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There is nothing more frustrating than when you start growing excessive nose and ear hair. Whether you are a man or a woman, thick and dark hair sticking out of your nose and ears can be very unsightly, and dealing with them can be difficult as they are in hard-to-access areas.
So how do you permanently remove your nose and ear hair? While waxing, plucking, and trimming are common yet short-term solutions, a great way to permanently say goodbye to your ear and nose hair is with laser hair removal.
Having your nose and ears treated with laser hair removal can make your ear and nose hair problem a thing of the past.
Why Do We Grow Nose and Ear Hair?
Nose and ear hairs can be unsightly and bothersome, which begs the question: why do we even have hair growing out of these places in the first place? And secondly, why do we start growing these patches of unwanted hair as we get older, beginning in our 30s and 40s?
Androgen, Testosterone, and Hair
Let’s start with understanding how hair in the body works. As a child, you naturally only have hair coming out of the top of your head; it’s as you age that you start to develop hair around your body, such as your legs, armpits, groin area, and of course, your facial hair, nose hair, and ear hair.
This can be attributed to the increase of androgen production in the body as you age. Hair growth is most sensitive to androgen presence. The more testosterone a body has, the more of the androgen hormone it produces as it ages. This is why people with higher levels of testosterone typically have thicker and denser hair around the face and body, because it naturally produces more androgen.
The Hair Cycle
Hairgrowth stage
These stages have their own predetermined lengths. The anagen stage can be expected to last anywhere from two to six years before it moves onto the second stage, the catagen stage. (Although it is important to note that the anagen stage is noticeably shorter in body hair than in head hair, with the anagen cycle in arm hair lasting just a few months).
The catagen stage is the shortest, lasting just a few weeks – between the end of growth and the point that it falls out, or the third and final telogen stage. The hair falls out naturally through external trauma (light pulling) or through shedding, which is why you sometimes see hair on your pillow when you wake up. After the hair falls out of the follicle in the telogen stage, a period of short rest occurs and the cycle begins again.
DHT and the Androgen Paradox
However, as people age, the hair cycle becomes disrupted. This is caused by long-term exposure to testosterone and androgen. Testosterone is naturally produced in the body’s hair follicles, and different types of hair respond differently to this testosterone.
The hair follicles become sensitive specifically to the testosterone byproduct known as dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. This increased sensitivity leads to the anagen stage lasting longer and longer, thus leading to ear, nose, and eyebrow hair strands that seem to continue growing for ages.
While the increase of testosterone sensitivity leads to hair growth in the underarm, pubic, beard, and nose and ear areas, it also leads to the lessening of hair growth on the top of the hair. This is why you often see men with hairy bodies and faces who have thinning or balding head hair.
The increase of sensitivity to DHT is known as the Androgen Paradox. As a man gets to the age where they become increasingly sensitive to DHT, that’s when they can expect to see hair thinning on the top of their head, and hair growing more in other places, like the nose and ear.
Not only does growth rate become greater, but there is also a production of larger, bigger, and thicker strands of hair. This is known as terminal hair, which is typically found anywhere but on the top of the hair. Vellus hair – finer and shorter – is the hair from the head, while terminal hair is heavier and thicker. While DHT can also affect women, it is much more prominent in men because of the higher levels of testosterone in the male body.
Purposes of Nose and Ear Hair
While the increase of ear and nose hair growth as we age is definitely unwanted, that doesn’t mean that ear and nose hair serve zero purpose. There are actually some important functions involved with ear and nose hair in keeping the body safe and healthy.
This is why removing ear and nose hair permanently can be somewhat controversial and risky if not done right – you never want to remove your ear and nose hair completely, or else you leave your general immune system in a crippled, vulnerable state. Here’s why:
Nose Hair Purposes
Nose hairnose hair
Our nasal hair also acts as a kind of built-in humidifier. The air we breathe in passes through the nasal hair which humidifies the air before it enters our system. This helps to keep the respiratory system balanced and wet, limiting irritation through drying out.
So how much do we really need these benefits? Various studies have found that individuals with sparse and thin nose hair are three to four times likelier to develop asthma than those with dense nostrils. Does this mean that it’s dangerous to cut your nose hair? Not exactly – as long as you leave the nasal hair coating the nose’s inside layers, you should be safe. Everything else can be done any with.
Ear Hair Purposes
There are two types of hair in the ear: tragi ear hairs and vellus ear hairs. The vellus hair is the peach-like fuzzy layer that acts as a thin coating of hair around the ear lobes and outer ear. We have this hair from childhood, and its primary function is to assist in body temperature regulation.
Vellus hair is typically not the ear hair that people complain about when discussing ear hair. This is because vellus hair has no pigmentation, thus making it difficult to see; it is also short, light, and doesn’t grow beyond its initial fuzziness.
The second type of ear hair is what people generally take issue with. Tragi hairs are known as terminal hairs, which are darker, thicker, and longer than vellus hairs. Their primary purpose is for protection – they work with your ear wax to create a barrier against foreign substances, such as debris, bacteria, and germs that could cause damage inside of your system.
Like nose hair, this doesn’t make it dangerous to cut your ear hairs. A person can remove their unsightly ear hairs without making themselves vulnerable to foreign substances, because there are deeper hairs that you can leave untouched which would keep you protected.
Why You Should Remove Your Nose and Ear Hair
- Aesthetics: Perhaps the most common reason why people get their ear and nose hair removed is aesthetics. Simply put, ear and nose hairs are unsightly, and your partner doesn’t want to wake up looking at it every morning. While there is nothing functionally wrong with nose and ear hairs, having them coming out of their respective orifices is something that most people do not want to see.
- Health: While ear and nose hair do offer many benefits to the human body, too much of a good thing can end up being harmful. Too much ear or nose hair can end clogging their respective areas, the nostrils or ear canals. This makes you more susceptible to certain conditions; one example is swimmer’s ear, which ear hair contributes to by trapping water inside the ear canal. Excessive ear hair can also contribute to tinnitus, or a continuous ringing in the ears.
- Ease: Last but not least – you should get your ear and nose hair removed because it’s never been easier to do ear and nose hair removal. Not only do we have the tools to quickly get rid of your unwanted ear and nose hair in just minutes, but we also have the technology to do it permanently.
Common Nose and Ear Hair Removal Methods
Plucking
Plucking is the most common form of ear and nose hair removal, simply because anyone can do it from the comfort of their own home with little extra tools required. While some may pluck with their fingers to remove the strands, the recommended way to remove is to use a pair of tweezers during ear and nose hair removal to catch and yank out your nose and ear hair.
But be warned: there will be some moderate pain, a stinging sensation, with each hair, however this pain is definitely tolerable. This method is easy and simple, but it does take some time and patience. The one benefit of plucking is that there is little risk of damaging the mucous lining of the nose.
Waxing
Waxing isn’t a method or way most people can do on their own to remove their nose hair, which means a visit to a waxing salon is on the books if you intend to have your nose and ear hair waxed. Waxing involves the application of a wax to the inner parts of your nose and ear. The hair strands stick to the wax, and the wax is quickly and violently removed to properly yank out all the stuck hair.
A benefit from waxing is that it is quick; you should be able to remove entire clumps of hair with a single tug. However, this is definitely the most painful hair removal option, so you should be ready to take the pain before you sign up for a waxing appointment.
Trimming
Another easy and at-home method you can try is trimming. Anyone can engage in ear and nose hair removal with a hair trimmer – all it takes is a certain specialized pair of scissors known as rounded or nose hair scissors, or electric nose and ear hair trimmers that simply requires moving the device around your nose or ear. While electric nose hair trimmers are easy to use, they also require constant cleaning, making hair trimmers a slightly more frustrating option.
Trimming the nose and ear hairs with a hair trimmer or scissors is a good option because it is nearly impossible to hurt yourself while doing it, unless you make a huge mistake. However, some people do not like trimming because of the unfamiliar sensation from the hair trimmer device, or the feeling that occurs once the nose hairs start growing back. It also requires regular maintenance, with one trim to remove hair at least once a week.
Permanent Nose and Ear Hair Solution – Laser Hair Removal
If you are looking to get rid of your ear and nose hair once and for all, then the option for you is laser hair removal. A single series of laser hair removal treatments guarantees the semi-permanent removal of your ear and nose hair, making it a thing of the past.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removaldestroying hair follicles
This leads to a semi-permanent hair removal solution on the skin, as the majority of the targeted ear and nose hairs or nasal hair becomes unable to continue hair growth for the next several months or years.
Is Laser Hair Removal Safe for Nose and Ear Hair?
While laser hair removal is a very popular hair removal way for areas such as the underarms, bikini area, legs, and more, some patients are reluctant to consider laser hair removal for nose hair removal, with one belief that these areas might be more sensitive to damage, making way for greater skin and hair problems.
Fortunately, with an experienced laser hair removal practitioner working on your nose hairs or nasal hair, there should be little to no risk when applying lasers to the nose and ear area. Just make sure to book your appointment with a trusted and experienced laser hair removal team.
How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost for Nose and Ear Hair?
The cost of laser hair removal varies, depending on the experience of your chosen doctor, your location, and the area being targeted. The great news for ear and nose hair removal with lasers is that these are very small skin areas, meaning the laser hair removal sessions should cost less than sessions on larger skin areas such as the back or legs.
Laser Hair Removal with Ethos Spa
If you are looking to have your nose and/or ear hairs permanently removed from your skin, then don’t bother dealing with hundreds of waxing appointments and painful trimming for the rest of your life. With a few sessions of laser hair removal, the next time your ear and nasal hair grows back will be years away.
At Ethos Spa, we have treated countless patients with laser hair removal, with nose hair removal (nasal hair removal) as our specialties. Book your appointment on our website today and start your way to having your ears and nose hairs removed forever.
Dr. Hardik Soni
MDLead Physician
About Dr. Hardik Soni
Dr. Hardik SoniDr. Soni
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