Reviewed by sk:n Training Manager Corine Treacy
Unwanted body and face hair is referred to as excess hair. Hair grows on nearly every area of our bodies, although some people have more than others. For both men and women, excess hair can feel embarrassing, distressing, and difficult to deal with.
Excessive hair (especially in women) might signify a hormonal problem like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Excess hair growth can occur for no apparent reason, especially in skin types from the Mediterranean, Middle East, and South Asia. It’s also possible that it’s inherited.
Read on to discover more about facial hair removal for women and what your options are.
Why You May Have Facial Hair As A Woman
Higher-than-normal amounts of androgens, particularly testosterone, cause women to grow excessive body or facial hair. All women produce low quantities of androgens but can overproduce them due to certain medical disorders, such as PCOS.
- PCOS, Symptoms and Treatment
PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is a condition in which a woman’s ovaries don’t release eggs regularly and she has high levels of “male hormones” (androgens).
Your doctor may diagnose you with PCOS if you have at least two of these symptoms; however, it’s worth noting that you might have PCOS without having cysts on your ovaries. Rest assured that androgens are present in all women. It’s the shifting levels that can be problematic.
PCOS affects each woman differently and should be diagnosed by your GP. If you do have PCOS, you will most likely have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Weight gain
- Excessive hair growth (typically on the face, chest or abdomen)
- Oily skin
- Acne
- Irregular or no periods
- Difficulty conceiving
- Thinning hair or hair loss on the head
PCOS has also been associated with a higher risk of other health problems later in life, including type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.
Excessive hair growth on the face and body can be caused by high levels of male hormones (androgens) associated with PCOS. This can be embarrassing and difficult to deal with, and some women experience anxiety and depression as a result. Waxing and shaving regularly can irritate the delicate skin of the face, causing ingrown hairs and even hyperpigmentation.
Permanent hair removal methods may be a good fit for you if you’re experiencing unwanted facial hair growth.
Facial Hair Removal Methods
If you’re bothered by the hairs that grow on your face, there are a few methods you can follow to remove them.
- Shaving
Shaving is one of the most popular hairs removal methods. It’s fast and easy to remove hair and get on with your day, but the results aren’t permanent or long-lasting. You will remain hairless for one to three days before you have to shave again.
- Tweezing/Epilating
Tweezing is an effective and inexpensive way to remove facial hair, but it’s hard to use this for a large skin area. Epilation works similar to tweezing, but the tool will remove multiple hairs simultaneously and remove them right from the root. As the whole hair is removed, it takes longer to grow back. Some have experienced hairlessness for up to 4 weeks.
- Waxing
Whether at home or at a salon, waxing is an effective way to remove all the hair in a certain area. Waxing is uncomfortable and sometimes painful, but it produces long term results similar to epilating.
- Depilatory Creams
These creams have chemicals, such as barium sulfide, sodium, and titanium dioxide, that break down the proteins in your hair, so it dissolves and washes away. These ingredients are usually safe, though there is a risk of reaction.
- Threading
Similar to tweezing, this method uses a thread that pulls and twists the hair until it lifts from the follicle. There is no risk of a skin reaction with threading, though you may experience some pain. It’s best to go to a professional as this technique requires skill.
- Laser Hair Removal
Short pulses of light energy are used in laser hair removal to damage or kill the root of each hair follicle, preventing regrowth. The hairs will get softer and finer as you go through your treatment programme, and growth will slow down. Laser hair removal for women with PCOS is by far the most efficient treatment to help manage the symptoms of this condition.
Is Laser The Best Method For Hair Removal?
If you’re wondering how to get rid of facial hair, when compared to other methods of hair removal used on the face, such as waxing, threading, shaving, or utilising hair removal lotions, laser hair removal can save time for clients who want to remove facial hair permanently for aesthetic reasons .
With laser hair removal, you might expect a permanent reduction of hair of up to 90%.
If hairs grow back during the treatment, it will be finer, softer and lighter. Ingrown hairs, shaving irritation, and stubble can all be avoided with laser hair removal. Many other methods of hair removal methods result in hair growing back swiftly, typically within days. Long-term outcomes from laser hair removal will save you both time and money in the long run.
From full-face laser hair removal to specified areas such as upper lip laser hair removal,
facial laser hair removal can be used to treat the following areas: upper lip, chin, jawline, cheeks, sideburns, eyebrows, ear lobes, half face and full face.
Key Takeaways
- Hair can be found on almost every part of our body, while others have more than others. This can be embarrassing, stressful, and difficult to deal with for both men and women.
- Women who have higher-than-normal levels of androgens, notably testosterone, develop excessive body or facial hair. Certain medical diseases, such as PCOS might cause a woman’s body to overproduce androgens.
- If you’re bothered by the hairs that grow on your face, there are a few methods you can follow to remove it, including shaving, tweezing, threading, laser removal or hair removal lotions.
- When compared to other facial hair removal treatments like waxing, threading, shaving, or using hair removal creams, laser hair removal saves time for clients who want to remove facial hair for aesthetic reasons permanently.
- Laser hair removal treatment enables you to benefit from smooth skin, avoiding the in-grown hairs and irritation with shaving.
Find your nearest clinic and arrange a consultation with one of our dermatologists for advice on how laser hair removal can work for you.
