Unwanted hair growth can be embarrassing for both men and women. In some cases, excessive hair growth can be a sign of a serious underlying medical condition or a side-effect of medication. Most instances, however, are due to genetics or hormones. Fortunately, there are numerous treatments for unwanted hair growth.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a treatment that uses electric current to eliminate your unwanted hair growth. The treatment involves delivering an electric current through tiny needles to destroy the hair follicles. While electrolysis results in permanent hair loss, it can be painful, expensive and time-consuming. Electrolysis also can cause side-effects such as changes in your skin pigment and scarring.
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy, like electrolysis, results in permanent or long-term hair loss. The treatment involves using pulses of light to destroy hair follicles and prevent hair growth. Despite its relative effectiveness, laser therapy has many drawbacks. It will require several treatments, because the laser only targets small areas at a time. Laser Therapy also is expensive and carries the risk of burns, scarring and/or skin pigment changes.
Medication
There are various types of medication that may help with unwanted hair growth, depending on the cause. Hormone treatments, such as steroids and birth control pills, may be effective at stopping hair growth in women whose unwanted hair growth is caused by hormonal disorders. You may need to take these medications long term to keep the hair growth at bay. There are also topical medications that eliminate excess hair. Depilatory creams disrupt your hair's protein synthesis, causing it to essentially melt away. This is not a long-term solution, though, as it only lasts up to two weeks, according to the TeensHealth website. Another topical medication is eflornithine, sold under the brand name Vaniqa. Eflornithine is a prescription cream specifically for excess facial hair in women. It will slow or stop further hair growth but does not get rid of existing hair.
Shaving, Plucking and Waxing
Shaving, plucking and waxing are more traditional methods of hair removal, although they offer only short-term relief. Shaving is the preferred method for men to remove facial hair and for women to remove hair from their legs. You would usually pluck hairs only from small areas such as your eyebrows. Waxing, in which you use a sticky substance to essentially rip hair out by the follicle, lasts a little longer and is more appropriate for larger areas such as your legs, arms, chest and back. Each method has drawbacks. You must repeat shaving often and it can cause irritation and, in rare cases, infection. Plucking and waxing are both painful and can also lead to irritation.
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