Women over 45 years of age are troubled by excess facial hair growth
Unwanted and excess facial hair is a problem for millions of women. However, most women get more facial hair as they age due to hormonal changes and loss of estrogen with increasing male hormones such as testosterone. Data shows that almost 40% of women aged 45 and older have an excess of facial hair growth, especially on the chin.
Dr. Rebecca Baxt, a board-certified dermatologist, explains that hair grows from the root or hair follicle under the skin. The two types of hair follicles are:
- Vellus hair (fine hair often referred to as peach fuzz)
- Terminal hair (follicles are thicker and longer with deep roots)
How much facial hair a woman has is dependent upon age and genetics. As previously mentioned, women aged 45+ begin to notice unwanted facial hair as hair follicles respond to changes in testosterone levels leading to hair growth. This is noticeable by women during hormonal shifts, such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.
While facial hair growth for women varies it can be bothersome for some women, especially chin hairs, there are a variety of methods to address the unwanted facial hair.
What Are Some of the Facial Hair Removal Processes?
There are many traditional treatments for men and women to remove unwanted hair and each has treatment has their pros and cons as follows:
1. Bleaching
- Pros: Easy, relatively inexpensive, and it can be done at home.
- Cons: Can be very irritating to skin due to the harsh chemicals. Plus, the hair is still there, just lighter in color.
2. Electrolysis
- Pros: Permanent hair removal.
- Cons: It hurts, takes a long time, and many treatments. The probe causes damage to surrounding collagen as well as hair, and scarring can be seen years later especially on the upper lip.
3. Hair Depilatory Creams
- Pros: Products such as Nair™, Veet, etc. are convenient and relatively inexpensive. They can be done at home, cause less trauma to the skin than shaving, plucking, threading, and waxing
- Cons: The chemicals are harsh which can cause skin irritation and rashes, and the hair grows back immediately.
4. Hormonal Creams
- Pros: Can be done at home.
- Cons: They are expensive and only work when using it so you cannot stop unless you want hair regrowth. It takes 3-4 months of use twice a day for full effect. Hormonal creams slow the hair growth but does not eliminate it. They cannot be used if you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant or nursing.
5. Plucking
- Pros: Easy, inexpensive, and can be done daily at home.
- Cons: Makes no real improvement because as soon as the hair is plucked it starts growing back. Plucking can be painful, cause skin irritation, and sometimes acne/pimples/cysts form from the trauma of the hair plucking.
6. Shaving
- Pros: Easy, inexpensive, and can be performed daily at home.
- Cons: Women tend to psychologically dislike shaving their face. Shaving can cause skin irritation and the hair grows right back immediately.
7. Threading
- Pros: Convenient, relatively inexpensive, and can have performed at a salon.
- Cons: Threading is the same as waxing and plucking, except it must be done in a salon and has less skin irritation than waxing.
8. Waxing
- Pros: Easy, relatively inexpensive, and can do at a salon or at home.
- Cons: Waxing can be painful, you can get skin burns, and also skin irritation and breakouts from the trauma. Plus, the hair grows right back.
9. Laser Hair Removal
https://youtu.be/26Df3H5CL0s
- Pros: If you are looking for more permanent facial hair removal results, laser hair removal is an excellent option because not much hair grows in-between treatments. At BAXT CosMedical®, Dr. Rebecca Baxt has treated thousands of women and men with laser hair removal and her laser is safe for all skin colors. Laser hair removal should be done in a qualified doctor’s office, specifically a board-certified dermatology office. (See Dr. Baxt’s Before & After photos)
- Cons: It takes multiple sessions to see full results. The risk of laser burn and scarring, especially in darker or tanned skin is seen if the laser operator is not skilled. Not all lasers are appropriate for all skin tones or FDA-approved. Do your homework and find a qualified laser hair removal provider!
As a board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Rebecca Baxt is uniquely qualified to treat skin and hair conditions. During her consultations with patients who are concerned about unwanted and excess hair growth, she thoroughly discusses the pros and cons of each method in detail.
If you are concerned about unwanted hair growth on your face and body, schedule your appointment with Dr. Rebecca Baxt. Same day or next day appointment requests are given, based upon availability. Click here to request an appointment online!
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