Please, please help me - Hirsutism

[Hairyhelpme]

Name changed and posting here for traffic - sorry.

I'm 29 but have suffered with excessive hair growth for as long as I can remember. I have to shave my face every morning (and by the evening it's already stubbly), my chest and nipple area, belly, lower back is all hairy. Dark noticeable hairs. I'm actually so low about how my body looks and having to shave my face daily resulting in spots and the occasional cut. I have nightmares about having an accident which leaves me in a coma because I wouldn't be able to shave and my chin / face would become visibly hairy.

Does anyone else have excessive hair growth or Hirsutism and can advise me on what you've done? Is there anything a doctor would do? Can I be prescribed (even if it costs me) a hormone treatment that a transgender man would perhaps take to reduce the make hormone? I am literally desperate and the thought of shaving my face every day for the rest of my life makes me want to sob.

Sorry this is so long and thank you if you've read it all. I've never wrote it all out before and even though I've name changed and this is anonymous, I still feel a sting of embarrassment writing it. Please don't judge me. I'm disgusting and I know so. The mirror reminds me of that daily :(

Try Philips luminear - recommended on here

Yes there are things the GP can do. You shouldn't have to live like that. I have a bit (dark hairs on my chin/neck) and I've found spearmint tea to be helpful. The hair feels more sparse and it's easy to get while you get something more medical in place. Takes around a month to have an effect, drinking one big mug a day.

I have pcos and the Philips lumea is life changing. I put on my first ever swimsuit that isn't shorts this week! It's like the hair was never there. You need about 12 weeks to complete the treatments but I noticed a difference after the second treatment. They should be done every 2 weeks initially. Totally recommended.

Phillip's lumea is definitely the way forward.

You're supposed to avoid doing it before exposing yourself to sun, so it's best to start in winter, but it's worked for me!

Firstly op you are not disgusting. Something needs to be done ASAP not for the visible symptoms but for the invisible feelings/ mental health aspect.

Have you spoken to your gp? Is the pill something that could help?

What about derma planing for your face and waxing for your body?
💐

Can you take the pill? There is a pill called Dianette/co~cyprindiol which is for acne/hirsutism. It gets rid of unwanted hair by dampening the effects of male hormones.

“Co-cyprindiol is prescribed for two different skin conditions in women - acne and hirsutism. “ From google.

Thank you all for your responses. I will definitely look into investing in a Phillip's lumea - once the treatment is complete with it, how often do you need to still use it or does the hair just stop growing back completely?

I spoke to a GP years ago about it and was just told to pluck the hair I tried to explain it wasn't just one or two chin hairs - if left unshaven I generally could grow a beard. And it's only getting worse the older I'm getting. When I was in hospital after giving birth, I wasn't allowed out of bed because of some complications and I ended up dry shaving my face which was horrifically painful but I just couldn't leave it.

I think I'll make another GP appointment and hope they take me seriously and look at the lumea. Thank you all again. Honestly I'm grateful for even a tiny glimmer of hope that I don't have to be stuck like this forever.

I feel for you and definitely recommend a lumea or similar (mine is SmoothSkin Gold which was cheaper than Philips one and just as effective). It really is life changing when you no longer have to be self conscious about your face. I used to fear being in hospital for exactly the reason you said - not the operation/illness but being left without tweezers/razors/make up but now I don’t even think about it.

But you should also push for your GP to take it seriously too. If you have PCOS or a hormonal imbalance you need it diagnosed and if possible treated. The hair removal can come afterwards. Make sure you tell them how much it affects your daily life, what it stops you from doing, if you can bear it maybe don’t shave it that day so they can see how much there is. Hope you get it sorted ASAP.

I have a few female friends who have facial hair, one shaves it and the other leaves it. They're both very strong individuals IMHO because I find the small amount of facial hair I get to be difficult and mine isn't that full on. They're certainly not disgusting and neither are you. If everyone walked around totally natural, we would see just how many people have the various unwanted things we have, I think a lot of people would feel so much better in themselves. If you can manage to grow it out for a few days when you're not at work, then take photos, you can show your GP.

Firstly, ask another GP for a blood test to rule out PCOS.

I had 3 x laser treatments on the NHS but this isn’t available everywhere. I had a referral to a dermatologist for this.

It didn’t last long (2-3 years) and I’m not getting laser hair removal. It’s the best thing I’ve ever spent my money on. It’s £55 per treatment for my face and apparently I’ll need 6-8 treatments but I pay as I go so the cost is spread. If you can afford this I would highly recommend. I am planning to do my body parts one at a time to make it affordable.

I have a Lumea and it does work but the results aren’t permanent and I think laser is more effective if the hair is dark and thick and in lots of places.

The lumea is wonderful but there are medical options for you. I agree with those saying push for tests for PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) or other androgen disorders. If the GP cannot help then push for a referral to an endocrinologist. There are prescription creams you can use to reduce the hair on the skin (like Vaniqa) but there are also more comprehensive treatments to regulate the hormonal imbalances (depending on the cause).

You use the lumea every week on freshly shaved skin for 12 weeks and then you will need to do maintenance ‘zaps’ every couple of months to keep on top of things. I find my legs can go 12 weeks between maintenance sessions, my arm pits and bikini line need more like 6-8 weekly and my upper lip 3 weekly. The hair must grow at different rates in those areas.

The Lumea works best on the contrast of light skin and dark hair, so that the IPL energy is picked up by the melanin in the hair.

@Anarchyshake I would love to just embrace myself as I am but unfortunately society isn't accepting which has resulted in me not accepting myself either. I'll definitely try to leave it a couple days to take pictures.

@NoAngel1 - how often do you go for a laser session? Once you've completed all sessions will it never grow back?

Just to give some example - this is part of my stomach currently.

It's mostly my face that bothers me. If I could just get that sorted it would be 80% of the weight lifted off my shoulders. My body hair is depressing in the sense that I can't ever just be spontaneous with my DP because I have to shave everywhere first (not just the usual places) but I can cope with that more than the facial hair.

I have always been dark and hairy but in recent years it’s got really bad. At the same time I have gynae issues so I had a lot of tests. I also could grow a beard.
It was found that I have high levels of prolactin and I need to see an endocrinologist. It could be my pituitary gland

I would ask your GP for some tests

@Hairyhelpme I go every 4 weeks and I’m doing my chin, neck and sideburns and cheeks. Once the 8 sessions are done apparently it should be long lasting but no guarantees it’s permanent. Most people apparently need a top up every now and then (I’m under the impression that it’s every few years that a top up would be needed). Feel free to PM me if you want a recommendation for a clinic although depends which area you live in (would rather not say where I am on the thread). X

I have had professional laser treatment done by a dermatologist and it is life changing, but fairly expensive. It hasn't worked as well on my face so I've had a few sessions of electrolysis which is painful but good for white hairs.

There are solutions. Cost should be the only limiting factor.

Just to add that I don’t have PCOS officially but I did have raised prolactin that was apparently caused by a small tumour in my pituitary gland. Since my first pregnancy my prolactin levels have been normal so I’m unclear about the actual diagnosis and I think my hairiness is just genes or bad luck!

You poor thing. You’re not alone in this. I’m going to get a Lumea when I have the funds to hand. I’m not at the GP stage yet, because it doesn’t take me too long to stay on top of it, but definitely go back and see a different GP, maybe a female one? There have been some very supportive threads on here. One mentioned a cream they were prescribed that they used in conjunction with the Lumea and got good results.

I've been here and you have all my sympathy - it's horrible and really affected my confidence. I didn't have a boyfriend for years because I didn't want anyone to come too close and see it; I had a full on PCOS beard if I didn't shave.

I haven't tried the Lumea (although people rave about it on here so give it a go). I'm just finishing three years of electrolysis (!). Expensive, and very time consuming at first (I had two 45 min sessions a week for the first six months) but now I only go for 15 mins every three months. It's changed my life. And get checked for PCOS - it can affect your weight, your skin, your fertility etc - there are things that the GP/endocrinologist can help with.

Electrolysis on face and chest works well. Lumea on legs and arms.

You can treat and beat this. Stay strong.

Lumea is life changing

Have a read of this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3549266-face-hair-in-tears-and-pic-included

I sympathise OP. I've just started shaving twice per day this week. Perimenopausal but always had facial hair and regular periods. Plucking is just hurting my skin and causing spots. I'm working to get my bmi down and eating low carb but it's been interesting reading about Prolactin levels too. Perhaps a trip to my gp might be in order. The compact Lumea didn't work for me unfortunately but I think I read that the larger models work better on facial hair - not sure if that's true

and this one www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/3522092-Phillips-Lumea-has-changed-my-life

Best money I've ever spent.

Going to sign off for the night as I have an early start for work tomorrow but I just wanted to thank every one for their responses and helpful suggestions. I don't think any of you know how much it means to be listened to, taken seriously and kind words with no judgement offers. This is the softer side to MN and I thank you.