EXTREMELY sensitive skin and way too much hair...what to do?
Hello, I'm a newbie to this site and to active PCOS treatment, but I've been living with it since I was 11 or so.
I can accept the hair on my abdomen, but the goatee, incipient beard, furry hands and coarse hair on and between my thighs REALLY bug me.
Here's the thing, though- I also have super-sensitive skin. Baby sunscreen stings my face, I get razor burn wherever I shave (no matter how careful I am or what products I use) and any scented soaps tend to make my skin flaky dry and itchy as heck. Nair dissolves my skin, but leaves the hair intact- I have some scarring on my inner thigh to prove this. And any sort of interference with my hair, anywhere on my body, leads to those permanent red bumps in varying size. Waxing is horrible for the Large Red Bump issue, and my follicles often bleed afterwards, (again, no matter how careful or which product), and if it's a scented wax...even some unscented ones...i get the lovely red scaly itch-from-hell thing. So I leave it at shaving my chin (at least the bumps/burn just blend in with the acne) and my hands.
Does anyone have any tips/tricks for depilating really sensitive skin? I'd love to be able to wear shorts or a skirt or a t-shirt, or find a way of losing the moustache without bleeding...
have you tried an electric razor....i have not .....but alot of women here swear by the nelocro ( sp) or the philishave this would be much easier on your skin. i also have to shave my hands and fingers and shaving my thighs also brings me out in bumps so i have yet to find and answer to this one...will watch with interest
__________________ Amelia -Wife to James = parents to Hamish and Finley id twin boys 15/02/2004 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I have the same problem! Most of my excess is in between my thighs and on the back of my upper legs (I’m starting to get a mustache, though) and the skin is soooo very sensitive. Nair is USELESS for me! I have the same reaction as you…it eats away my skin and leaves the darn hair! With waxing and epilating, I get ingrowns, which look worse than stubble! So frustrating!! I just have to stick to shaving. I haven’t found a solution to completely eliminate all of the nasty bumps and burn, but I find that my skin isn’t AS bad with my new shaving routine:
I shave at the end of a hot shower, because the hair is softer and easier to remove.
I exfoliate before I shave to help raise up the hairs.
I use a sharp, new razor (I like the Venus).
I use Aveeno’s Positively Smooth Shaving Cream, which is the best shaving cream I’ve ever used, but it’s expensive and I go through it fast! (I actually put a little on my ‘stache before shaving, leave it on for about a minute, and then I shave it off, and I can’t even tell that it was ever there)
After I’m done shaving, I use Neutrogena’s Clean & Clear body wash.
I gently pat myself dry with a towel (rubbing irritates my freshly shaved skin).
I use pure Aloe Vera gel every where I shave, which really helps soothe the irritation. Apply it liberally!
Then, later in the day, I use Aveeno’s Hair Minimizing lotion.
All this takes forever, and I still have irritation! Lots of little red and purple scars too...yuck. I’ve just accepted the fact that I’ll never be able to wear shorts or bathing suits, which sucks because I live in So. Cal and it is HOT here! I love to swim too, and I’ll never get to do that again; I’m too self conscious!
I’ve heard great things about the men’s range Norelco electric razors, so I’m saving up for one of those. We’ll see if that will help.
Also, I’ve been drinking spearmint tea because it has been shown to help reduce excess hair in some people. I don’t notice a difference yet, but I’m not giving up!
I’ll be interested to see what other suggestions people have!
I have super sensitive skin also but shaving seems to be the best for me. Waxing, Plucking and chemicals all make my skin red and then causes me to scar. At least I can use a razor and the percentage of me getting hurt is 50/50. I hear electric razors are cool so you might want to invest. I am really looking into it also.
Could you save up / afford to try laser treatments or electroloysis for your face; the scars can clear up or minimize at best (mine used to be real bad on my face; but it sure cleared up after i had electroloysis done).... which you can also do everywhere else; although laser is more effective for larger areas (or so I hear). Electroloysis is permanent though, and more expensive at first (but i truly think it's worth it). Good luck!
__________________ Erin
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I have very sensitive skin as well, but I can shave my legs. I use a new razor every time. I've also found that shaving in the tub seems to help. Some diluted tea tree oil on the areas that are prone to irritation can also be of benefit. For facial hair I use one of those personal trimmers you can find at the drug store. I'm not smooth, but I don't look like I have a beard when the sun hits just right. I pluck the dark, coarse hairs on my chin. I shave the upper lip every day in the shower using my facial cleanser as lubricant.
I will tell you that my skin sensitivity seems to have improved over the years. I used to get chemical burns just from lotions or normal cleansers. I've learned that the oily skin and acne are much better than the burns. I'm still careful about what I use, so maybe it's just that I finally found products that work for me or maybe it's age.
__________________ Pam (34) Rob (37) Otis the Doberman (3)
TTC #1 since 01/03 2003- Clomid - HSG - SA 2004- Lap - Gonal-f 2005- Break 2006- Saving for IVF - Metformin - BFP 10/06
Katherine Olive was born July 16, 2007!!!
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Hmm. Will have to look into this electric razor thing. I use the super-expensive Aveeno stuff too, but even it sometimes stings (before I start shaving). I noticed that my local organic food store has some beauty products, so I thought I might give them a go next time.
Electrolysis and laser are way out of my price range at the moment, and they make me a little nervous- if you can get scarring from it, I probably will...
I'm drinking spearmint tea too. I couldn't say whether it's having an effect, but it's nice just to have 20 minutes with a cup of tea at the end of the day
EXTREMELY sensitive skin and way too much hair...what to do? 
