Facial Hair Removal Options for Women: 4 Steps to Get Rid of Facial Hair

Is that line hair on your upper lip now a hair-raising reality that appears twice a month? Don’t panic: You can get a handle on your hirsuteness with these facial hair removal options.

Excess facial hair is a common problem in women entering menopause, fighting obesity and battling Polycsytic Ovarian Syndrome.

Facial hair removal is often the only option for women looking to rid their bodies of unsightly facial hair.

From the use of medically prescribed facial creams to electrolysis, here are a few steps to remove facial hair.

But first a few excess facial hair facts:

• Excess facial hair may be caused be heredity, obesity and (PCOS) Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
• Hirsutism  occurs in women due to an overproduction of  male hormones  referred to as chemically-related male sex hormones, or  androgens.
• As women reach menopausal age, an increase in androgen production stimulates excess weight gain in the stomach area and excess facial hair growth.
• An increase of androgen may cause excess hair growth around the chin, upper lip, upper cheeks and face.
• Excess facial hair may be due to an ethnic or family trait.
• According to the Mayo Clinic, ” Up to 10 percent of American women have some level of hirsutism.”
• One cause of facial hair is the storage of androgen in the fatty tissues. The more fatty tissue a woman retains, the higher levels of androgen may be stored in her body.

Step 1 -Wax your hirsuteness.

Waxing your facial hair is normally considered a semi-permanent solution. But if you wax the same area repeatedly, after a few years some women see considerable hair loss in the waxed areas.

There are at-home hot and cold wax kits that use sugaring and beeswax to remove unwanted and unsightly facial hair. Waxing lasts from 3 to 4 weeks.

Step 2 -Remove facial hair with electrolysis.

Electrolysis uses a needle to destroy the hair follicle. An electric current travels down the needle and zaps the hair. The loosened hair is removed with tweezers.

Electrolysis requires frequent treatments usually once a week for a period of one year.

Step 3 -Use a laser to remove facial hair.

Laser hair removal was approved when the FDA cleared the use of the ThermoLase Softlight Laser. A black-colored solution is applied to the skin, followed by a laser treatment.

As the laser sweeps across the skin and the dark solution seeps into the hair follicles.The combination of the heat of the laser and the dark solution applied to the skin destroys the hair follicles.

The laser must be used by a licensed practitioner. Laser hair removal lasts for a maximum of 3 months.

Step 4 -See your physician, preferably a dermatologist, for hair removal options.

Unsightly facial hair is found in women who suffer from hirsuteness or a hormonal imbalance.

Physicians can either prescribe a topical permanent hair removal agent like Vaniqua, suggest a medication to adjust hormonal levels or perform laser hair removal techniques.

More Facial Hair Removal Tips & Warnings:

• Electrolysis is very painful. Electrolysis risks include electrical shock and infection from an unsterilized needle.
• Waxing and laser hair removal remove the hair around the bikini line best.
• Depilatories melt hair above the surface of the skin using substances like sodium thioglycolate and calcium.
• Removing your hair using tweezers is effective and inexpensive. The results may last for 2-4 weeks.
• Permanent hair removal via electrolysis requires considerable time and money.
• If you apply a depilatory, results may last for a maximum of 1-3 weeks.
• Waxing can cause soreness and leave the skin open to infection. Permanent hair removal via waxing should never be used to remove eyelashes, hair around nipples, around genitals or hair that is cut or sunburned.
• Side effects of permanent laser hair removal include: blistering, discoloration, swelling, redness, and scarring.

For More Hair Removal Options for Women Visit the Following Websites:

1. FDA.GOV – Hair Removal Options
2. Skin Biology- Hair Removal Tips