Facial Hair

While facial hair is a lot more common and thicker in men, women can have some too. In most cases, the hair is fine, light, and barely noticeable, but there are also instances where it is visible, coarser, or a lot thicker than normal. Unwanted facial hair can appear in cheeks, forehead, and upper lips.

Unwanted facial hair is not usually dangerous, but it can result in embarrassment and low self-esteem. It can also be frustrating and bothersome, as it causes alteration in a woman’s feminine appearance. Makeup, furthermore, is not enough to cover facial hair and there is the issue of the cosmetic product getting caught in the hairs.

What causes unwanted facial hair?

A number of factors can cause or contribute to unwanted facial hair in women. These include:

• Genetics – Unwanted facial hair can be hereditary and run in the family. If your mother, sister, or other female relative has it, you are also likely to deal with unwanted hair.
• Hormonal imbalances – An increase in the production of testosterone can sometimes lead to excess hair growth in the face, chest, and back.
• Hirsutism – This refers to the condition where unwanted or excessive hair grows on a woman’s face and body. Excessive hair due to hirsutism is usually dark and coarse. This condition also tends to run in families.
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) – Hirsutism is one of the most common symptoms of PCOS. This condition can also affect hormone production in women, resulting in acne, mood changes, irregular menstrual cycles, and fertility issues.
• Certain medications – Excessive or unwanted facial hair growth can be a side effect of taking certain medications. These include testosterone, anabolic steroids, and cyclosporine. Medications used to stimulate hair growth like Minoxidil can also have the same effect.
• Adrenal gland disorders – These can include adrenal tumors, adrenal cancer, and Cushing’s disease. The adrenal glands are situated above the kidney and are responsible for producing hormones that help regulate essential bodily functions.

If the excess hair growth is due to hormonal imbalance and other conditions, it is best to talk to a doctor or OB/GYN. Your healthcare provider may recommend hormone medications and other appropriate treatments that can help reduce hair growth. S/he may also suggest undergoing hair removal techniques/methods that provide permanent hair reduction results.

How should you deal with facial hair?

Tackling facial hair should not be the same as the way you handle unwanted body hair. This is mainly because facial skin is a lot more sensitive than other areas of the body like arms and legs. Safe and effective methods that produce long-lasting results or permanent hair reduction are more cost-effective than conventional solutions like shaving or waxing.

How can we help?

Here at Cutis Laser Clinics, we know how frustrating and bothersome unwanted facial hair can be. We provide a number of aesthetic treatments that target hair follicles and disable future hair growth for permanent hair reduction. These methods are ideal for both men and women wanting to remove or reduce unwanted facial hair.

Your individualized treatment plan, depending on various factors such as your acceptable social downtime, your expected time frame and budget, will be explained in detail during your consultation with our Harvard trained Medical Director, Dr. Sylvia Ramirez.