Unwanted hair growth can be annoying and embarrassing, especially if it occurs in places not normally covered with hair. As people grow older, they often find stray hairs cropping up on the chin, abdomen, back or other places where hair growth is unwanted. Fortunately, there are a few methods to remove unwanted hair and prevent it from growing back again.
Step 1
Determine all of the places on your body where you want to remove hair. For some, this may be a few stray hairs, while for others there may be large swaths of unwanted hair. Different methods work best for different degrees of hair removal, so determining the results you want can help narrow down which method to use.
Step 2
Consider electrolysis if you only have a few small areas of unwanted hair, such as stray hairs on the face or chest. Electrolysis can be effective, but is often painful. Since it involves treating each hair follicle individually with an electronic pulse that destroys the cell's ability to generate new hair, it can be time consuming to try to perform electrolysis on large areas. However, electrolysis is the only truly proven permanent method of hair removal.
Step 3
For large areas of unwanted hair, try laser hair removal. In this process, hair is treated with a laser so that it falls out and the follicle is damaged to prevent future growth. Laser hair removal is a long-term therapy that will sometimes turn out to be permanent, but hair can't be guaranteed not to grow back. Laser treatment works best with dark hair, since it targets the dark pigments.
Step 4
Follow post-removal care guidelines. For both laser hair removal and electrolysis, it's a good idea to avoid exposing the treated area to sun for a few days. Use a SPF 25 or higher sunblock if you have to be outdoors. For mild swelling, ice packs can be used. Avoid using makeup or skin creams on the area until completely healed. Aloe vera gel may aid in healing.
Step 5
Take medication to prevent hair from returning, if necessary. Doctors can prescribe topical or oral medication to prevent future hair growth. Vaniqua is a popular topical medication prescribed by doctors and used by both men and women for inhibiting hair growth. Spironolactone is used orally to block excessive hair growth in women.
Tips and Warnings
- If one method seems not to be working, try another.
- If the appearance of unwanted hair was sudden or excessive, consult a doctor before beginning any removal procedure. There are a few underlying medical conditions that can cause excessive hair growth in unusual places.
Things You'll Need
- Aloe vera
- Sunblock
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