Facial Hair in Women: Causes of Growth and Removal

The content of the article

• Causes of the appearance of facial hair in women
• How to get rid of facial hair
• Removal at home
• Depilatory
• Epilation
• Depilation
• Diet
• Drug therapy
• Hardware Methods
• Folk remedies
• Soda solution
• Soap ash
• Walnut ash

The similarity of a mustache or beard among the fair sex does not look aesthetically pleasing and always makes you very complex. Facial hair in women appears for various reasons, but in most cases this problem is caused by hormonal disorders. Currently, there are many ways to get rid of unwanted vegetation. You can solve the problem by cosmetology or medication..

Causes of the appearance of facial hair in women

The scientific name for the occurrence of unwanted vegetation in the fairer sex is hirsutism. This disease is caused by an excess of male sex hormones in the body of a woman, which can occur for various reasons. Hair on the cheeks of girls, above the upper lip or on the chin cause a lot of trouble. They differ from cannons, the growth of which on the face of a woman’s entire body is normal, have a different type of bulb and a hard rod.

To understand what hirsutism is, you need to know basic information about hormones. There are different types of androgens. The most famous is testosterone. This hormone in the body of men is necessary for the formation of sperm and the development of secondary sexual characteristics (coarseness of the voice, vegetation on the body, etc.). A small amount of testosterone should be present in a woman’s body. It affects the menstrual cycle, fertility, sex drive, reproductive function. If the amount of testosterone in the body exceeds the norm, changes in the male type occur.

With hirsutism in a woman, thin unpigmented fluffy hair degenerates into terminal – colored, very stiff, long. The main reason for this is hyperandrogenism – increased production of male sex hormones, which can occur due to:

• polycystic ovary syndrome;
• menopause
• disruption of the endocrine system;
• the appearance of neoplasms in the ovaries;
• pregnancy, lactation;
• hypothalamic amenorrhea;
• hypertosis of the ovaries;
• chronic anovulation.

Hyperandrogenism causes 90% of cases of hirsutism, but there are other conditions and diagnoses. Causes of chin hair growth in women:

1. Hypersensitivity to androgens. In this state, the normal hormonal background is maintained, but for some reason it acts on the body more.
2. Idiopathic hirsutism. The disease occurs for no apparent reason. Symptoms of idiopathic hirsutism erased, hormonal abnormalities insignificant.
3. Adrenal function disorders. They develop with increased production of steroid hormones by the glands. The cause may be adrenal tumors, hyperplasia of their cortex, both congenital and acquired.
4. Reception of corticosteroids, a number of antibiotics, anabolics, immunosuppressive drugs, androgens, progestins.
5. Hereditary predisposition. Facial vegetation is caused by chromosomal and genetic features, a number of diseases in history.
6. Pituitary dysfunction. It occurs with Itsenko-Cushing’s syndrome, acromegaly, prolactinoma. The pituitary gland is affected, the adrenal glands are involved in the pathological process, resulting in the synthesis of excess cortisol and androgens.

How to get rid of facial hair

All methods can be divided into two broad categories: salon and home. Laser, photo and electrolysis is best trusted by professionals. Shugaring and facial hair removal with wax can be done both in the salon and at home. Almost all other methods are allowed to execute independently. General recommendations:

1. When choosing how to remove facial hair, take into account their structure and quantity, localization, your skin type, level of pain threshold.
2. If unwanted facial hair is caused by hormonal disruptions, then their cause must be eliminated, which will help solve the problem as a whole. It is necessary to undergo an examination of the body, identify diseases and undergo treatment under the supervision of a doctor.
3. There are a number of medications that can stop the growth of facial hair. This method is effective only in some cases and requires prior consultation with a specialist..
4. Using funds prepared according to traditional recipes, make sure that you are not allergic to the components that make up their composition. Do a portability test first. Apply the prepared product to the skin on the bend of the elbow and leave for a while. If during this period itching, irritation, burning, discomfort of a rash or other allergic reactions do not appear, you can try applying the product to the face.

Removal at home

There are many different ways to get rid of excess hair. They differ in a number of parameters: the duration of the effect, the degree of pain. If you are faced with a delicate problem such as facial hair, try different methods to figure out which one suits you best. You should choose taking into account the type and amount of hair that should be removed, the area where they grow, the degree of sensitivity of the skin. Options for home treatments:

• shaving;
• thread removal;
• cream depilation;
• clarification;
• plucking;
• shugaring;
• waxing;
• removal with a special trimmer or depilator for the face.

Depilatory

Many manufacturers produce depilation creams. Hair removal occurs under the influence of chemical components that make up such funds. Additionally, the cream may contain plant extracts, oils, vitamins, caring for the skin. The effect of chemical depilation depends on many factors, the quality of the product, the structure of the hair are of importance. It is recommended to abandon cheap creams of little-known manufacturers, because they can cause allergies and other unpleasant consequences or simply do not give a result. How to use:

1. Before the first use, carefully read the instructions and do a sensitivity test.
2. Apply the drug evenly on dry or damp skin (depending on what is recommended in the annotation).
3. After the time specified in the instructions, remove the cream with a spatula or rinse with water.
4. Treat the skin with a tonic. Apply moisturizer.

Epilation

Implied methods of removing excess hair with effects on the follicles. They provide a steady, although not permanent, result. For the face, these types of hair removal are suitable:

1. Plucking. With special tweezers, unwanted hair is bursting with the root. The procedure is easy to do at home, the effect is enough for about 10-14 days. The disadvantages of mechanical plucking include the fact that gradually the hair will grow back faster and occupy an increasingly large surface of the skin.
2. Waxing. For the face there are special small strips. They contain plant extracts that gently care for delicate skin. The strips are heated to melt the wax, glued to the corrected area and sharply torn off against the growth of the rods, tearing them with the roots. After waxing, redness and irritation may occur, there is a high risk of ingrowth. Additional disadvantages for owners of sensitive skin – hematomas, rosacea nets.
3. Removal by thread. A very popular method for women in the East and in Asia. The thread is tied into a ring and twisted several times in the middle to get two loops. The product is applied to the area to be epilated. Place the twist located at the trunk and expand the distant loop. As a result, the hair is twisted and pulled out like tweezers. The method is not suitable for women with a low pain threshold. The method is effective, it helps to remove hair and even fluff on the face in women for 3-4 weeks. It is important for him to choose the right thread, it should be thick, but not silk – you can take a spool of sewing.
4. Sugaring. The method is similar to waxing, but involves the use of sugar syrup, which can be bought ready-made or cooked at home. Hair is removed not against growth, but through it, which prevents ingrown.

Depilation

This category includes methods for removing hair without affecting the follicles. Depilation options:

1. Shaving. The simplest and most painless, but extremely undesirable option for the face. With regular shaving, the rods become even more noticeable: harder, coarser, darker. In addition, hemp stubble appears very quickly, and this does not decorate any woman.
2. The use of a trimmer. Many manufacturers produce compact devices for delicate facial hair removal, powered by batteries or accumulators. Using them is quick and easy. It is important that you follow the instructions for use specified in the instructions..
3. The use of cream. If you select a quality product, then depilation will not cause you problems.
4. Folk remedies. As a rule, they help lighten the rods, make them thinner, slow down growth.

Diet

If hirsutism is accompanied by excess body weight, then without fail you need to choose a nutrition system for weight correction. As a rule, a low-carb diet is prescribed, the observance of which contributes to the normalization of metabolic processes. Daily calories should not exceed 1800 kcal. Products should be selected taking into account that 50% of the diet was carbohydrates, 32% – proteins, 18% – fats.

Drug therapy

Medicines are prescribed for hirsutism after a complete examination of the body. Before starting therapy, you need to make sure that the patient does not have androgen-secreting tumors. Hormonal drugs are prescribed, the intake of which lasts from 3 to 6 months. Sometimes the course is repeated several times. Hormonal drugs do not affect hair that has already appeared, but slows the growth of new ones. Depending on the diagnosis made to the patient, such medications and types of therapy can be prescribed:

1. Diane-35, Yarina, Janine. Antiandrogenic drugs. Reduce testosterone levels. Reduce the sensitivity of hair follicles to androgens. Prescribed for hyperandrogenism.
2. Chemotherapy, surgical and other treatment. It is used for tumors of the adrenal glands, ovaries, pituitary gland.
3. Cortisol, prednisone. It is prescribed for congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
4. Antiestrogen Clomiphene, hormonal oral contraceptives (Androkur, Janine, Yarina). The drugs are effective in the treatment of polycystic ovary..

You can use hormonal medications only under the supervision of a doctor. Each of them has a lot of contraindications. Any hormonal medications should not be taken with:

• individual intolerance;
• tumor formations;
• pregnancy
• lactation.

Hardware Methods

Epilation with specialized devices is very effective. Most of the procedures are expensive, performed in several sessions. It is important to understand that they do not eliminate the causes of hirsutism. Although the hair will be removed for a long time, but after a certain time will appear again. Types of hardware hair removal:

1. Laser hair removal. The method of exposure to medium intensity. A laser beam passes through the rod, which heats the cells containing melanin and destroys the follicle. The course of hair removal lasts from one to six months and is carried out in several sessions. This is due to the fact that only hairs in the active growth phase are removed under the influence of a laser, while sleeping bulbs are not affected.
2. Electrolysis. Exposure to the follicle by current with the aim of destruction. Electrolysis helps to remove unwanted vegetation for a long period. Depending on the stiffness of the rod, the exposure temperature and current are selected. Suitable for any type of skin, but can provoke many complications and even scarring. The procedure is painful, carried out in several sessions.
3. Photoepilation. High-flash light interacts with melanin, resulting in the generation of thermal energy, which destroys the hair follicles. The effect lasts for approximately 5-6 months, the procedure is carried out in several sessions and it is absolutely painless. Photoepilation well removes dark hair on the face in women, but practically does not give results with light. Owners of tanned skin can cause burns. As a rule, the procedure is carried out in the cabin, but now some manufacturers produce photoepilators for home use.

Not all hardware methods are allowed. Common contraindications to these types of hair removal are:

• porphyria;
• foci of inflammation in the treated areas;
• the presence of an insulin pump or pacemaker;
• pregnancy;
• lifting with gold threads;
• diabetes;
• oncological diseases;
• rosacea;
• taking isotretinoin, steroids;
• diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• tattoos in the affected area;
• chronic skin diseases;
• hepatitis;
• infectious, viral diseases;
• prolonged sun exposure before procedures.

Removing facial hair is forever impossible. There is no method of hair removal or depilation that would help get rid of vegetation forever. Some methods, especially hardware, help reduce its number and growth rate, but should still be carried out regularly. It will be most reliable to identify the cause of hirsutism and eliminate it. As soon as the hormonal background normalizes, the facial hair will no longer bother you.

Folk remedies

Hardware and cosmetic procedures are not the only way to get rid of facial hair. There are many tools that can be prepared and used at home: with iodine, citric acid, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol. As a rule, their action is aimed at lightening or thinning hairs, slowing down or suppressing the growth process. Home remedies help get rid of vegetation without violating the integrity of the skin. By choosing and applying one of them, you will be able to effectively solve the problem with unwanted facial hair.

Soda solution

The action of the product is aimed at brightening and thinning hairs. Gradually, they may even fall out. The solution should not be applied to the skin around the eyes, otherwise you may get a burn. You need to use it like this:

1. Powder one tablet of hydroperite. Mix with 1 tbsp. l baking soda.
2. Pour in water gradually until the mass reaches the state of gruel.
3. Steam your face and apply to areas to be epilated.
4. After 15–20 minutes, cleanse the skin with a cotton pad.
5. Repeat procedure twice – thrice a week.

Soap ash

This tool is safe, but reviews are conflicting. The composition helps some very well, for others it is completely ineffective. Recipe for preparation and use:

1. Collect ash left over from the stove or bonfire. Sift it through a sieve.
2. Boil water, fill ash.
3. Rub the soap on a fine grater. Add shavings to boiling water with ash. Stir the composition thoroughly and let it brew a little. By consistency, it should resemble a thick paste..
4. Apply to problem areas of the face. Rinse off after a quarter hour.
5. Repeat the procedure every other day..

Walnut ash

The tool is intended for thinning hairs and gradual removal. Walnut ash is not recommended for sensitive skin because it can damage the capillaries. How to apply it correctly:

1. Burn walnut shell.
2. Dilute the resulting ash to 1 tsp. water.
3. Apply the composition pointwise on areas of the face with vegetation.
4. Rinse off when the mass dries and peels.
5. Repeat the procedure three times a day..