Losing hope in laser hair removal, is electrolysis my only hope?
I'm a teenager coping with the effects of a mild case of PCOS. Genetically I'm hairy and my hormones went a bit wack and left me with a lot of dark, thick hair head to toe. I've been shaving my facial hair opposed to waxing (when I do mutter the courage to grow it out and show it to the world) because I end up looking like a burn victim after a full face wax session, hurting my skin and using a razor to clean up what I couldn't catch. This is really hard for me to deal with, being only 15. I get ingrown hair all over my legs and arms from waxing and shaving. (And have scabs, marks, dark spots, when I shave evident black dots everywhere) On top of it I'm quite light-skinned. I also grow a bit of chest hair. I have hair on my lower middle back extending to my lower back down to my butt and all over my thighs, and incredibly thick on my lower legs. Longish dark fuzz all over my tummy above the navel and thicker, pubic hair like below the navel. I have hair all over my cheeks, upper lip, some on my chin, sideburns, even close to my eyes and cheeks, as well as neck and under neck (chin). I tried to get laser like two years ago I had 6 sessions, each session costing $1000 (they count each part separately) and it didn't work. Should I wait till I'm 18 and get laser hair removal, or should I try to get it covered so I don't have to pay?...Should I go somewhere where they GUARANTEE permanent results and offer packages? The hardest thing for me is not feeling like I'm as much of a girl as other girls...I always feel abnormal because of it, even though I know there are much more abnormal looking conditions...I just feel more masculine, less attractive (esp to guys), and ugly to society in general.
*sigh* High school is hard enough as it is, and throw in a weight, hair, and acne problem and you've topped the cake.
I took BCP and spiro for a period and while it helped the hair didn't get rid of it, and had bad side effects like lethargy and weakness. And why fix something thats not broke? I apparently have normal androgen levels, and apparently it's debatable whether or not I have PCOS (normal menstrual cycles) ?!
I'm not taking any meds currently, but am trying to lose weight (the story of my life)
Go for electrolysis! I researched laser before I made any decision but found far too many cases of paradoxical hypertrichosis for it to be worth it- I have hair on my face as well but it is mostly all fine (although some dark) which the laser will NOT work very well on. I started electrolysis recently and am very pleased- it is a long and expensive process but I predict it will be worth it in the end for the confidence I will get from not having to deal with this anymore! You need to make sure you go to a trained, licensed, professional who knows what they're doing- do your research!!! What are the hair structures like on your face? Remember, EVERYONE does have hair on their face.. I am having electrolysis done on my upper lip and chin but also have hair on the sides of my face and cheeks which I used to obsess over until I realized it was normal- it is mostly blond peach fuzz hair that the average person would NOT notice. Have confidence in yourself, we are our toughest critics- no one else is judging you as harshly as you judge yourself.
i tried electrolysis for a year and half, didn't work. the lady kept saying that b/c i had lots of facial hair it would take a long time, so i'm back to waxing it myself.
I'm a teenager coping with the effects of a mild case of PCOS. Genetically I'm hairy and my hormones went a bit wack and left me with a lot of dark, thick hair head to toe. I've been shaving my facial hair opposed to waxing (when I do mutter the courage to grow it out and show it to the world) because I end up looking like a burn victim after a full face wax session, hurting my skin and using a razor to clean up what I couldn't catch. This is really hard for me to deal with, being only 15. I get ingrown hair all over my legs and arms from waxing and shaving. (And have scabs, marks, dark spots, when I shave evident black dots everywhere) On top of it I'm quite light-skinned. I also grow a bit of chest hair. I have hair on my lower middle back extending to my lower back down to my butt and all over my thighs, and incredibly thick on my lower legs. Longish dark fuzz all over my tummy above the navel and thicker, pubic hair like below the navel. I have hair all over my cheeks, upper lip, some on my chin, sideburns, even close to my eyes and cheeks, as well as neck and under neck (chin). I tried to get laser like two years ago I had 6 sessions, each session costing $1000 (they count each part separately) and it didn't work. Should I wait till I'm 18 and get laser hair removal, or should I try to get it covered so I don't have to pay?...Should I go somewhere where they GUARANTEE permanent results and offer packages? The hardest thing for me is not feeling like I'm as much of a girl as other girls...I always feel abnormal because of it, even though I know there are much more abnormal looking conditions...I just feel more masculine, less attractive (esp to guys), and ugly to society in general.
*sigh* High school is hard enough as it is, and throw in a weight, hair, and acne problem and you've topped the cake.
I took BCP and spiro for a period and while it helped the hair didn't get rid of it, and had bad side effects like lethargy and weakness. And why fix something thats not broke? I apparently have normal androgen levels, and apparently it's debatable whether or not I have PCOS (normal menstrual cycles) ?!
I'm not taking any meds currently, but am trying to lose weight (the story of my life)
I was shaving from age 13 and shaving my moustache every day from age 15. And if I'd had short hair I would have been taken for a boy, because I was flat-chested as well.
A couple of things that may help you, though.
For me, the answer was to use a men's-type electric razor to shave my face.
The other thing took me much longer to realize -- that there are plenty of guys who don't mind a girl being a bit more masculine than most girls. A girl who's a bit masculine can still be attractive to guys.
I feel like giving you the biggest hug ever First of all, I cannot believe any medical professional worth their name on paper would do laser treatments on a 13 year old!!! What were they thinking, and especially considering you aren't on any anti-androgen. I think you should see an Endocrinologist and have further testing, often 'androgens' appear at normal levels, but it could be your sensitivity to a hormone that causes the hair growth. Have you had your "free testosterone" even tested? It's differen then a regular testosterone measurement.
Beyond that, I would try to get insurance to cover it, and wait until you are 18 to think about laser treatments again. I just think you are too young, and your body may not even be finished going through puberty at this point?
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I say electrolysis is the way to go. Yes, it is a long process and it is expensive but I had much better results than with the laser. I have tried three different lasers over the course of 10 years and followed the directions to a tee... the results only last about a year and in all three cases I was out thousands of dollars. I have been doing electrolysis for about 1 year and 8 months on my nipples, chin, upper lip, and side burns... wow have I seen a difference. I used to go twice a week for 45 minutes. Now, I go once every 3-4 weeks for 20 minutes! With both laser and electrolysis you will need touch-ups. My lady said I will need a touch up probably once every three months after I finish getting all the current hairs. Good luck!
__________________ Thin Cyster Age: 25 BMI:19 Not TTC
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i have tried both. i went to electrolosys for a while and it got so bad that the lady who was doing it told me to go for laser. It took a long time to zap each and every single follicle. Finally i went to laser treatment for about a year. I was also taking diane 35 at the same time while getting the treatment. each time the hair grew back much thinner. i got treatment both on my stomach and face. nowadays i don't got to laser treatment anymore, i just pluck out a couple black stray hairs on my face once a month maybe. laser was painful but welll worth it.
Losing hope in laser hair removal, is electrolysis my only hope? 
