Facial Hair Removal Guide: Methods And Treatments

Many of us have hair on our body and some also have it on their face. The excessive presence of hair can be due to factors like hormonal imbalance, heredity problem or some other such problem. Hair on the face may cause a lot of embarrassment.

Some other common causes for excessive facial hair can be:

  • Intake of some medicines can stimulate the growth of stray, darker, coarser hair. Examples of such medicines are Phynetoin, Cyclosporine, Anabolic steroids.
  • Facial hair can also be a result of physical and medical issues (for instance obesity and polycystic ovarian syndrome.)

All of us wish to get rid of this situation and employ various techniques and methods like electrolysis, plucking, shaving, waxing, depilatory creams, and laser techniques. Each of these methods has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Both men and women face the problem of facial hair which is really very difficult to remove permanently.

However, various modern methods have come in to existence which can help in reducing hair growth on the face to a large extent. These are:

  • Laser facial hair removal- People with light colored skin and with dark hair should opt for the laser facial hair removal treatment. After a few treatments the hair becomes finer and lighter, making it less visible.

  • Electrolysis facial hair removal- This method generally employs a thin metal wire which is inserted in the hair follicle and then electricity is passed through it. The follicle gets damaged by the electric current and this in turn helps in stopping hair growth. This treatment is a little expensive and painful. But it is considered to be safe and provides long term results.

  • Flash lamps- Flash lamps or intense pulsed lamps generally provide long term results. In this technique, specific wavelengths of light are generated in a flash lamp and are shifted to the hair root or hair follicle. This causes permanent damage to the chromophores and stops hair growth.

  • Waxing and tweezing- These methods are also used for removing facial hair. When waxing, hot wax is applied on the area from where hair is to be removed. A cloth strip or paper strip is placed on the area. It is then pulled in opposite direction of hair growth and the hair is also pulled along with it. Tweezing is generally used in smaller areas, especially when precision is needed. In these methods the hair follicles are not affected and therefore the new hair grows back within a few weeks. These methods are generally painful and cause skin redness or irritation. They do not provide permanent relief and are a temporary solution only.

  • Some other common treatments for treating hair growth are hormones like estrogen and progesterone, shaving, and through medications like Vaniqua (a prescription cream).

These methods can be employed to get rid of unwanted and ugly facial hair. However it is always recommended to consult a doctor before going for any such treatment.