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Original poster

Facial hair on 15 year old - doctor or salon?

43 replies

Im2022 · 04/01/2022 19:35

Hi my dd is almost 15 and has a lot of facial hair. It’s not hormonal as her periods are regular and normal flow. I think its a genetic thing as her dad is very hairy.

She is finding the hair extremely embarrassing, even though I help her with bleaching and removing around her lip and chin.

She has a lot of anxiety, even though she is absolutely stunning. She is very popular and confident on the surface, but she has self harmed in the past and someone at school usually makes comments about her hair or eye brows. She usually laughs it off, but i know it’s affecting her deep down.

I’m wondering whether I should take her to the doctor but would they be able to do anything if it’s not hormonal? Anyone with any advice?

OP posts:
Badnightguaranteed · 04/01/2022 19:40

I think it could be helpful to see a doctor. Upper lip hair is probably more usual than chin hair, which could indicate other issues (pcos etc).
I think bleaching is rubbish for heavy facial hair, she might need salon waxing and lasers?

TeddyTonksGirlfriend · 04/01/2022 19:41

Wow, poor thing. Teenagers can be shits as well. I would go to the Dr to absolutely clarify its not a hormonal issue and then I'd be researching permanent removal options for her, a lifetime of facial hair removal sounds a PITA.

KCat82 · 04/01/2022 19:42

I would take her to the GP in the first instance. It could be hormonal, even though she is regular. I was diagnosed with PCOS years ago and have had regular cycles (at times 😊). If there was something the GP could diagnose and treat, then possibly she could be rid of the hair rather than having to deal with it on a regular basis. Hope you manage to find something to help her.

PodcastFunFair · 04/01/2022 19:43

Gp first then salon for laser treatments

Aria2015 · 04/01/2022 19:45

I was your daughter! It's so hard! I got a Philips lumea IPL machine in my 30's and I just wish I'd had it at your daughters age. It has significantly reduced my arm, leg and facial hair so that I now feel almost 'normal'. Perhaps speak to a dr to rule out any issues and then either invest in laser treatment at a salon or get her her own IPL machine for home use.

WeRTheOnesWeHaveBeenWaitingFor · 04/01/2022 19:49

If she has white or light brown skin I would get an at home IPL hair removal device.

GalacticGoddess · 04/01/2022 19:51

Hmmm, GP to double check hormones and then if she wants it removing, either salon for laser/wax depending on preference or you could save up for a home laser?

It's hard as you don't want her to feel she has anything wrong with her and women should feel they can have hair, it's natural, but also teenagers can be unkind. My cousin is a pre teen and is incredibly hairy already for her age, and I try to tell her she is gorgeous as is but eventually I think she will want to remove the hair as she's already had comments from peers.

I had a friend who was really hairy as a teenager also, she was so self conscious about it and she did start waxing all over at a salon from age 13.

BHX3000 · 04/01/2022 19:53

Get a Philips Lumea, but speak to the doctor also. I just wish I had gone to the doctors earlier, because I thought I was doing okay by just getting rid of the hair… because the cause it’s hormonal, it keeps growing in new places, or getting thicker despite the laser.

If it’s a thyroid issue, it’s better to catch it early so they can find the right medication for her as soon as possible.

Hairyfriend · 04/01/2022 19:54

Regular periods and a 'normal' flow doesn't exclude a hormonal/medical
reason causing the excessive hair!!!

Of course see the GP first. Then get IPL so she can do it at home, or laser clinic if she is comfortable. I would never go to a beauty salon for permanent hair removal. IMO, they are generally set up for regular beauty treatments, and might have the laser person come in once a week only. The might have experience/equipment than a clinic that specialises in laser hair removal.

CiaoForDiNiaoSaur · 04/01/2022 19:57

Just adding to the voices saying go to the gp to get her hormones checked.

I've got pcos and excess facial hair as a result. My periods were regular as clockwork until recently.

tinselvestsparklepants · 04/01/2022 20:00

Doctor then salon but tell both in advance that if they tell your daughter anything other than that she is perfect and beautiful that you'll have them painfully and slowly killed. I went to the dr with the same when I was 15 and his comments knocked the stuffing out of me for a good decade. Then I went for laser and the prat there said similar. I'm 45 now and only just getting over it.

Kindnessandcourage · 04/01/2022 20:02

I would ask you to look into options like threading, lazer and so on. It's absolutely humiliating for any child to go through this given that she is 15 and you mentioned it is genetic. Ask her what she thinks about threading and may be shaping eyebrows. bleaching just makes the hair more visible in most cases. For treatments like lazer you might have to sign off as she is still not 18.

Kindnessandcourage · 04/01/2022 20:04

Completely agree with this post.

mediciempire · 04/01/2022 20:06

Poor thing. I'm hairy too and I manage it by getting eyebrows threaded and upper lip waxed and then threaded. I would look into laser if you can afford it. I'd love to have it but not in the budget right now.

RavingAnnie · 04/01/2022 20:07

It still could be hormonal. I have PCOS and only symptom of note is excessive hair. My periods were regular.

2bazookas · 04/01/2022 20:17

regular periods doesn't = no hormonal issues. Take her to GP.

queensonia · 04/01/2022 20:17

Boots do an excellent facial hair removal cream for sensitive skin which will get rid of it all in 5 minutes. Not permanent obviously but an instant fix

Treesuphooray · 04/01/2022 20:19

I hated my facial and body hair as a teen and would have loved for my mum to help me manage/get rid of it! I think the best thing you can do is to reassure her that it’s really common to be hairy but that so many women choose to remove it that it’s not common to see hairy women.
At almost 40 I no longer care about being hairy and whilst I remember to wax my moustache sporadically, it’s definitely not something I worry about anymore.
Teen years are tough! Definitely GP to check that theres nothing else causing it and then look into ways to manage it together.

IvorCutler · 04/01/2022 20:53

Has she been on steroids at all/had topical steroid treatment? That can cause hair growth in my experience. Definitely see a doctor.

Original poster
Im2022 · 04/01/2022 21:05

Thank you for all the kind comments. I think you’ve all just confirmed what I was planning, so hopefully it’s the right decision. I’ll take her to the GP first and then see if we can get to the bottom of it if its a hormone problem. I didn’t realise you could have hormonal issues even with being regular.

I already have a Philips Lumea, and this is what I use on her lip and chin, but there are so many hair follicles on her cheeks and even small fuzzy dark hairs on her forehead that I don’t feel confident removing in big patches incase they turn into ingrown hairs. Also I can’t touch her eyebrows until the forehead hair is gone, we’re only removing the middle at the moment. Poor girl. She would love her eyebrows waxed.

Doctor then salon but tell both in advance that if they tell your daughter anything other than that she is perfect and beautiful that you'll have them painfully and slowly killed absolutely! And I always tell her she is, because she is just beautiful! She is also has the most beautiful personality and am so proud she’s my daughter 🥰.

Can I ask what the treatment is for PCOS? Is it the pill? Or something similar?

OP posts:
Hairyfriend · 04/01/2022 21:11

OP- I would obviously discuss seeing the GP with your daughter beforehand.
I recall being taken to the GP age 12 by my well meaning, petite mum. I'm taller, and bigger than her and had a growth spurt- growing hips and boobs overnight. She was always a size 8, and had no idea that the purple lines over my breasts, hips and thighs were stretch marks!!! She'd never seen them before and thought I had some sort of skin problem! It was absolutely mortifying having to show them to the Dr, then being told I'd put on weight too quickly!

Oblomov22 · 04/01/2022 22:18

Why can't you touch her eyebrows yet? You could still get them threaded. Or better still take her to Shavata Singh - she is the eyebrow Queen of all time!

Original poster
Im2022 · 08/01/2022 09:19

I forgot I started this. I can’t touch the top of her eyebrows because there is fuzzy hair on her forehead, so if she was waxed/threaded, there would be a clear white line showing where the hair has been removed. I don’t want to have to start waxing her forehead, when we haven’t even controlled the bottom half of her face yet.

The doctor will be contacting me in a couple of weeks. I’ve been looking at what can be done on the NHS, and there is a cream called Vaniqa that apparently diminishes hair growth and is used in patients with hirsutism. I’m wondering if that’s what she has.

OP posts:
ElizabethinherGermanGarden · 08/01/2022 09:29

I remember reading an article in a magazine - I think it was Glamour - from a beauty editor who had regular full-face threading for all-over downy hair. She was of Greek heritage and made it clear in the article that it is something regularly done by women from the eastern Mediterranean. You've had lots of good advice about hormones etc, but if you are looking for a beauty salon that specializes in facial hair, it may be worth looking for a Greek,Turkish, Egyptian or Middle Eastern beauty salon.

Theblacksheepandme · 08/01/2022 09:44

I get my face threaded. I am quite fair but have an all over hairy face. I am too fair for laser. My teen daughter gets threading done also. I prefer it to waxing. Would a salon do laser on a teen that's under 18? I might consider it for my daughter if they did. I always ruled it out for her until she reached 18.