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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
excessive hair growth
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
excessive hair growth
by hoops, May 27, 2002 12:00AM
I'm a 23 year old male with excessive body hair. I have coarse, dark hair covering my entire body with the exception of the soles of my feet and the palms of my hands. I have been assured by doctors that there is no underlying medical condition associated with this problem and that my testosterone levels are normal. Until this point I have been having regular waxings to remove the hair but this is painful and often results in severe acne. I also have hair covering the shaft of my penis which is particularly embarrasing and, as yet I have not found any effective way of removing it.
Is there any medication that could relieve my problem or is laser treatment my only alternative?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Is there any medication that could relieve my problem or is laser treatment my only alternative?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, May 27, 2002 12:00AM
, May 27, 2002 12:00AM
Our attitudes toward hair are determined by the culture of the place and time we live in. Having a lot of hair is rarely brought on by any disease. Just now, it is not fashionable for men to have body hair, so people like you who do feel terribly self-conscious.
You are lucky in one respect: it's only on the last 5 years that we've had the technology to remove hair, and in that taime lasers have become better, faster, and cheaper. Tretament with drugs is not useful.
Even so, laser hair removal is a job, and it can be expensive. There are many good lasers available. My advice is to comparison-shop: look around for a reputable laser-tretament center, with well-qualified personnel and reasonable prices.
At the end of the day, you are likely to be much happier with your body than you are now.
Good luck.
Dr. Rockoff
You are lucky in one respect: it's only on the last 5 years that we've had the technology to remove hair, and in that taime lasers have become better, faster, and cheaper. Tretament with drugs is not useful.
Even so, laser hair removal is a job, and it can be expensive. There are many good lasers available. My advice is to comparison-shop: look around for a reputable laser-tretament center, with well-qualified personnel and reasonable prices.
At the end of the day, you are likely to be much happier with your body than you are now.
Good luck.
Dr. Rockoff
