So, you woke up one morning, and saw that your cheek, chin, or upper lip has sprouted a hair (or several), and you are freaking out. First, don't panic. Secondly, know that you are not alone. An estimated 20 million women live with facial hair that they are removing at least once a week based on a study conducted by Bristol Myers Squibb. Did you know that?! So, now you know you are in "good" company, if one can call having facial hair good.
It is not unusual for women to have hair on their face. Prior to puberty, the hair is very fine, but once puberty kicks in, and hormones start flying this fine baby hair, also known as vellus, can become more coarse and dark. The dark, coarse hair is known as terminal hair, which is usually found under the arms and in the pubic area. The reason women get terminal hair on their face is just as varied as the women who experience it. However, background (mediterranean, Eastern European) can have something to do with it, hereditary factors (maybe all the women in your family have upper lip hair), hormones (some birth controls can cause this), or other medical conditions such as poly-cystic ovary syndrome or PCOS.
The production of terminal on women is known as hirisutism. If you, and or your child is experiencing this, it is a very good idea to have your hormone levels checked out. With that being said, there are treatments available if you are a woman growing unwanted hair.
1) The obvious being shaving, which should only be done in a state of emergency. Why? Not, because it makes the hair grow back faster, that is an old wives tale. Instead, because, shaving your face will wreak havoc on your self esteem.
2) Using a depilatory cream; You must be careful with these hair removal creams, because they can cause chemical burns that leave nasty lesions until completely healed.
3) Waxing; Waxing is good for small areas such as upper lip or chin. However, you must stay on top of your waxing schedule. Also, be aware that during that time of the month, the sensation of pain may be increased due to your body holding water.
4) Threading; Threading has been around for centuries, and has been used widely in Asian and European countries. The thread acts essentially like a tweezer to pluck the hairs from the skin. I personally love the look of my eyebrows after having them threaded versus any other treatment such as waxing or tweezing. The downside is that threading can be painful.
5) Tweezing; see above
6) Electrolysis; This is when a needle is placed in the follicle of the hair, and pulses heat to deaden the hair follicle. This method is antiquated compared to what lasers can do. This method can be very time consuming, and tedious, as well as costly. It is important that the person performing these services be licensed, and not someone who took a weekend class practicing on oranges.
6) Laser treatment; I am a HUGE fan of laser hair removal. If you want to see your hair greatly decrease/disappear this is the option for you. Laser treatment does not hurt, and does not require any downtime. In addition, you can be treated in as little as 15-20 minutes. The best thing about laser treatment is that it does work, and you only go back every 4-6 weeks depending on your hair type, and body part. The downside is that this type of treatment can be costly ranging around $1200 or so for a series of 6 treatments. However, many medical offices offer payment plans, and no interest credit plans.
Also, make sure you find a place where there is a physician who is overseeing the service/and or practice. Also, ask for the experience level and to see the license of your technician. You should never, ever feel embarrassed to know the qualifications of the practitioner servicing you. They didn't go to school for nothing. So ask! Also, if you have an olive or dark complexion, make sure the office knows how to work with your skin type. Ask to see photos of people whom they've done work on so you will know what the expectation of results should be.
Now you know your options, there is no reason to suffer with the embarrassment of facial hair.
Scentfully Yours,
Kristy W. Gilbraith
Aroma Chef Bath & Body
"Pamper Your Body & Spirit Naturally..."
