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Original poster

Facial hair

37 replies

Gnr24 · 23/02/2022 17:43

My Dd (17) has really dark facial hair , on sideburns and chin , it's really affecting her confidence, we have tried everything I can think of , waxing,hair removal cream and an ipl at the cost of £180 but nothing seems to work. Is there anything else that we could try , she is getting really down about it and waxes every 2 days her skin is red and sore , we have been the Dr's also to check hormone levels and for pcos but everything came back normal, I'm at a loss, any help appreciated

OP posts:
Kjr33 · 23/02/2022 18:05

Go back to the drs and demand more is my first thought. Waxing that often is awfully stressful for her skin I would maybe switch her to dermaplaning if possible? At least to try? It’s like shaving and you can watch videos on YouTube of how to do it safely. Blades by shesido from Amazon are good. Would bleaching work if her skin tone works for that? What about electrolysis? It’s gone a bit out of vogue since IPL came along but I’m guessing anything is worth a go now? Bless her it sounds really awful I can quite imagine that being really tough for her to deal with.

Original poster
Gnr24 · 23/02/2022 18:28

Thanks for your reply , yes I will go back the Dr's as I'm angry they're not concerned enough about how it's affecting her. I will have a look at the dermaplaning now , the thing is alot of hair removal treatments want you to grow your hair to get best results and my Dd couldn't do that as she said she couldn't leave the house ,we've talked about bleaching but her the hair is thick it would stand out I imagine. If she's on half term and has no plans she's let it grow for a few days it really is very thick almost like public hair . My heart breaks for her

OP posts:
Macademiamum · 23/02/2022 18:32

The best thing would be for her to learn threading
But it sounds like she needs a full hormonal work up, she should not be growing that level of hair and at that speed on her face it sounds like there is something going on medically

FoggySpecs · 23/02/2022 18:53

I'd ask for the pill and see how it goes, Yasmin or something like that.

Cleebope2 · 23/02/2022 18:55

Dianette works really well for facial hair, think it is classes as a mini contraceptive pill. Ring the doctor and ask for a prescription.

beansprout55 · 23/02/2022 19:44

Hey OP - pricey, but I promise you won't be disappointed. Buy her a Phillips Lumier off Amazon. It's an at home laser.
I've spent thousands (seriously!) on professional laser treatment and it all came back within months. I also waxed and shaved constantly. It really does get you down.

Someone told me to buy this and I was sceptical, but did. It's the best thing I've ever bought, ever! I even do my arms now.

beansprout55 · 23/02/2022 19:45

Ps I also tried dianette - not good long term, does help with spots though!

RoyKentsChestHair · 23/02/2022 19:51

I have a home IPL too. Well worth the investment - she can do it once a week, while shaving/‘dermaplaning’ in between times, (as that’s a necessary part of it but will feel less like ‘shaving’ as part of the IPL prep than just shaving alone!)

The trouble with having IPL professionally is that they say once a month but the hair is still growing in between times.

I’d also suggest maybe some hormonal contraception to try and rebalance things if that’s an issue. Blood tests only show a snapshot and of course our hormones fluctuate all the time so the fact that it didn’t show a definitive problem doesn’t mean she shouldn’t try. My chin was the worst in my teens. I took the pill for a while and it got much better. Good luck, I hope you find something that helps. It really is life changing when you don’t have to be self conscious any more. I don’t think I realised how much it affected me until it was finally all gone thanks to my IPL machine in my 30s. Flowers

Original poster
Gnr24 · 23/02/2022 20:23

Thank you all so much for the suggestions, I'm going to get on to the gp tomorrow and ask for the pill and also more blood tests as I agree , it's growing so rapidly it seems like it would be hormonal ,
She has tried the ipl at a salon but will look into investing in one , I would do anything as I know how life changing it would be for her
Thanks again everyone, I really appreciate your help

OP posts:
Cailinrua1979 · 23/02/2022 20:36

I've had severe facial hair since i was about 15. I depended on waxing for the first 4 years, plus Dianette, but both affected me quite badly. The waxing made my sensitive skin raw and sore, but i reckoned that the horrible rashes and soreness was better than the hair. Dianette really messed with my moods etc and i really wouldn't recommend it long term. I had ultra sounds, scans and more blood work than i can count, but nothing showed. It wasn't PCOS etc but i was convinced it was.
20 years later.... i couldn't conceive and so was referred to a consultant. He did a laparoscopy and confirmed endometriosis. I pushed for years with various GP's, but none took me seriously. I feel lucky to have my diagnosis as most women with endometriosis never actually have it confirmed/get a diagnosis.
I still have facial hair, and tweeze every 2 days. I'm very practised at it now and it just takes a few minutes. But it's every bit as bad as it was at 15..... if i didn't tweeze I'd have a full beard. My hair isn't dark enough for laser treatment.... its thick and stubbly but lightish in colour. Electrolysis didn't work and was expensive. Waxing was so painful and left horrible rashes. For me tweezing with good quality tweezers was the answer.

LoveLabradors · 23/02/2022 20:41

I was on dianette from 16 to 30 for acne, it was only when I came off it I realised just how much it affected my mood very badly. Phillips Lumea is excellent for fair skin and dark hair. I’ve not tried it for the face but it’s been excellent for legs and bikini line.

Original poster
Gnr24 · 23/02/2022 20:45

Thanks for the info on dianette, I will look into what options there are pill wise. Interesting about the endometriosis , hadn't thought about that , I'll make a list of questions for gp

OP posts:
Original poster
Gnr24 · 23/02/2022 20:46

My Dd is mixed race , very dark hair but really light skin

OP posts:
padsi1975 · 23/02/2022 20:49

Maybe also try another laser clinic? I had laser everywhere and it got rid of all hair in some areas and reduced it vastly in other areas. This was about 18 years ago. I now have a Philips Lumea and use that to manage what's left. I wish I'd Lasered my face when younger, some of the hairs are white now so too late. But the lumea has gotten rid of the dark ones and is on hand when any reappear. If she has dark hair and fair skin, it should at least vastly reduce the hair. She has my sympathies, facial hair is so embarrassing.

Original poster
Gnr24 · 23/02/2022 21:07

Can I ask do you have to let your hair grow to get laser or use the lumea?

OP posts:
blibblibs · 23/02/2022 21:14

For the lumea you actually need to shave before you use it so no growth required.
I've been shaving my face daily for years now but it's so much better now with the Phillips lumea.
You do have to be quite dedicated with it though to catch the hair cycles.

Rina66 · 23/02/2022 21:18

I've got a Philips Lumea, it's great for menopausal chin hairs. You can get the app, which reminds you when you need to zap.

Original poster
Gnr24 · 23/02/2022 21:27

Great thanks, I'm looking at it now in boots, very expensive but will be worth it if successful

OP posts:
Kjr33 · 23/02/2022 21:35

I’m so glad you are getting so much good advice. Threading would be great but I can understand the avoidance of any re growth. Maybe a mix of dermaplaning and home IPL will help. I just came back to add that many beauty salons now do dermaplaning if you want to ensure your daughter knows how to do it safely it might be worth starting off with salon visits until she gets the hang of it? I really hope the drs take this seriously and you can get some proper help for her.

Original poster
Gnr24 · 23/02/2022 21:42

Thanks yes the advice has been amazing , I will make sure the Dr's do everything they can , will look around clinic's also , as I will have to wait till payday to get lumen at least at the salon I can pay session by session hopefully
Thanks again you lot have been great

OP posts:
CinnamonJellyBeans · 23/02/2022 21:45

Lumea. Philips currently do a monthly payment plan. You can stop paying and return if you are not happy.

I would persist with the GP and ask to be referred for further tests.

Original poster
Gnr24 · 23/02/2022 21:53

Really a payment plan sounds like a great idea . Yes I agree about Dr's will definitely push for more tests

OP posts:
RoyKentsChestHair · 23/02/2022 21:58

@Gnr24

Can I ask do you have to let your hair grow to get laser or use the lumea?
No that’s the good thing - with waxing you need to leave it to grow but because IPL works on the hair root you need to leave the root intact but shave the hair at the surface so no visible re growth between sessions. In fact, that could be why it didn’t work so well for your DD if she was waxing or plucking in between her sessions?

Mine was called Smoothskin Gold and was quite a lot cheaper Than the Philips one, but did an amazing job.

RoyKentsChestHair · 23/02/2022 22:01

Apparently now discontinued but this is the new version

Original poster
Gnr24 · 23/02/2022 22:08

Thanks will read about this one , good to hear you don't have to grow your hair

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