Many women might welcome excess hair growth on the scalp. However, when it occurs in areas like the face, chest and back, it may not be so well-received. Unwanted excessive hair growth, or hirsutism, takes place when the ovaries produce too much of the male hormones called androgens, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. A variety of home remedies may help keep unwanted hair at bay. Talk to your doctor before using herbs and dietary supplements because they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
Dietary Supplements
Certain dietary supplements may help diminish the symptoms of hirsutism, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center. A twice-daily dosage of 200 mg of calcium-D-glucarate may assist in the detoxification of androgens from the body. Calcium-D-glucarate is the calcium salt of D-glucaric acid, which is produced in small amounts by the body.
Diindolylmethane is a dietary supplement obtained from vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and collard greens. Diindolylmethane may help balance the body's hormonal levels due to its anti-androgenic effects, according to the UMMC. The suggested dosage is 120 mg daily.
Herbal Remedies
Certain herbs with anti-androgenic effects may help prevent and treat unwanted hair growth, reports the UMMC. Possible herbal compounds that may treat hirsutism include black cohosh, chaste tree, saw palmetto and spearmint.
Sugaring
A home remedy called sugaring may help remove unwanted hair in larger areas of the body such as the abdomen and legs, reports the website Pioneer Thinking.
Mix the juice of half of a lemon with a cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of honey, and warm the mixture in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Cool the mixture slightly and spread a thin layer on clean, dry skin. Cover the treated area with a piece of fabric and quickly pull the fabric in the opposite direction of the hair's growth. Over time, sugaring may slow the rate of hair growth and new hairs may be thinner.
Shaving and Plucking
Shaving is a fast and inexpensive, albeit temporary, way to remove unwanted hair growth. Since shaving can only eradicate hair down to the surface of your skin, it must be repeated regularly to maintain desired results.
Plucking is a standard method of temporarily doing away with unwanted facial hair. Tweezers are small, inexpensive tools that generally work best on small areas but are not very practical for plucking a large area of hair. Plucking hair may cause minor discomfort.
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