Pcos hair growth: hi my 17 year old... - PCOS UK (Verity)

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Pcos hair growth

Brownielover profile image
17 Replies

hi my 17 year old daughter has been diagnosed with pcos. Gp has been very unhelpful and insensitive. She struggles with her weight, misses periods but her main problem is facial hair growth. Gp has said they cannot help.

anybody know of any help for her?

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Brownielover profile image
Brownielover
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17 Replies
Solly-44 profile image
Solly-44

Hi, I’m sorry her GP was so insensitive - I went through the exact same thing with mine. For facial hair I have always used an epilator and would definitely recommend this over shaving etc. it’s super painful at first but gets much more tolerable after a few goes and has good results.

Brownielover profile image
Brownielover in reply to Solly-44

Thankyou, I will look into it x

Lindzih profile image
Lindzih

If you can afford to pay for electrolysis for her then that's the thing with long lasting results. Plucking can damage the follicles. If you listen to radio 2 Jeremy vine last Monday, on BBC iplayer, they were talking about pcos. I was similar age when I was diagnosed. Not much was available on NHS then either

Brownielover profile image
Brownielover in reply to Lindzih

thank you for the input x

LTLA profile image
LTLA

My daughter went through exactly the same issues.. and the GP did not help her either. We have been told by my daughter's endrochronologist that electrolysis is best, but not cheap. My daughter, unfortunately, tried laser first and that ended up being not so good. We have since found out that laser usually is not recommended to PCOS sufferers.

Brownielover profile image
Brownielover in reply to LTLA

thank you, appreciate everyone’s input x

Flower47 profile image
Flower47

you can ask the GP for her to be referred to an endocrinologist which can give way better advice on things that can help. I’m on Metformin from them, used to have zero periods and now mine are pretty much every month.

There is waxing, shaving and laser hair removal. I bought a laser hair removal device and it helped lighten the hair.

Hope that helps! X

Brownielover profile image
Brownielover in reply to Flower47

thank you x

Zebra_hewer profile image
Zebra_hewer

Hi there!You can try a magnesium and zinc supplement. Saw Palmetto supplement (from the palm tree) is also known to help with this. Your daughter should eat a balanced diet, get sufficient sleep and learn ways to be measured and calm on her lifestyle. Very little sugary treats. Then she may not need any food supplements long-term. All the best!

Brownielover profile image
Brownielover in reply to Zebra_hewer

thank you x

Lu91 profile image
Lu91

Hi, I’ve had PCOS from the age of 18 and the only thing that has worked with reducing the hair is Laser Hair removal. It gets rid of the hair and is pretty painless. The results can last for months and you may need to top up once a year but generally it lasts a while and leaves the skin looking youthful. Unfortunately nothing else worked I tried waxing, hair removal and even plucking because I was so frustrated with it. Hope that helps

Brownielover profile image
Brownielover in reply to Lu91

thank you x

AlexandraCl07 profile image
AlexandraCl07

Unfortunately, lots of doctors are like this when it comes to PCOS. It it so sad but it it the reality.

First of all, I would recommend your daughter not to panic and not the be harsh with herself. Is not her fault she has this condition and she can’t leave a condition to define who she is.

For the facial hair, I would recommend NOT TO USE RAZORS/CREAMS for hair removal. Try waxing, and if you can afford, do laser hair removal. The best would be to go to a professional, they will know how to do it. Laser hair removal is not as easy to do at home as they advertise. There are different intensities they use (depending on the area).

I have PCOS too, and it was so difficult to find balance. I didn’t find it yet, but somehow I managed to “make it better”. Initially I went to a private doctor, they prescribed be contraceptive pills to helps me with PCOS. In 6 month all I gained was 10kg but no sign of improvements. So again, I personally don’t recommend to take medications.

What I did after that : I started to do lots of online reasearch ( I know, you may think this is not appropriate) but I found out that, there is a supplement called Myo-Inositol that apparently helps with PCOS. I decided to do a “medical trial” on myself and I ordered this supplement. I found it on Amazon. You can search it under the name Inositol Complex | PCOS Support | 180 Capsules | Myo & D Chiro-Inositol, Folate & Chromium. This is the same one I used and still using. I can say that it really helped! I always had periods but they were very painful and heavy. Not to mention the cravings and tiredness. These helped me a lot. Plus, I am taking zinc, 2 caps. Zinc again helps women with PCOS if taken 40mg daily.

Another thing I recommend is NOT TO follow strict diets. Try a balanced diet, that includes protein and vegetables. Maybe avoid lots of fruits as they have sugar. As well, try to avoid over processed food. It is not good for anyone, especially for us with PCOS. Try to cook simple things and use spices and olive oil to give it a better taste. Even bread is good, but try wholemeal bread. obviously 1-2 slices daily. Lots of water. Water can make miracles.

I do some home exercises, 15-20 min daily or even walk helps.

I did all this and now I am much better. Of course, this is long journey, probably a never ending one but I manage to control it by doing this. It was hard, but now at least I started to listen to my body and what it needs and this helped me a lot, even mentally.

Unfortunately in combination with my PCOS I have hypothyroidism and this complicates the situations but I am taking medication from the GP.

Really hope my comment will help!

All the best

Lberry profile image
Lberry

I’m 32 years old been pushing with different gps since I was 19 for help I have finally been referred to a gynaecologist who has diagnosed me with pcos do not give up push to be referred im finally getting the help I need

Butterflies2023 profile image
Butterflies2023 in reply to Lberry

what treatment did they give you?

laujayde91 profile image
laujayde91

I am currently under a surgery team who thought I was on metformin for pcos. So maybe this is a medication to enquire about from gp. Also, I use epilator much softer hair growth. You can also buy a cream called vaniqa from Lloyds which can help growth settle. But unfortunately everything is expensive. I have suffered since I was 17 years old. Now 32 x

Snowybell profile image
Snowybell

When I was first diagnosed I was prescribed Cyproterone acetate (CPA) combined with ethinylestradiol (EE). This was to treat erratic cycle, hirsutism plus moderate to severe acne related to androgen-sensitivity. I was given this after being referred to an endocrinologist for my PCOS.It may help the hirsutism on her face.

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