Treatment For Facial Hair In Women

Unwanted facial hair has many emotional and behavioral consequences, and women experience most of the consequences. Women are the most likely to be self-conscious of male-patterned facial hair growth, and they are more likely than men to seek treatment for unwanted facial hair. For men, it is entirely acceptable to shave off unwanted hair on a daily basis. For women, however, it is a different story. The stubble and shadow associated with shaving are considered unfeminine, which causes many women to seek other forms of removal.

Medications

Because male hormones called androgens can cause unwanted facial hair, medications used to block androgens have some success in preventing new hair growth on the face. Anti-androgen medications work by preventing male hormones from attaching to receptors, according to MayoClinic.com. Oral contraceptives have also proven beneficial at slowing down facial hair growth in women. The female hormones estrogen and progestin inhibit male-hormone production.

Creams

Eflornithine, a prescription cream, slows new hair growth when applied to the face, according to MayoClinic.com. Although it cannot remove or reduce existing hair, the cream can prevent new hair from growing. Topical treatment, when used in conjunction with other cosmetic treatments, helps people eliminate unwanted facial hair.

Waxing And Tweezing

Waxing and tweezing pull hair and its root bulb free from the hair follicle, resulting in smooth skin for approximately one to two weeks. Waxing involves heating wax briefly in a microwave oven, smoothing wax on the offending area, applying a muslin strip directly over the wax, and pulling the strip off quickly and evenly against the direction of hair growth. Waxing removes large sections of hair at one time. Tweezing removes one hair at a time using a special tool designed to grab onto hairs so that they can be pulled free from the skin.

Bleaching

Bleaching reduces the appearance of facial hair by making it lighter in color. At-home bleaching kits contain cream bleach and developer. After the two products are mixed together, they are applied to the offending areas, directly on top of the skin. Once the hair reaches the desired shade, the cream is rinsed away. Free Beauty Tips, a website, advises that repeated bleach applications cause hair to become fragile and sparse.

Depilatories

Depilatory creams dissolve hair and its root bulb, resulting in smooth skin for about one week. Creams specifically formulated for the sensitive skin of the face smooth on easily and rinse clean away after specified amount of time has passed. Special care is needed to prevent skin irritation from using a product that is too strong or leaving the product on longer than recommended.