By Angela Kelly, Features Editor WE'VE plucked, shaved, creamed, waxed, and zapped them with electrical current. But now, it is claimed, unwanted hair has met its greatest enemy - the laser.

And embarrassed men and women around the country - some women even have to shave their FACES two or three times a day - could have the chance to rid themselves of this problem, for good.

Although laser treatment for hair removal is still in its infancy in this country, early indications show lasting results.

New into Britain from America is the Epitouch Laser which claims to remove unwanted hair from any part of the body. As they cost £90,000 to buy and parts are expensive, cost of treatment is high and they're extremely thin on the ground in this country.

Nearest for Boltonians is the Lifestyle Medical Clinic in Staffordshire where Dr Russell Neary said that since they had their Ruby laser installed last November they had had "very good results."

Although charges are high, starting at £400 per treatment for a small area like the upper lip to about £2,150 for both legs only two treatments are likely to be necessary. Telephone 01782-204099.

Closer, the Laserase Medical Centre at the Royal Bolton Hospital - one of a group of private medical laser centres - has started offering their Ruby laser for hair removal.

At the Bradford Laserase Clinic, however, they've been doing hair removal this way for about a year (and clinical trials longer) and patients have found that treated hair has not grown back. Dr Colin Wright of Laserase explained how it works. "The laser gives out a lot of energy which is absorbed by the pigment of the hair follicle.

"It triggers an 'explosion' to such a degree that this completely disintegrates the hair so it can't regrow."

At the Bolton clinic, a spokeswoman said that about four to five treatments were likely to be needed. Laserase charge £500 for five treatments, tel. 01204-390399 to find out more.

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