13 year old laser hair removal?

[Trepidfox]

Hi all looking for some advice, 13 year old DD is in the throws of puberty. Just started periods this year, usual developments (skin erupting, normal body changes) She devolved upper lip hair a few years ago which she has been removing with hair removal cream however on hols I have noticed she has long thick dark hairs under her chin (area between the chin and neck) I suffered this too (pcos diganosed) so assuming she will have the same fate? We're very open about hair/body stuff. She hasn't mentioned that she's noticed/feels conscious of this. Do I mention it? I didn't have the benefit of someone helping me with this and it's something I hid/shaved/plucked/felt mortified about for years until I finally had laser hair removal and it changed my life (literally) should I mention it? And would it be way too early for laser? Also would you consider making a docs appt? I'm thinking it's too early as her periods are not regular just yet (only started June this year) I just don't want her to through the crap I went through until my mid 20s 😣

@RareNewt its bloody horrible thinking there is something wrong/not normal about your body with no guidance, 10x worse if you are made fun of bullied for it. I imagine in some settings the way socials can be with their impossible standards it is still the case. Thankfully my daughter and peers seem to think having hairy legs/problem skin is more the norm now. Back when I was at school you were considered a freak for any of these normal human developments and made to feel dirty for having problems with your hair/skin. I am aware that I don't want to perpetuate the idea that hair is 'bad' but just want to be open and there for her if she's finding it difficult

I have PCOS and have had laser/IPL. Don't wax or pluck as that affects future success of laser/IPL, for now shave or bleach.
I'd see a professional as soon as you can but laser/IPL are painful/ uncomfortable, so therapists may be reluctant to treat under 18s

@Trepidfox I would definitely book drs appointment; I was diagnosed around the age of 14, but my mum didn't know anything about pcos, and it was lonely- so it's nice to see she has you to offer her support and solutions/options. I do know of someone who started electrolysis around 12 years of age for the same issue.
It is honestly horrible having pcos and symptoms as a teenager, you're just about getting through the normal teenage changes 😞

@ItIsAlwaysSwingsAndRoundabouts if you don't mind me asking (please tell me to bog off if its too intrusive) but when did you start your periods? I started at 11 but DD only started this year so wondering if it's too soon for a diagnosis

By the by, even by being diagnosed in my early 20s it was never explained to me how succepatuble I would be to developing diabetes, how important diet and exercise were. These are also legit concerns I have along with all the superficial symptoms

I'm so hairy naturally. I have had full body laser and it's much better now.

My first DD is already quite hairy at 7 and I will be using my laser on her the second she needs it.

Op, would something like this be any good for your DD?

I have suspected endo (currently waiting of my laparoscopy to diagnose), and I have very pale skin and course dark hair. My skin is super sensitive and dermal-planing sadly doesn’t react well with my skin, so I use this to keep on top of any facial hair. Not as good as a Lumea I imagine, but it’s really easy to use?

Braun mini facial hair trimmer

Can I ask about the rough cost for this? I'm looking to do similar but concerned about cost. Thanks.

I would leave it until her puberty has settled
You may be able to get a GP note (and get her checked for PCOS) so she can get it done under 18

@Trepidfox happy to answer 😊 I was 13 when I started.
I was referred to a gynaecologist and there wasn't much anyone could do other than prescribe birth control (many years later they had vanique cream available too - not sure if that is still available).
I've learnt so much about pcos over the years (am 40 now), that I wish I knew then.

No time to read the full thread right now, but I'd look into electrolysis for anything on the face (absolutely no clue if there's an age limit, sorry!) - if you start plucking or waxing then I think that can mean future electrolysis won't work as well due to it damaging the follicle or something like that?

Salons won’t be insured to carry out laser hair removal on a child. I would recommend seeing your GP though, they might be able to offer some hormone testing.

@ItIsAlwaysSwingsAndRoundabouts thank you for your reply. Same, I was put on birth control at 15, wish I had never touched any of it. I had my daughter and never took another hormone (used cycle monitoring and condoms effectively) I was lucky to be able to do this as my periods are regular. Thanks everyone for your insight, it's opening up a bigger dialogue within me that I need to look at this whole thing holistically rather than treating the hair issue alone x

@Vinni8 yes that is correct, it's advised shaving/hair removal cream is better if you intending doing electrolysis/laser in the future

A 13 year old having laser hair removal?
13?
It’s pretty obvious why it’s ridiculous and I guarantee no reputable clinic would touch a child that age.

Just to add. I use a home hair removal laser and have had amazing results. If that's the route you're thinking you can get ones with lower intensity. I started on a level 3 and haven't needed it any higher.

I would try her out on your old Lumea, if she wants to.

Are you able to explain what it is you think is ridiculous? Or, what age it won't be ridiculous?

I have PCOS too and I spent literally decades deeply ashamed of the parts of my body that were hairy. It affected my confidence, my career, my relationships, my sexuality, my sense of self, everything. I honestly can't imagine what my life would have been like if I hadn't had that burden, but if my mum had offered me a solution at 13 it could have been so different.

@Completelyjo from what I have seen some salons offer it for those between the ages of 14-17 with a guardian present.

Let me tell you, as a younger girl/woman if I had know there was the option of having a laser or to even talk to someone who would have told me I was normal and there was something I could do it would have made all the difference.

Just as a taster, here are some of the issues I had for nearly 20 years:

• Suffering constant shaving rash/cuts
• Big pustular boils that would throb and itch from broken skin
• Ingrown hairs
• The inability to go out with friends for years if the sun was shining
• Flinching any time anyone went to touch or see my neck/face
• Putting on heavy make up everyday

-unable to be intimate with partners for fear they would find out and be horrified

• Feeling like an absolute freak

I don't know if you remember being a teenager but it sucks at the best of times let alone if you have some weird shit going on that no one else seems to have?

Don't even get me started on the opportunities I missed out on because I was so ruined by keeping this a secret and thinking I was 'defective'

It was not just downy peach fuzz that could be plucked every now and then, this was full on beard growth that decimated my confidence and kept me from living a full life until I was nearly 30. I won't have my daughter living that hellscape and if u can do anything to help her I will.

I would kindly ask again unless you can speak to this issue with some insight don't bother with the random jabs, they serve zero purpose.

The reputable clinics in my area won’t do this until 18yrs. Not for insurance purposes but because they say it is more effective when hormones have settled.

@89redballoons sounds much like my own teens until I was about 30 😢 It was brutal, I hope you are doing OK now x

Reading your posts it sounds like we have similar stories actually - so yes, I'm doing OK now, thank you I came off birth control at 30, took 18 months to get pregnant with DC1 and then got pregnant with DC2 really quickly. I had healthy pregnancies and breastfed easily, and my hormones have now finally settled down a bit at 38.

I was actually really glad I had boys and not girls so they wouldn't inherit my PCOS.

I would imagine for the PCOS that the OP clearly mentions as being a cause of the hair growth. She is concerned that her daughter also may have it.

I think both my daughters have PCOS - the hair growth is an issue. (As well as other things)

My eldest is still pending diagnosis we’ve struggled with getting this for her. She has been on the pill since she was 15 due to very heavy period with rarely a 3 week break in between and acne. Once she turned 18 she did start laser treatment on her body (her back was bad) oddly no facial hair issues.

My youngest is 15 and we haven’t yet started on the pill as with the period pants it’s been life changing and she currently is managing - though irregularly causes her concern. But she does have facial hair we tried threading but it was too painful for her so this time around we’ve waxed - she preferred it! I will keep trying this way, she very much takes the lead with where she is comfortable. She has asked about the option of laser hadn’t thought it was an option till she was 18!

Both girls are very pale skin, if you had seen the thick black hair pre laser on my eldest back & arms :( & sadly it seems my youngest is going to have it too.