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 :(

Go to a clinic linked to a hospital for laser treatment NOT a beauty salon. I shaved my chin for years , I think my treatment took about 8 months but made such a difference. I had to pay as didn't have PCOS but it is worth talking to your doctor. I understand how this makes you feel . I wish I had done it years ago.

@breakfastpizza (how do you do bold on a mobile?!?), I don’t know what type of machine but can find out. Do you know about these things? I do know of friends that have been to the same place with fantastic results though. Why does it just not work on some body parts/people though??

Oh it came out bold!! Yippee 😊

@ makes it bold

Or star star

@Remoteisland I did a lot of research at the time. IPL machines are cheaper and much more common in beauty salons, but they are far less reliable in terms of results.

Serious lasers like Candela or Cynosure brands are much more expensive and deliver more consistent, long term results. Medical professionals are more likely to use these.

Def find out which machine you're being treated with. If it's not a laser I'd seriously consider swapping. Please feel free to message me when you get the make and I'd be happy to share what I know.

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)

That's so sad, OP. I'm sure you could be, really. If your DP loves you, he won't mind about how hairy you are.

You also said that you know you are disgusting, and that's so very sad, too. You are really, really, really not disgusting, OP. Not in any way.

It must be awful to have to shave your face, and I can understand how upsetting it is. I hope you can find something to help. But as for the rest of it ... it's just body hair. It's not a crime, and it's really and truly not disgusting.

Yoga - specifically a routine for hormonal imbalances. I recommend the DK books 'Yoga' by B.K.S Iyengar.

You have my every sympathy. I have hirsutism too. I hoped In was hormonal imbalance as it got worse after having my son years ago but nope gp said hirsutism and nothing they could do on nhs as cosmetic. Gp also said 10% of women suffer from it.
My face is my worse but that gets me so so down. My DH jokes about my legs, belly, toes etc but they can all be hidden and he is used to me and accepts me for me but...but I’d have a full goatee if I didn’t deal with my face daily. But I’m constantly checking for my 5 o clock shadow from morning onwards. But I’m scared of hospital trips (was in for 4 days emergency once). It makes me flinch away from affection. It broke my heart when one of my children told me I was itchy to snuggle with. It makes me feel so unwomanly and anxious. My biggest regret is not having spare money to deal with it privately but I can’t take money from my family for vanity.
I hope you don’t feel so alone. Pm me if you want.

Hi op just be clear... On these threads peoples should clearly specify if they have underlying hormone issue because that will be much harder to treat than someone who just has darker hair

It is sad that doctors ad NHS don't give a shit about woman battling this and yet sudden outpouring of sympathy and money for people trapped in wrong body... Zero for those in right body changing to wrong

@Hairyhelpme I couldn't either, I'm just not that tough. I really hope something works for you

I am reluctant to spend £250 on a machine that might not work to be honest!

I’m inclined to agree, the Amazon reviews are pretty mixed.

Philips have a 100 day money back offer.

www.philips.co.uk/c-w/promotions/lumea.html

By then you'll know if it's made a difference or not.

I'd like to reiterate that there almost certainly won't be an underlying cause. But speak to your GP if you hvent already. Just unlucky.

The lumea is quite specific on how to use it and what kind of hair it works best for. I'd hazard a guess that a lot of the bad reviews havent followed the instructions.

Laser was my long term solution, Lumea for infrequent tip ups when devil hormones make necessary.

I second asking about PCOS. Look for the underlying cause rather than trying to.treat the symptoms.

If you have irregular periods, acne and weight gain around your tummy then these are all symptoms. It's a metabolic cause which needs treating.

I don't suffer with hirutisim but had awful acne for years. Dianette contraceptive pill masks the symptoms but doesn't address the cause.

Low carb diets can work. I take a supplement called ionsitol which helped regulate my periods and with weight gain. Good luck!

Lasering is brilliant. I had several areas done over a decade ago and have very little regrowth. I also have a Lumea. It's definitely reducing growth but doesn't make all the hair vanish like lasering. Save up and get proper laser treatment on the areas that bother you most.

@limits33
Hope you don't mind me asking, but can you explain about the shaving first thing? I see you have to shave before IPL treatment, which is understood, but shaving in a sensitive are causes such itchiness and rash after about two days (regrowth). Does this treatment stop this itchy rashy regrowth or do you just have to put up with it until the treatment works?

The lumea completely stopped red itchy skin for me. IPL is also used to treat thread veins and similar.

Lumea did not work for me, I have a full beard that I shave daily and have to wear heavy foundation every day. My head hair is also ironically disappearing fast and I'm nearly bald on top. I cover this with root spray and hair fibers. Tried laser using a groupon and it really hurt and had no effect.
Was referred to gyno and put on dianette, and promptly got a pulmonary embolism as a result. Sorry to hijack, but just to let you know your not the only one out there and most people either do not notice or do not care!
If any one has any non hormonal or non lumea solutions I'm listening!
For you OP

My lumea definitely works. Im not goid at remembering to do stuff regularly, but the hair on my upper lip has gone. Underarm hair a lot thinner etc.
I was only saying to dh last week i wish i had bought one years ago.

Oh damn a nearly zombie.Not going to answer a spam survey

Professional laser hair removal. Costly but should do the job.

I find wax strips much more do able than shaving, I use the Superdrug ones on my face a few times a week they are brilliant- good luck - I think there are lots and lots of secretly very hairy people out there! I’m definitely one of them