how do I get rid of the really bad facial hair!!

[loulous]

Hey..sorry new to this so u'll have to bear with me! I was diagnosed a while ago but recently got really bad facial hair and dont know where to turn to for help, if any one can throw a few suggestions it would be really appreiciated..thanks

[kverted]

a regular razor and shaving cream works.

[CarrieBerry]

You have several options to help you with this unpleasant side effect of PCOS. You could always shave it. A lot of women do. I have quite a bit of hair, but a lot of it is light so I don't shave it. I do, however, have to pluck every day to remove the dark hairs. Its time consuming, but worth it for me. You can get a Rx for Spironolocone, which helps lessen hair growth. You can also get laser done to correct the problem.

Happy hair removal!!

[joyblack]

Hey..sorry new to this so u'll have to bear with me! I was diagnosed a while ago but recently got really bad facial hair and dont know where to turn to for help, if any one can throw a few suggestions it would be really appreiciated..thanks

You've already had two suggestions that you could shave it. And I agree.

However you'll find a number of views held by different women on this board.

I think there are two questions you should come to a clear understanding on:

1. What do you mean by "really bad facial hair?" If you were to shave it, how soon would you have to shave again? In a month? In a week? In a day? In a few hours?

2. Have you got your hormones maintained steadily within the normal range for females? This is a vital matter in getting an answer to your question, because if you haven't, then some methods of hair removal just won't work effectively.

Facial (and also body) hair on women comes about in the same way as on men because of

1) your body being sensitized, before you were even born, to testosterone -- doesn't happen to all girls, but does to many

2) your body producing high levels of testosterone

The growth rate and coarseness of the hair depends on just how much testosterone is circulating in your bloodstream.

Some women try bleaching facial hair. But when someone sees you against the light you'll look as if you have a glowing moustache and beard

As far as removing facial hair is concerned it's worth remembering that

* Waxing, plucking, threading, epilating all pull the hair out by the roots and where the growth is hormonally-driven can actually stimulate a dormant follicle into producing more hair quicker. They also distort the root if done repeatedly, leading to hair growing at strange angles. And you've got to let the hair grow to quite a length before you can repeat the exercise. It can also damage the skin and discolor it. Long-term use of waxing also cab cause bad wrinkles. However very fine hair in women whose hormones are within the normal female range can sometimes grow back weaker.

* Chemical depilatories strong enough to remove the hair are liable to burn the skin, cause swelling and cause long-term discoloration of the skin. The depilatories sold for facial use are not very effective on hair which is coarse and strong.

* Laser is often successful in women whose hormones are in the normal female range and whose hair is dark and skin light. It is not very effective unless your hormones are thoroughly under control and it is liable to cause burning and discoloration

* Electrolysis can be permanent, but only where the hormones are maintained in the normal female range. It can cause scarring and discoloration of the skin.

Which leaves shaving, which does not damage the skin and does not cause the hair to grow more or coarser or faster.

I shave every morning and if we're going out in the evening I'll usually shave again to ensure that I'm still bristle free at the end of the evening. What I find is best is a men's-style electric razor, and I really like the razors in the men's range of Philips/Norelco razors (Philishave outside the US).

[KatCarney]

Joy has given you great information.

Also there are stickies at the top of the forum here that will also address your questions: http://www.soulcysters.net/hair-loss-hair-growth/

[elsewhere]

Hi!

I used to have pretty bad facial hair. I had it on my chin, upper lip and neck. I would have to shave every day (and sometimes twice). I was never happy with this method because I was never smooth like I once was.

So...I had my facial hair lasered! I can tell you that I had an AMAZING experience. I am smooth again I am dark haired and light skinned, so maybe that's why I had such great results! I would never touch a razor again.

[ashlyn]

Hi there
It's been a while since my last posting but I agree with Joy - Great information and well explained.

Personally I tried everything and eventually got to the stage were I suffered with severe folicle sores and spots due to coarse ingrowing black hairs, particularly around my chin and neck and then began to notice that my five o'clock shadow remained even after shaving and my upper lip shadow was also visable after shaving

So I decided to try laser hair removal - now this is not cheap - but what an amazing difference it has made to my life after a course of 7 treatments (undertaken every 6-weeks)
I now attend every 6-weeks for a quick session and I no longer have to pluck or shave any of my face or neck - It was absolutely worth every penny and has boosted my confidence so much. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC

Good Luck - in whatever option you choose x X x

[KatCarney]

Another vote for laser...it's one of the best investments I've ever made.

[loulous]

Thanks for all the info, I was thinkin of having laser treatment and uv all confirmed it for me, the hair is really dark and coarse, im already shaving every day so I think its the only opt..im not on anything to control the hormones and the doctors not really helpful or informative, he just brushes everything off making me feel like a freak if i suggest anything

[KatCarney]

You should look for another doctor to work with you to control your hormones. Laser will take care of the hair you have, but if your androgens are still raging, new dark hair will develop over time.

There are also some lifestyle things you can do that can frequently have an impact on androgens, but you should still be under a doctor's care. In many cases cysters stay on anti-androgen medications until they bring their levels down via lifestyle measures.

[loulous]

thanks..do you know what the best meds are, just so i can ask him to prescribe it

You should look for another doctor to work with you to control your hormones. Laser will take care of the hair you have, but if your androgens are still raging, new dark hair will develop over time.

There are also some lifestyle things you can do that can frequently have an impact on androgens, but you should still be under a doctor's care. In many cases cysters stay on anti-androgen medications until they bring their levels down via lifestyle measures.

[KatCarney]

thanks..do you know what the best meds are, just so i can ask him to prescribe it

There really are no 'best' meds...check out the stickies at the top of this forum: http://www.soulcysters.net/hair-loss-hair-growth/

The information in them will answer many questions you have about meds and laser

[Eva37]

i do my face each day with a razor. I take spiro which really seems to help. My endo said it takes 9-12 months to get to maximum result. I take 100 a day
eva

[navywifey]

I couldn't take the laser route even though I am a fair skinned African-American. My dermatologist said she wouldn't be able to turn the UV up high enough to treat me properly so I got electrolysis. It didn't hurt at all. It worked pretty well seeing as how I have raging androgen levels. My facial hair used to be limited to just side burns but now I have it on my chin as well and it is sometimes very disfiguring.

[J Sister]

I am also very curious about laser. I have very fair skin and dark facial hair, so it appears that it may be a good option for me.