Unwanted Hair
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:49 am

Hi

I have a big time problem with unwanted facial and body hair. Planning to get lazer treatment done.

Do I have to get a harmone test done b4 starting the treatement Question

How effective is this lazer treatment any information on this will be helpfull

I remove my hair by epilation and my hair now they are forming into ingrown hair and black spots all around. Stuck with these hair problems for life Crying or Very sad

Need some expert suggestion. Crying or Very sad

free skin care · Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:43 pm

i have facial hair and have used laser treatment. Lazer lessens the dark hair but i still have fine ones....it is not permananent as it is often advertized but it definetly helps....i do not have hair for at least three months..but then i have to do it again...i do not mind though...it is better than waxing..
hope this helps

Tue Jul 20, 2004 6:46 pm

hi evelin, can you tell me what kind of laser you were treated with and how many treatments you had?

thanks a bunch!

Wed Jul 21, 2004 3:55 am

I have put up with facial hair growth for years, and have tried everything from waxing (not a good idea), to electrolosis which I have been having done for the last 6 years. However, I never got on top of the problem with this method, as for one it is extremely painful and they can only tackle one hair at a time, so to keep the condition under control I had to go every week which ended up costing a fortune, plus in the end they couldn't keep up with the speed with which the hairs were growing back at any rate.
So I went for laser treatment.
My first appointment was 5 weeks ago. They told me that I would need to go back once a month and after about 10 sessions all the hairs would be removed permanently (although they do not promise this, as every person is different, but that is the normal course to take).
My second appointment was therefore booked for last week but I had to cancel it as not a single hair has reappeared. It's a miracle for me, as I have been miserable and very self conscious of the problem for so many years, and now the problem is eradicated. I have another appointment in three weeks time, by which time I don't know if any hair will have reappeared (there's nothing yet). Even if I have to go every three months for the rest of my life, it'll be worth it. It doesn't hurt and in the end works out a lot less expensive than the electrolosis or any other treatment I have tried.
I definately recommend it.

Wed Jul 21, 2004 4:27 am

hi heidi...............what kind of laser treatment did u use????

i too am currently undergoing laser treament although it hasnt really been much of a sucess!! ive been going for nearly two years !!

Wed Jul 21, 2004 4:41 am

Hi amerie
I'm not sure about all the different types of laser treatment.
The webpage of the LaserCare Clinic I went to iswww.lasercare-clinics.co.uk. Obviously, this is a UK site, but I'm sure it must contain the information that you're looking for.
Hope it helps
Smile

Wed Jul 21, 2004 7:34 am

Thanks a lot to this site and also the replies I got today. I was really happy to see such a fast response.

As I have read a lot about lazer I have seen one group os people truely positive about it and it helped them. The other group was somewhat skeptical about the whole thing.

I have come to two conclusions for not working and any other suggestions on this will be great!

1) The type of lazer,wavelength,technician and such other parameters.

2) It must be due to internal hormonal conditions.

I would like to know if any of you had got their harmonal tests done before going to the treatment. Was it proper or imbalanced. Under such conditions has lazer helped Confused

I came across another good site for these problems that also has a forum like this

http://www.hairfacts.com/

and people with hirsutism have expressed dissatisfaction and increase in hair growth in areas that they did not have previously. I basically worried because previously I went through electrolysis for some time and now I have hair in areas where i did not have previously. It may be the same case with lazer too Confused

Any suggestions will be awesome !!

Thanks a lot for the replies again Smile

free skin care · Mon Jul 26, 2004 7:05 am

the laser i have used is Doode Laser (i think), I have had more than 10 sessions but still have hair....but i would still recomend the laser since hair is reduced and you're hair free for several months...

free skin care · Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:28 pm

This certainly isn't laser, but I just ordered this little nifty looking tool that is based on the principle of threading. It's cheap too. It was recommended to me by two people on other skin care boards. I'll let you know if it works!

http://threading-hair-removal.com/index.html

Thu Jul 29, 2004 5:51 am

I should really stay away from forums, they make me do naughty things! Thanks for pointing this out phredd4, I just bought it so I guess I'll let you all know as well what I think of it. I have wanted to try threading for a while and I haven't been able to find anyone. So this may be the next best thing (no, I am not coordintated enough to try threading myself so don't even mention it Laughing

). I find it curious though that they say it's less painful than waxing. Most people say quite the opposite. Well I guess I'll be able to compare in about a week or so....

free skin care · Thu Jul 29, 2004 7:41 pm

Oops! Sorry I talked you into buying it. I hope it works....and if it doesn't...well it didn't cost much. Honestly, one girl that I talked to about it said she loved hers. She stated at first she was tense and it did pinch a bit at first, but now she says she just sits in front of the tv twirling and bending it and it doesn't even bother her.

I had been reading about threading for quite awhile too, and wanted to try it. However, in my part of the country I don't think I could find anyone who would know how to do it. Smile

Anyway, I am so anxious to receive this little gadget. It's disgusting to think about the things that excite me. Smile

Plus the website states "You can be the envy of all your friends in just 2 minutes!" heheh

-Cheri

free skin care · Fri Jul 30, 2004 3:17 am

I dont't know if any of you ever had done threading with a thread... but It's like an epilator. The hairs are rolled up in the thread and then the hairs get pulled out of their roots. So the hair will grow slow and thinner.

I use a thread to remove the hair from the upper lip. It's fast, it's cheap and on long term better for the skin & hair. Hmmm I dont know how fine this thread-hair-removal is but I guess you need enough long hairs to get rolled up... maybe Im wrong...

If anyone wants to try threading with a thread: Take a piece of thread, fold double, make a knot at the open ends. Now place the thread between your hands and rotate/twist the thread about 15 times (one hand stands still other rotates). Take the loops in your fingers of your both hands like scissors. Place the twisted thread on your skin bit tighly (try on leg first). see picture Now hold you left hand still and open your fingers of your right hand like scissors. The twisted part of the thread will move and your hairs will roll up and pulled out. Cool

It's very simple but my explanation is quite horriable Laughing

!

Medusa

Fri Jul 30, 2004 6:08 am

:-&

I think I get it... I'll be trying this tomorrow, will let you know how I go Very Happy

Thanks for the description btw, I never quite understood how it was done.

Sun Aug 01, 2004 5:54 am

Ok, I tried threading, or at least I think I have hmm

Let's just say that I did what you described (and I DO understand what you are describing) but I think I am too much of a clutz to make this work. I tried for ages last night (on my leg) and didn't get a single hair Embarassed

free skin care · Sun Aug 01, 2004 6:41 am

Practice does the trick Wink

At first I was also messing and not one hair pulled out but then you just need to use your common sense Smile

I mean.. If I Medusa the Clutz can do it then its very very sure everyone can do it too! Very Happy

It's so simple and I would love to demonstrate it but... Keep practicing and you will ove it when you get the art of threading Cool

!

Medusa

Mon Aug 02, 2004 7:44 pm

Hi, Defn worth a blood test to check your hormones if you feel that your hair problem is extreme. Test should include a check for oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thryoid etc..you doctor will know which ones. Dr. may also check to see if you have PCOS - polycystic ovaries...excess hair is a symptom. There are medications that can help with excess hair eg. androcur, aldactone.

Have tried both IPL (Intense Pulse Light) and Laser (ruby/alexandrite). IPL on armpits and bikini line and the laser on my upperlip and chin. Laser was more expensive so I thought I would try the IPL on the larger areas. I have had approx 10 treatments with both methods and there has defn been a noticeable reduction in hair. Neither method is permanent hair removal. They can both reduce the amount of hair and make the hair lighter and finer.
Eg. I had some strong/thick/black hairs on my chin. A few have returned but they are so light and fine that you have to get really close to my face to see them. I am happy with that.
I have great results with the IPL on my armpits and bikini line....again there are still a few hairs..but so fair and light...hardly noticeable at all. I think if you do your homework with whatever method you choose and are realistic about your expected results you won't be dissapointed. At the end of the day it's got to be better than doing nothing at all and being embarressed. Its been a few months since I finished with the treatments and so far so good, will be keeping an eye on it though.

IPL - it does hurt..the higher the pulse..more pain. Bikini line was extra sensitive.

Laser on my face...well they applied a numbing gel... and then treated..so was ok. Different lasers out there so go somewhere reputable and where they keep up to date with new technology.

Trying to keep this short ...anything I missed?

Tue Aug 03, 2004 6:24 am

Medusa wrote:

If I Medusa the Clutz can do it then its very very sure everyone can do it too!

Oh I don't know Medusa! I might be feeling mighty silly when I still can't get a single hair out in a few months! Lucky that little contraption just got sent out yesterday. I should get it in about a week and will report back.

Mon Aug 09, 2004 1:14 pm

Has anyone else experienced acne after tweezing or waxing?

Because of perimenopausal hormone fluctuations I have developed soft white hair in a male pattern beard growth (both cheeks and chin) which is obvious against dark areas of hyperpigmentation. The hair is particularly noticable when I wear sunscreen. I'm also getting dark thick hair in my sideburns, and an irregular hairline. The white hair is resistant to depilatories, even when left on for the maximum 10 minutes (which irritated my skin). And I break out on my cheeks and chin when I tweeze. (I don't break out when I tweeze my eyebrows or upper lip)

I tried IPL and informed the technician my skin has a tendency to hyperpigmentation so she consulted a physician and set the machine accordingly. It had no effect on hair growth (I hadn't done my research and wasn't aware it wouldn't work for pale hair) and now I have a small area of hypopigmentation Sad

My esthetician suggested waxing and did a patch test which worked wonderfully. I had no reaction so a month later (two weeks ago) before my facial, she waxed my cheeks, forehead, and chin and within a few days I had acne in these areas. I thought it was a coincidence but she thinks it's from waxing and I shouldn't wax again and should just live with this hair growth. I don't want to and am considering shaving when my acne clears. Does anyone shave their face? I don't like the idea but I can get past it if it gets rid of the hair and doesn't contribute to acne.

Thanks for feedback and sharing your trials and tribulations of hair removal.

I've considered threading as my hairdresser uses that method but she said it can also contribute to acne.

free skin care · Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:20 pm

Some years ago, in fact many years ago, I was out of town for a business meeting. I had begun to have a few extra hairs on my upper lip and chin and found I had left my tweezers home. I was in a hurry to get to a session and without thinking about the consequences, I shaved in those areas Sad

Just as when you begin shaving your legs, the hair is always then stiff and bristly.... but on your face Mad

I get a wax job about every 3 weeks from the facialist and that works pretty well and I pluck in between. What I've been experiencing just lately is breakouts where I pluck on my chin and upper lip. I think I used to let it grow longer before I tweezed, just because I got busy. I got in the habit of tweezing the minute I felt anything and I think I'm just giving the skin too much of a workout.

I'd been thinking about laser, but since the hairs that trouble me are mainly individual or concentrated in a specific area, maybe electrolysis would be best for them? For my cheeks, the waxing works great.

Now, to the question about your breaking out after waxing.... my facialist won't do a facial treatment on me until a couple of days after waxing. She says it's just too much for the skin to do it closer together than that. I think you mentioned having a facial the same day? Maybe it's not the waxing, but just having several treatments too close together that is the problem. Think

Hope this helps and can someone please make recommendations for me?

JUDY

Thu Aug 12, 2004 4:26 am

This little gadget came in the mail today. Very simple concept, it's a spring that catches hair as you roll it forwards and backwards (while it's bent). Does it work? Yeah! Does it hurt? Hell yeah! Laughing

It is pretty effective though and is quick and easy. It has limitted applications though. It's not very precise so I wouln't use it anywhere near my eyebrows. So, for me, this is good for the lip area. However, it will also be good for the rest of the face (for those that like to remove those little fine hairs that catch powder).

Thanks for mentioning this - I like it! Very Happy

Mabsy

phredd4 wrote:

Oops! Sorry I talked you into buying it. I hope it works....and if it doesn't...well it didn't cost much. Honestly, one girl that I talked to about it said she loved hers. She stated at first she was tense and it did pinch a bit at first, but now she says she just sits in front of the tv twirling and bending it and it doesn't even bother her.

I had been reading about threading for quite awhile too, and wanted to try it. However, in my part of the country I don't think I could find anyone who would know how to do it. Smile

Anyway, I am so anxious to receive this little gadget. It's disgusting to think about the things that excite me. Smile

Plus the website states "You can be the envy of all your friends in just 2 minutes!" heheh

-Cheri

Thu Aug 12, 2004 2:42 pm

Thanks Judy. I'll ask my esthetician to wax me again, this time, in between facials. Stiff and bristly facial hair from shaving would really piss me off.

Does anyone have any experience with the "Finally Free" hair removal system? A few months ago I caught the tail end of the presentation on The Shopping Channel (in Canada) and was intrigued. By the time I decided to call it had sold out. TSC told me the company isn't on their schedule in the near future. I can order this system from the US but I'd appreciate if anyone has any direct knowledge of it first. It's supposed to permanently remove hair after 2 to 3 applications. It's not horrendously expensive but with the exchange rate, and then duty $, it'll add up, and if and when it comes back to TSC, it'll cost much less.

Thanks.

free skin care · Thu Aug 12, 2004 7:36 pm

Doesn't the shopping channel have a website where you can go and order products after they've been featured.

I did that with some Sammy hair care products. Don't remember if it was The Shopping Channel or Home Shopping Network. You might just try a search on "The Shopping Channel" and see.

I really need to find something that works on these bristly hairs on my chin and each side of my mouth... where I shaved Mad

They bug me so much I'm obsessive. Every time I feel one, I run to the mirror with tweezer in hand and try to pluck it out. Now, I've done that so much, I've got little red bumps where I've been too aggressive with it (maybe it's that testosterone I got mixed up).

I have all the fine hair waxed off, but these bristly little suckers will pop out within a day

I'm spending all my time in the bathroom with tweezers!

Not only that, I realized that when I push my chin over to get the best angle, I may be making the wrinkles above the lip worse! Help!

I'm thinking of electrolysis for the bristly ones since they're easy to identify and attack. Has anyone every gone for electrolysis? My Esthetician said that waxing would make the hair grow back more slowly and it might on the fine hair, but it hasn't slowed down those stiff ones a bit.

Would that "threading thingy" work on those type hairs?
JUDY

Fri Aug 13, 2004 12:45 am

Thanks Judy, but I tried. The web site still has the replacement patch thingies, but not the actual thing itself.

Fri Aug 13, 2004 6:03 am

JudyMarshall wrote:

(maybe it's that testosterone I got mixed up)

I'm not sure if the "thingo" would work on coarser hair. I get the impression that it might just pull it but will let it go in the end because there's not all that much grip there, but enough grip for fine hairs. So it might end up being painful and still leave the hair behind anyway. Hard to say though...

Mabsy

free skin care · Fri Aug 13, 2004 8:55 am

Oh-Oh, I definitely don't need "more pain" with "less results"!
JUDY

BTW, how do I use a "quote" feature on this forum, to quote the comment I'm replying to?

Automatic Message

If this is your first visit to the EDS Forums please take the time to register. Registration is required for you to post on the forums. Registration will also give you the ability to track messages of interest, send private messages to other users, participate in Gift Certificates draws and enjoy automatic discounts for shopping at our online store. Registration is free and takes just a few seconds to complete.

Click Here to join our community.

If you are already a registered member on the forums, please login to gain full access to the site.