Excessive Facial Hair

[jay1x]

Hi everyone, You may remember my post about 3 weeks ago, well today I returned to the doctors to see if I could get some Oestrogen as I have too much testosterone. I was asked to do a urine sample and as it showed white bloods cells in it the appointment switched to that and I am now having bloods and x rays. I repeated my concern about the facial hair of which he replied you may need HRT, but your other problem is more serious. Is he kidding I have a full beard, moustache and sideburns. I do not know what to do. Today I found a beauty clinic that claim the Maxima laser machine is for everyone so in desperation I have contacted them. Every article I have read on laser states is does not work on blondes, fair hair and ginger hair so should be interesting. Feeling depressed.

[dubyup]

You have my full sympathy it affects your life, I have suffered with this facial hair for the past 10 years I am 65 so this would have started around 54/55 I would do anything to get rid of the problem, nobody seems interested or rather can't be bothered. Please let me know if you have any advice.

Initially I started to shave but it made it worse.

[jay1x in reply to dubyup]

Hi, Mine started around much the same age and I am now 59. The laser treatment does not work on fair hair so that counts me out. So over the weekend I sourced the internet in desperation. One thing that came up and was on You Tube was the Clean & Easy Home Electrolysis kit. It may be worth looking into as it is not expensive. I would try it on a area that would not be visible first. I have also looked at the blend method of electrolysis as it seems this is my only option. The thought of the pain bothers me and a session of 20 min is just over £20.00 so it is expensive as it will take forever to get rid of all of mine so I think it would be a small area at a time. Other than that it is waxing which I am not keen on. I will assume you have looked into the laser and waxing. Have you tried electrolysis? Not sure I am much help. Given up with the hope the doc may be able to help.

[dubyup in reply to jay1x]

Hi Jay

You have certainly done some good research, I haven't tried electrolysis, but would if I thought it would help. My sister had a lot of sessions on her chin she said it was painful and expensive but eventually the hair growth came back.

Please let me know if you have any success, I am getting paranoid.

[jay1x in reply to dubyup]

Hi dubyup,

I have been having electrolysis since June and just covering the chin, lip and under chin area. I have a 30min session. It is painful for a spit second particularly round the lip area, but I think no pain no gain. Somehow I get through it. I had 3 weekly sessions and up to now I have had fortnightly sessions. There is hardly any hair now so the electrolysis is moving me to a 3 week session as the growth is slowing down, which is great news. The hair if much finer from the stubble it was. So I am seeing results but it is slow and expensive, £25.00 for 30 min. In two weeks time she is going to start working backwards so that means she is going to start removing from the cheeks. She has told me the fine hair on my cheeks that I have not touched should respond quicker. I hope so. If you can remember my post I mentioned that I had facial like a man from the onset of the menopuase.

I am only posting this message as I think it may be worth you thinking about electrolysis too. It is not a quick fix though and can take years, but appointments become less frequent.

[sclark1139]

I am blonde and have had facial hair since my early teens and I'm now 46. I have been shaving, and now have dark facial hair, since I around age 30. I have no other way to handle this. I tried electrolysis for a few years when I was younger and it was so painful and didn't seem to make any difference, it always grew back. So, I shave now and that's just what I do. I'm very self conscious of it but I have no other option as laser hair removal is beyond my monetary means and I'm not even sure it would work anyway. So, I deal and it certainly adds to my insecurities and low self-esteem but luckily my husband loves me no matter what and I have a great job that I love and I just try not to let it interfere with my daily processes. Some days it's bothersome, especially when I notice someone looking at my chin instead of my eyes when we talk. That's hard to handle but I just keep going. I know everyone has their own insecurities and none of us are perfect and this is how God made me so if someone doesn't like it, they don't have to be a part of my life.

[jay1x in reply to sclark1139]

You have all my sympathy. I am becoming withdrawn and do not want to go out unless it is nigh time. Work no one mentions it but like you said they talk to the hair instead of me. I have since returned to the doctor who found nothing with all the tests he did. He is concerned about this taking control of my life so I am now waiting for another lot of bloods taken last Thursday, he is doing a more in depth reading of my hormones. I did have to spell it out to him that something is not right. I cannot believe that all the medical science around that the humble hair cannot be eradicated even if it is blonde. I have not plucked up the courage to have electrolysis yet. The pain puts me off, and no one can say how long it will take. All the articles I have read say that it is permanent, but you say it grows back. I am also getting very hairy arms as my husband mentioned recently. They are darker so laser could be an option. It would mean a bank loan. I could get it waxed but I do not want the chance of it getting darker as it is the peach fluff type, except the area that I have touched by tweezers, threading and waxing which I now regret. I will update on the bloods to see if that shows anything. Women have it so tough to always look good.

I think you are brave to deal with it the way you are.

[diana0011]

Excess of facial hairs is somewhere a problem. It mat cause embarrassment as every girl wants to look good and attractive. Sometime, Excess of facial hairs is bothersome. There are various reasons behind excessive facial hairs, it vary from person to person. In your case, the reason must be Hormone imbalance which causes excess of hairs. All women produce some testosterone, but higher than normal levels may increase your sex drive, affect your menstrual cycle and produce excess facial and body hair. The other reasons for this are medicines, such as minoxidil (for high blood pressure), obesity and over weight, an ovarian tumour and hereditary condition. There are several ways to remove excessive facial hairs; waxing, shaving, bleaching, hair removal creams and electrolysis. There are various laser treatment for removal of hairs but there are few risks of laser treatment swelling, redness, and scarring. Scarring may cause permanent change in complexion.

Hope you find this Usable. Good luck.

[jay1x]

Hi All, So it is 5 months on since I last commented, and I have been tested big time. Doc sent me to an endocrinologist who did blood tests 3 times over each time testing for different things. Urine test over 24 hours and then another urine test with acid over a 24 hour period. Lastly he did an ultrasound on my liver and kidney to find I have a cyst on liver although reasonably small and one on my right kidney that is 4.4cm, but decided it had nothing to do with my excess hair but has officially diagnosed Hirsutism. So in all the test I have raised testosterone but it is the high end of normal. So I am no nearer knowing what has caused this. So in desperation I contacted an electrolysis as it is approved by the FDA as the only permanent way to being hair free. So it is interesting to read that people have had it and they say it has grown back. I appreciate this happens as the start but over time it is suppose to kill hair root. I have had 6 sessions the first 3 was weekly and now two weekly for the other 3 sessions. The lady can only cover my chin and underneath and the worst bit of the top lip in the 30 min session I have. These are the areas I have treated from waxing, shaving, threading and even IPL At £25.00 a session it is going to be an expensive time but I am at desperation point and by then I am done with the pain. It is painful especially round the lip area but I am desperate and will get through the pain just to be hair free. A long way to go yet as I have all the cheeks to be done etc as I have told you I have basically developed like a man. The only good thing is the cheeks etc I have not touched and hope the electrolysis will work quicker. How long it will take I don't know but I just hope there is light at the end of the tunnel or a magical machine gets marketed for fair hair people, or all of us that struggle everyday with excess hair growth. Good Luck everyone I will keep you posted.