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Original poster

Horrible facial hair

48 replies

newsparklythings · 30/03/2018 21:13

Around 2 months ago I decided plucking my chin hairs was causing too many in grown, big cystic spots on my chin which looked a mess. So began to shave daily.

Fast forward to today. I woke up, looked at my chin and was so down at the thick dark stubble, only a day old but really visible. So began plucking. Half way through one side I realised I had even more than I had thought - because I've been shaving as soon as I wake, hadn't been paying so much attention. I kid you not, it took me nearly an hour to patiently grab and pull.. I don't know how many. Twice as many on one side than the other, weirdly, and none in the middle. Maybe 100-200 total.

I'm only mid-30s, one child a few years old but know I had noticeable chin hair by at least mid 20s (It took me a few years to figure it out, then looking back realised people had been trying to drop kindly hints since about age 24-25 Blush)

Now it's plucked, of course I will probably get the big spots again. But what the hell. Does anyone else have it quite this bad, and at this age? Women in my family really don't talk to each other much at all never mind about this kind of thing, so I have no idea whether it's a genetic thing. DM who is 60+ and I am in regular contact with doesn't seem to have any.

Am considering buying a Lumea, but they seem so expensive I haven't done it yet. Worried it might not work and be wasted money and I'm ot that well off. Have ordered one of those £1 stick things on Amazon, it's on its way from China or wherever.

OP posts:
Betsy86 · 30/03/2018 21:16

I think we share the same chin Blush

EverlastingLove · 30/03/2018 21:21

See your GP get them to dermatologist , do not be fobbed off ! as long as its not blond hair you can have it removed permanently with laser on the NHS

or increasingly at private clinics (my friend runs a private clinic )

eurochick · 30/03/2018 21:24

Do you have pcos?

If the hair is dark and your skin is light you can have it lasered. I had mine done privately more than a decade ago and just have the odd hair now. I'd recommend it to anyone. Go to a proper clinic, not a beautician though.

pimlicolife · 30/03/2018 21:29

I have one of those cheap Amazon stick things which I use on my eyebrows.. they work really well! Hopefully it will help.

Jon66 · 30/03/2018 21:31

I use a silk epil.

Original poster
newsparklythings · 30/03/2018 21:42

Betsy I woud be happy to offer you full custody of the chin

Didn't know the NHS might be able to do something about it

Before I had DD a GP did suggest I be tested for PCOS, but then when I became pregnant they said oh sorry we can't test now because the pregnancy hormones will mess with the result

Current GP (completely different area) seems veery reluctant to refer to anywhere for anything, they sort of pretend not to know what I'm talking about when I ask It would help to be able to go back in armed with more knowledge

And I guess I should wait another 2 months so as to show the 'evidence', when it grows back Angry

How much does it cost to go to a private clinic - decent one?

OP posts:
ScattyCharly · 30/03/2018 21:43

Google laser treatment in your area

ItsASairFecht · 30/03/2018 21:51

Yes, I have it too. I bleach it and pluck out the worst, coarsest hairs. It doesn't really work, so I live in denial about how bad it is and try not to think about it too much. You have my complete understanding and sympathy.

theyoniwayisnorthwards · 30/03/2018 21:57

Get laser, it changed my life. The place I go charged £45 a session for my face, cheaper for packages of 4 or 6 and i’m In London. After 3 sessions (4 weeks apart) I have hardly any hair left. Even if it’s not permanent i’d happily have it done every few months. My skin has cleared up too

NellMangel · 30/03/2018 22:15

Yesterday I found a really long hair on my neck. So long it had started to curl. I have loads on my chin,really thick bristles that I have to pluck.

It's white or blond so I don't think laser would work. So ive got tweezerman tweezers and a little magnifying mirror.

It gets me down too. I feel incredibly unattractive.

NellMangel · 30/03/2018 22:15

Oh and nipple hair too :-(

LockedOutOfMN · 30/03/2018 22:18

OP, will waxing work?

TheNoseyProject · 30/03/2018 22:24

Yeah I have this. Generic not pcos or anything. The only way to get rid is electrolysis with a good practitioner. That kills them, Lumea only puts them to sleep and laser only works on the dark ones.

I’ve had two sets of electrolysis - when I was 18 to get rid of the original set and post baby 2. Fully expect to go bank round the merry-go-round when I’m menopausal as anything that throws your hormones up in the air can start them growing.

You’re not alone. 40% of women have facial hair.

Sigh.

Blahblahblahyadayadayada · 31/03/2018 04:11

This is more of a short term fix for preventing post hair removal spots. You could try an alum stick over the area after plucking. You know the natural deodorant stick fro health food shops that you wet and rub under your arms? Just wet it and glide it over the plucked area. They may have a block of alum as a post shaving remedy it in a local Asian food shop.
But seeing the GP (maybe a different one, armed with info and selfies) sounds like good advice. I hope you get some answers.

fishesgirl · 31/03/2018 06:01

You could contact your local college beauty therapy department to see if they offer treatments (probably electrolysis)-you usually only pay a few pounds for equipment and it should be fully supervised.
Don’t expect to get treated on the NHS, suspect very few areas offer anything now and you would usually need an underlying diagnosis to be eligible.

Queenio24 · 31/03/2018 13:05

I have pcos and very dark hair.
In my area the NHS wouldn't do laser for me even with a diagnosis of pcos. They said it would only be offered on NHS in situations like sex changes. I was very unhappy with the facial hair and desperate so I went ahead and paid on a cc. It worked and I have very infrequent top ups now.

Madonnasmum · 31/03/2018 16:21

Lumea is working for me. Quick zap on chin once in a blue moon keeps them under control. I've gone from nearly 100 to 2 or 3.

woodhill · 01/04/2018 20:42

Mine is fair at the sides of my face. I hate it. I tried to use the epistick but I worry it will make it worse. Waxing works but it grows back quickly.

Queenoftheblitz · 01/04/2018 21:51

I've got the same. Plucking just causes nasty ingrown hairs.
I'm planning on saving for a lumea.
In the meantime i shave at night and in the morning. This way i never see a chin of black stubble.

Cellardoor23 · 01/04/2018 22:42

I have this too. Dark hair and light skin so it's even more obvious. It also goes down my neck and above my lips. It's such a pain to be standing in front of a mirror plucking for half an hour everyday or shave

Oddly enough it's got worse since my DC was born. I tried to google it, but nothing showed up? I've also gained about 5 stone in about 3 years and the weight doesn't seem to be budging Sad which I think has made it worse.

thisnthat · 01/04/2018 22:48

I put off buying a lumea for ages because of the cost, and because everything I’d tried before never really worked (including salon laser). When I finally bought one all I wish is that I’d got one years ago - it has been SO effective on my facial hair (lip and chin), bikini line and legs. I was ridiculously hairy and it has seriously been life changing for me.

AnnaMagnani · 01/04/2018 22:50

Electrolysis.

Got rid permanently. I spent a lot of money on laser. While it worked brilliantly on my legs and underarms, on my face it was basically a complete waste. Hormones meant I just kept growing new hairs.

Laser nurse in the end refused to take any more money off me and said to have electrolysis. It's really worked and I just have 10 minutes every 2 months now.

Smokeahontas · 01/04/2018 22:53

Could someone link me to the aforementioned stick on Amazon?

Ifonlyus · 02/04/2018 16:39

I have the same. I fear ending up in hospital in a coma and growing a full beard if I couldn't pluck every morning. All the new growth happens during the first half of my cycle.

For those who have done electrolysis how much in advance do you book it and do you have to let the hairs grow for a few weeks first?

AnnaMagnani · 02/04/2018 17:58

Ifonlyus with electrolysis it's really important to get new hairs as they come through not old hairs.

So to start with you are basically doing a clear up job and doing everything - the practitioner should tell you how long you need and how often. Then you slowly cut down the minutes and the frequency until eventually you are just getting into maintenance and going for a few minutes once a month because my body will not give up growing new hairs

When I started it was 45 minutes and I do not know how I stood it but I only did that a couple of times but I am a really hairy person who left alone would grow a beard. My mum's the same.

Took about a year to get down to where I am now.