Hair removal - 7 yr old *sensitive*

[0AliasGrace0]

7yr old DD has premature adrenarche - the symptoms of puberty but not real puberty, in essence. She developed pubic hair age 5 which doesn't bother her, but now has tufts of thick arm pit hair, which do. It's not all over the armpit, just patches about the size of a 5p. Obviously this is more difficult for her to hide than the pubic hair, and she's conscious during dance, swimming and gymnastics classes. Any ideas on the best way to remove?

@0AliasGrace0 Have you considered a Phillips Lumea? Or a cheaper version? They are painless, used after shaving and usually permanent x

If it’s fine you can scrub it away. Go to an Indian or Pakistani beautician (if you don’t have friends from those countries) and they can tell you kind to skin techniques used on babies. There’s usually a mild paste made from dry tumeric, honey and other natural ingrediants but I can’t remember any more!

Could you bleach the hair? People do it to their facial hair, so surely it could work on underarms and would mean you don't have to do it every week.

Definitely recommend the lumea, it makes an amazing difference.

You do need to keep using it in the long term to make sure hairs don't come back, but much less regularly than shaving or waxing, and it is easier and about 1000 times less depressing to give your smooth skin a quick flash with a light gun now and then, rather than dealing with thick dark hairs where you really don't want them!

I haven't read the whole thread but I have been in your shoes, my DD was 8. She asked to get rid of the hair. I taught her how to shave safely. It was absolutely the right thing to do. She is now nearly 20 and is a well balanced, independent young woman. I am sorry you're going through this OP, it's bloody rubbish. Dealing with periods at 8 years old when they are still playing with dolls is one thing I will always feel sad about. However, it does all balance itself out eventually

Wilkinson Sword do a razor that has wires on it so you can't cut yourself. That's what my dd uses. http://www.wilkinsonsword.co.uk/women/products/quattro-for-women

If you want to help her shave, the Intuition razor (either Gillette or Wilkinson sword, I can't remember) is good. It has soap around the blade so it keeps it away from the skin so less chance of nicks.

Thanks everyone, it really is rubbish. We are lucky that it's not true puberty and I remind myself of that when it gets to me. She's exceptionally tall, clumsy due to EDS and has sensory difficulties associated with this and her prematurity. And her latest diagnosis is selective mutism too. It's all a bit of a mare tbh so anything I can do to make things slightly easier for her I'll do. I never thought that we'd get to the point where we'd manage to get her to go to these sorts of classes, so promoting her staying in them is vital.

Anyway, excuse my pity party, I'm a lp and I'm being self indulgent. I came on to say that we got the razor out. Cue hysterical laughing as she's super ticklish when anyone ventures near the armpit area but we managed it. I'm going to look at the lumea. I could use it too. We're very pale, is it ok on pale skin?

OP sounds like you're doing great and your DD is lucky to have such a clued up and sensitive mum! Re. the lumea, it's actually most effective on people with pale skin/dark hair.

Op I think you sound lovely and approachable.

nearly threading is great for the top lip. I do my eyebrows and now, 10 years later I only have to go every 6 months

Have only just noticed that my new iPad auto corrects Dd to dad. I did not use razor on my Dad,....obv.

The lumea is great on pale skin. I got one a few months ago as it seems to be a good long term solution. It doesn’t hurt.

If you do decide to keep on shaving, please be reassured that you are not making it grow back thicker. The ends seem thicker because they’re blunt, that’s all. The root doesn’t know it’s been shaved off so just carried on growing in the same way.

I think some people notice their body hair getting thicker or darker and conclude it was due to the hair removal, but it just happens with time. It a a bit like the myth of plucking a white hair out making three grow in its place.

Oh crikey, poor little sausage.

If it were my choice I'd be plumping for modelling my own armpit hair in solidarity and having a chat with teachers about founding an environment of acceptance and body positivity.
Children learn to accept bald classmates undergoing medical treatment and supporters shave their heads in solidarity.
Children learn to be kind and inclusive of peers with physical and mental disabilities.
Underarm hair should be treated with kindness and acceptance too.
A little boy growing hair early wouldn't feel pressured to shave.
It's a tough call, but I'd probably come down on the side of helping her accept herself rather than endorsing the idea that it's embarrassing or shameful for her to be au naturel.

But I really feel for her dealing with this so young (and you watching your baby having to deal with it too soon)

Please don’t do what @BarrackerBarmer suggested. I’m sure children would be kind to a child losing hair due to illness but discussing the poor girl’s puberty in front of the class is not going to help her fit in (and even if done anonymously it’ll be easy to figure out)

@0AliasGrace0 Yes perfect on pale skin! Especially if you have dark hair x

Did I suggest giving details of her puberty NerrSnerr?

If you wouldn't shave a 7 year old boys armpits then please have some compassion for the extra burden of shame you are suggesting a little girl should bear.

The OP will make the decision she thinks is best for her child but entreating her to consider hair removal as the ONLY option is really inappropriate.

You have to think of the long term effects of making a little girl feel she needs to make cosmetic changes to 'fit in' and become acceptable too.