Unwanted Facial Hair In Women

Every woman has facial hair growth which is quite fine and light in colour but at times, this facial hair on the face or body may be coarse and dark in colour which might be due to a condition called hirsutism. It is a condition when women notice male-pattern hair growth in areas where mainly male hair grows such as the face, arms, back, or chest. This is genetic and can be due to excess male hormones called androgens, primarily testosterone.

Causes of facial hair growth

Some causes of excessive facial hair growth are:

PCOS can cause irregular periods, obesity, and infertility.
Blood pressure medicines, antidepressants or antibiotics
This condition is genetic in nature
Hormonal changes
Tumours in ovaries or adrenal glands
Cushing's syndrome
Thyroid disorders
High level of cholesterol
Being obese or overweight

Methods of Facial Hair Removal

One of the most vital ways of dealing with excessive facial hair growth would be choosing how to remove those hairs. Some methods mentioned here are mostly adapted by several women.

Epilators: There are epilators meant only for the face. Look for the ones which specifically get to the root of the problem and pull out facial hair rather than cutting the surface hair.

Plucking and Threading: These methods are effective in shaping eyebrows and targeting small areas. This can be difficult to deal with when the growth is spread excessively all over the face. It is inexpensive and can be done at home, with some practice.

Waxing: Facial hair wax is quite effective as it can cover larger areas. A lot of women even report reduced hair growth with regular waxing done on facial hairs. The reason is that it involves removal right from the root. Some women find it very painful and a few get reactions as well, as with most new products, test it on other areas of the skin first.

Shaving: Shaving is one of the most popular ways of facial hair removal, but mostly amongst men. It is a myth that the hair that grows back is thicker than before. But, because the razor blunts the ends of the hair, it could appear darker when growing out again. Also, ingrown hairs don't look good. Thus, it is not suggested that women consider using this method for their faces.

Depilatories: Chemicals are used in forms such as scented creams, gels or even lotions which can be applied to large areas of skin to remove hairs. Remember to test it on a small patch of skin to prevent an allergic reaction on the face. One of the prominent drawbacks here is the smell when using the products.

Laser Hair Removal: This involves the systematic removal of hair in several problem spots, not limited to the face. As the name suggests, laser light pulses are used for this treatment which is spread over a number of sessions, usually taking months, to offer a better permanent hair removal solution. It can be expensive depending on the area you want to remove your hair. The possible side effects of irritation and sunburned feeling can be easily dealt with but there have been rare chances of permanent skin discolouration or scarring.

Home remedies for facial hairs

Sugar and Lemon Juice: Heat the mix of sugar, lemon juice, and water and apply it to the area of unwanted hairs. Wash it off after 20 minutes and you can see the visible difference. Sugar being very exfoliating helps in lightening the skin tone.

Lemon and Honey: Honey has amazing moisturising properties. Heat the mixture of sugar, honey and lemon juice. Apply cornstarch and spread the paste on the hair and peel off the hair using waxing strips.

Oatmeal and Banana: Oatmeal is rich in antioxidants and also adds glow to our faces. Mash a banana and blend it with oatmeal which helps in removing all the dead skin. Massage the hairy area with this paste for at least 15 minutes and see wonderful results.

Potato and Lentil: Potato acts as an excellent bleaching agent and lentils help in eradicating unwanted hair. Add honey, lemon juice, and potato juice to lentil paste and apply this 1-2 times a week.

Egg White and Cornstarch: Egg white being sticky forms a thin layer on your skin and helps in removing the unwanted hair on your face. Apply a mixture of cornflour and sugar to the egg white and leave it for around 30 minutes and peel it off once it's completely dry.

Treatment for unwanted facial hair

Bringing some changes in the diet can help women in this case.
Reducing excess sugar intake and carbs can be effective too.
Weight management can also help as it can help control several symptoms of PCOS.
Following a few hair removal methods like waxing, shaving, tweezing or threading can be effective as well.
Your dermatologist can guide you about laser techniques to remove unwanted hair permanently.

Take Away

Keep in mind that facial hair is very normal so one should not take any undue stress because of it. One should get a proper diagnosis if there is excessive growth as it helps to know the underlying causes. Prevention can sometimes be problematic but there are several methods to get rid of unwanted facial hair as discussed. People can choose a combination of methods, which could be easy and effective in handling the problem of facial hair growth.