing. It’s too bad I can’t find some promising solution (well, at least in research stage) in your list or on the web that basically is manipulating the anagen phase on the whole body or on selected areas (okay, rather bold than hairy I suppose, but why have one when you could have em both :P). Like making the hair both grow slower but also making the phase shorter (which I think together will be like a perfect situation for shorter and thinner hair). Maybe the phase could be made so short that no hair will actually grow! I suppose that would be the perfect solution.

#18

if they learn to manipulate hair to do what we want it to do, bald men would be very happy as well.

#19

I actually don’t think that it is that absurd that there hasn’t been any significant breakthroughs beyond laser for hair removal. Clearly, removing unwanted hair is not easy. Look at other cosmetic issues that are still not easily treated…baldness/acne/rosacea/etc…It’s not for lack of trying that these problems haven’t been “cured”, I am sure plenty of research money has been dumped into all of these…they are, unfortunately, highly complex physiological issues that are, to this day, very difficult to deal with.

As far as hair removal goes, I really know nothing about where technology stands today…but I am going to make an uneducated guess and say that it will be at least another 10 years before lasers are more effective, and prices come down.

As to other technologies such as the “DNA” cream…who knows, that could be very far down the road.

#20

You might want to take a look at Quest Pharmatechs website. They are expecting a product by next year. I don’t think a more effective hair removal method is 10 years off.

“DNA cream”…I’m assuming this is in regards to Sirna. Even they stated that they would have a product available in about 5 years.

I know of at least 5 companies that are working on hair removal methods. A lot of work has been done. Sirna technology really only came in to general use within the last 3 years. It’s a major advance, in many different areas; from hair removal to huntington’s disease. The technology that Quest is using is also quite new but it’s already showing promise. They are in to the second phase of clinical trials.

We are seeing some very interesting advances in medicine and medical technology in general, even within the last 5 years. Medical technology is almost becoming similar to computer technology. We are seeing dual core processor now, quad core processors will be mainstream by the end of the year. Intel said they will have an 80 core processor in 5 years. In other words technology is making larger advances in fewer years than in the past, and it is continually speeding up.