Fed up with the endless plucking, waxing, and shaving? Unwanted facial hair can be a real drag, whether you're dealing with pesky chin hairs or hair back. It’s a frustration that can affect your confidence and self-esteem.
But what causes this unwanted hair growth and more importantly, how can you treat it?
Understanding The Causes Of Unwanted Facial Hair Growth: Hypertrichosis vs Hirsutism
Let’s get a handle on what’s causing unwanted hair growth before diving into solutions. For illustration, let’s classify unwanted hair growth into these two types:
Hypertrichosis
Excessive hair growth in areas where hair already grows, regardless of gender. It can affect any body part and may be due to several factors like medication, medical conditions, or genetics.
Hirsutism
A condition specifically affecting women. It’s characterised by excessive hair growth in a male-like pattern on areas like the face, chest, or back. Hirsutism is often caused by an underlying hormonal imbalance, like PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome).
Identifying the type of unwanted hair growth you’re experiencing allows you to pursue the most appropriate and effective treatment options, tailored to your individual needs.
Hypertrichosis and hirsutism are two common causes, but other conditions can contribute to unwanted hair growth. Consulting with a healthcare professional is essential to get a proper diagnosis.
Temporary Fixes To Unwanted Facial Hair: At-Home Hair Removal Methods
Some at-home methods offer temporary relief from unwanted facial hair
- Shaving: This is a quick and easy fix, but the results are short-lived. Expect hair regrowth within a few days, and beware of ingrown hairs and razor burns.
- Waxing: This method lasts longer than shaving (3-4 weeks), but it can be painful. It’s possible to experience ingrown hairs and irritated skin as a result.
- Threading: Can remove individual hairs in eyebrows and smaller areas like the upper lip or chin. It is not suitable for larger areas like the legs and back, due to it being time-consuming and impractical.
- Depilatory Creams: These chemical hair removers dissolve the hair at the skin’s surface. They are painless, but they can irritate sensitive skin, making it unsuitable for everyone.
These at-home methods may offer temporary relief but the results are short-lived and require ongoing maintenance. We’ll discuss some long-term and more effective methods to remove unwanted hair growth in the next section.
Professional Hair Removal Treatments
When temporary fixes aren’t cutting it anymore, professional hair removal treatments step up to the plate, these methods offer longer-lasting results, reducing hair growth significantly or even permanently, depending on your chosen treatment and individual hair growth cycle.
1. Laser Hair Removal
Laser Hair Removal targets the melanin pigment in the hair follicles through concentrated light energy. This damages the follicles, preventing the ability to produce new hair.
Multiple sessions (8-12 spaced out in 2-3 months) are typically required but Laser Hair Removal can significantly reduce hair growth.
A study on Laser Treatment in Hirsutism further affirms that laser treatment is especially effective in removing hirsutism-induced hair growth for ideal subjects (those with fair skin and dark hair combinations). Another study notes a 48% hair reduction in a patient with hypertrichosis lanuginosa congenita (HLSC).
However, at Laser Clinics Australia, we tailor our treatment plans to suit every skin type and colour. We use market-leading laser hair removal technology which works best on all skin tones, allowing us to treat a wide range of individuals and body areas, no matter the skin type.
For more information on Laser Hair Removal check out our relevant guides on How Laser Hair Removal Works, Why Men Should Consider Laser Hair Removal, and Laser Hair Removal vs Other Hair Removal Methods.
2. Electrolysis
Electrolysis involves inserting a fine needling into individual hair follicles, which delivers a small electrical current that destroys the hair root. It requires more sessions and may be slightly more uncomfortable than LHR, but it’s a permanent solution to completely remove unwanted facial hair.
For women experiencing hirsutism where excessive hair growth is caused by hormonal imbalances, electrolysis can be particularly effective.
A study notes the effectiveness of this method in controlling unwanted hair growth for up to 93% of patients. Better results are observed when this method is combined with the treatment of excess androgens.
The journey to feeling confident in your skin is a personal one, and how you choose to groom your body hair rests on you. Whether you opt for at-home methods or professional treatments, finding what makes you feel comfortable and empowered is what’s most important.
