Re: How do I get rid of this hair?

Posted By MichelleW on July 16, 1999 at 10:59:13
For the past ten years I have had hair growth on my chin on either side.  It is getting worse.  I use tweezers to remove them but now it seems to be growing thicker.  I feel like I have made this worse because at first it was only a few now it is alot and I am doing it daily.  I am afraid I will scar my face if I keep tweezing.  Bleaching does not work.  These are dark and stiff hairs.  Not as thick as a mans facial hair though.  How can I stop this?  I am thirty one and this is embarrassing.

[Derm-MD-ASR]

Posted By Derm M.D. ASR on July 16, 1999 at 16:27:02
Michelle:
Even if it's embarrassing, faical hair is not necessarily abnormal.  If it weren't so common, there wouldn't be so many ways to remove it.  Temporary methods include shaving (which does NOT cause hair to be thicker), plucking, waxing, using depilatory creams, or bleaching the hair.
Longer-term methods include electrology and laser hair removal.  Electrology was devised by an eye doctor (!) over a hundred years ago.  Electrodes are inserted into one follicle at a time.  It's uncompfortable and a bit slow, but the amount of hair it ounds like you have is do-able by this method.  It does take a number of treatments, though, often given weekly.
A newer and faster method is laser hair removal.  In 3 or 4 treatment, given every 6-8 week, many different laser systems can produce long-term loss of hair.   This is quite safe if done by people who know what they're doing.  It only works, however, on dark hair (so the laser light has something to shoot) and light, untanned skin.
Incidentally, if your periods are regular, it's unlikely that you have any hormone problems worth looking into.

[Janine__0]

Posted By Janine on August 04, 1999 at 16:23:23
I too have unwanted hair problems.  I pluck hair on my chin which causes small black heads that I believe is caused by the metal from the tweezer.  My skin is quite sensitive, I also have problems shaving my bikini line without causing a rash from the shaver.  Do you have any ideas for me?
Could you also expand on hormone problems causing hair growth?

[Derm-MD-ASR]

Posted By Derm M.D. ASR on August 05, 1999 at 11:05:01
Janine:
If your skin is too sensitive to tolerate tweezing and plucking, you should look into more permanent methods of hair removal, such as laser or electrolysis.  Both are safe and effective, though lasers are for people with brown or black hair and light, untanned skin.
"Hormones" are often blamed for hair growth, but the vast majority of people who have more hair thsn they think they should have no measurable hormone imbalance.  Again, a useful rule of thumb for women is that normal periods imply that hormone imbalance is not the cause of excessive hair.
Best.
Dr R.
keywords: hirsutism, hair removal, electrolysis, laser, Rockoff
Disclaimer:  The information provided in this forum is presented for general educational purposes only.  Specific questions you have pertaining to your health should always be directed to your personal physician.










Follow Ups:


How do I get rid of this hair? DEBBIE 8/18/1999
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Re: How do I get rid of this hair? Derm M.D. ASR 8/19/1999
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How do I get rid of this hair? Julie 8/26/1999
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