The number of hair removal products on the market would seem to offer proof that excessive facial hair concerns women from adolescence through menopause and beyond. Many treatments exist to remove your unwanted chin hair temporarily, and a few may erase it permanently. The right method for you likely depends on the amount of hair you have, the underlying cause and the price you are willing to pay.
Causes
The experts at the National Institutes of Health note that many women will never know what causes their excessive facial hair. It seems to run in families and dark, coarse hair often appears on the chin around the time of menopause. The most effective removal process, however, sometimes relates to the underlying cause. For instance, some women develop hirsutism or excessive body and facial hair due to polycystic ovary syndrome, an imbalance of certain hormones. Rare conditions such as Cushing's syndrome and ovarian tumors can also cause excessive body hair in women. Some medications, including anabolic steroids and hormones, might cause hirsutism.
Significance
While a few coarse chin hairs will not likely give you the diagnosis of hirsutism, your physician may decide to run a few tests if you have other signs of hormonal imbalances not explained by menopause or puberty. If polycystic ovary syndrome or some other factor such as a medication side effect is causing your unwanted facial hair, treating the condition or stopping the medication might resolve the problem. Most commonly, however, the experts at NIH note the significance of unwanted facial hair relates to its psychological impact on women.
Removal Techniques
If you only have a few stray hairs, plucking with tweezers is a generally safe and effective, though mildly painful, solution. Cream depilatories work by breaking down the structure of the hair shaft, allowing you to rinse it away. Bleaching does not remove hair but lightens it, possibly making it less visible. Doctors may treat hirsutism with oral contraceptives to restore hormonal imbalances. Eflornithine or Vaniqa, a prescription cream designed specifically to treat excessive hair growth in women, will not get rid of existing hair but might slow new hair growth if used regularly. Laser therapy uses a beam of highly concentrated light passed over your skin to disable the hair follicles and prevent new growth. Electrolysis involves inserting a tiny needle emitting electrical current into individual hair follicles, which eventually destroys the follicle.
Effects
Cream depilatories and bleaching products may irritate skin and do not provide lasting results. It can take up to two months to see any change with eflornithine and hair growth returns to normal within eight weeks of stopping therapy. You may need several electrolysis treatments spread over weeks to months, but it eventually removes unwanted hair permanently. Side effects might include lightening or darkening of treated skin and discomfort during and after the sessions. Laser therapy sometimes feels like hot grease popping on your skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. It often restricts hair growth for long periods, but you might need to return for an occasional touch-up session. Possible side effects include redness, swelling, burns and skin discoloration.
Warning
Most commonly, unwanted facial hair is more bothersome than worrisome when it comes to your health. However, the experts at NIH recommend you contact your physician if you experience sudden changes such as rapid facial hair growth associated with deepening of your voice, decreasing breast size, irregular or missed periods or exhibit other signs of hormonal imbalance since a rapid onset of such symptoms might indicate a tumor.
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