What's worse? Zits or a beard?

[AtYourCervix]

And how can I stop both?

If I pluck I get spots, If I don't I look like a circus side show.

Help.

Have you tried threading?

Or plucking and then using something. Tea tree oil maybe?

I feel there must be a third way.

I love your username btw OP. If I was a midwife I would say that at every single birth I attended.

Sorry, assumed first of all that this was a choice in a bloke, then realised it's in S&B and you're talking about yourself

Right, I would say, without doubt that a beard on a woman was worse than spots. You can quite easily cover spots with good makeup (and at the moment I have to). Hiding a beard is not so easy...

Is there any alternative to plucking?

see now post shower my cheeks are all tight and dry but i know if i moisturise i'll have zits by morning.

and my chin is zitty already.

would laser removal work? i'm not full bearded but too many to leave unplucked.

Awww, Rindercella, OUCH! How to make a girl feel even worse with your opening line

I could've written the title to this thread myself, hence my defensiveness. But really, at the risk of being labelled over sensitive, that opening line was about the worse thing you could say to someone with excess facial hair issues.

I can only speak for myself but I find laser hair removal is the most long lasting and effective method I have tried but, for me, it isn't a permanent solution. I don't think anything will be. Sadly, it also gives me bad spots. But then so does waxing, shaving, plucking etc so I have to make the choice. Although not really one or the other, just beard and mild spots or no beard and huge spots. Thank god I'm reasonably attractive beyond my beard and know how to do my make up nice (so people can tell I'm a girl).

Atyourcervix, have you tried using an oil free moisturiser? If you go without any at all your skin will start trying to produce oil of its own to compensate so you may end up with spots anyway. Just avoid anything too rich or heavy.

Kittens, I really didn't mean to be mean - really not my style so huge apologies if I offended. Apologies especially to you, Cervix.

That's ok. It's just that that's the one thing that makes me feel so unfeminine so associations with blokeishness (not a word but you know what I mean) can be a bit of a sensitive point!

bleach and trim?

not at all rinders.

i imagine the bleach would also play havok with my skin (sensitive soul that i am) also it's more individual hairs than luxuriant lawn type.

I think I'm getting closer and closer to the luxuriant lawn type

Have you tried dabbing with tendskin after plucking? It works wonders on all sorts of sensitivity after hair removal.

have u tried a gentle hair removing cream??

I used to get spots after threading or waxing and have too much hair for bleach to look good, but am now a total convert to veet hair removal cream - only one is ok for the face so read the packet. Smells vile but only takes 5 min about once every five days. HTH!

too sensitive for creams. go all bleeding sore and scabby.

how long does the hairs have to be to be threaded? i can't stand them and pluck them as soon as they emerge.

Have you had a look at the Tendskin? Perhaps you should investigate laser treatment if it's upsetting you- I know I will if it gets worse.

just ordered that tendskin to try. i'm hideous.

and am working my way up to going to the docs about my hideous hormones so may ask there.

You really should- it sounds like it is really getting you down.

Definitely go to the doctors and get your hormone levels checked - I suffer with both of these afflications due to PCOS.

I was about to say go to doctors too. Don't just put up with it if it can be easily sorted.

Try putting a hot(ish) flannel on your face before you pluck, it'll open up the pores, then using a exfoliating facial wipe after plucking, to get rid of any muck left behind. I have to pluck bits of my face. I have hairy moles!!

Hmm I'd say you need to get a good skin routine - exfoliate about 2 x a week. If you pluck or wax regularly you can distort the growth area of the hair follicle so hair can grow in strange directions instead of up and out.

If you have a layer of dead skin cells over the follicle opening then the hair will grow down and become infected.

If you pluck and then touch the area or apply non anti-septic creams then the area can become infected and you will get spots too.

If you are prone to ingrown hairs then tendskin will help to remedy this as will regular exfoliation.

You should really consider laser or IPL or electroylsis as a permanent way to remove the unwanted hairs. Hope this helps.

I have Laser hair removal and then get little bumps (which grow) where I'm guessing the hair folicle is aggravated by regrowth. I exfoliate almost everyday with a gentle exfoliant. I've tried Tendskin to no avail too.

Are you a very dark lady? Perhaps Italian or Asian? It's the price you pay for those lovely dark brows and lashes, my friend!

If not, is it a recent thing, the excess hair? Could it be hormonal? A trip to the GP?

I have a hairy mole which I made the mistake of plucking some years ago. It now resembles a hog's snout bristle (or it would, if I left it). I learned a lesson there!!

I am not a very dark lady, I am "pale and interesting"! I do however have long dark lashes and dark brows so they draw attention away from my beard

I've had numerous hormone/thyroid/pcos tests over the years and they've all come back clear, whilst in the meantime I have become hairier and hairier .