Removing Unwanted Hair

You may have seen it in the mirror: facial hair that sprouts from your chin, upper lip, or the bridge of your nose. Or you may have unwanted hair on your legs or fingers and toes, not to mention your lower abdomen and bikini line. Why does this happen?

Too much hair in the wrong places is often related to your genes: If Aunt Martha has a unibrow, chances are that you do, too. Excess hair can also be a side effect of certain medications. And in some women, it can be a sign of an endocrine system disorder.

Removing Unwanted Hair 
In many cases, unwanted hair can be removed at home. Try the following do-it-yourself techniques:

• Bleach it. Bleaching lightens hair to make it less noticeable.
• Shave it off. Shaving works best for body hair, such as that on your legs and underarms. Don’t try this on your bikini line, though, because shaving there can lead to ingrown hairs.
• Pluck it out. This may hurt a little, but if you’re shaping your eyebrows or you want to eliminate a few hairs from your face, using a tweezer is probably the best method.
• Use a depilatory cream. Choose the product for the type of hair you want to remove, and try it on a small area before using to make sure you’re not allergic to it.
• Wax it away. Many women prefer waxing for the eyebrows, the upper lip, and the bikini area. You can do it yourself or have it done at a salon. Warm wax is first applied to areas of unwanted hair. After the wax hardens, it’s pulled away — taking the hair with it. Waxing can cause temporary stinging.

Professional Hair Removal
More permanent hair removal requires the services of a professional. Techniques include laser hair removal, which uses a laser beam or light pulse to destroy the hair follicle. This is done by a doctor or health-care professional trained in the technique. Though lasers are only effective on dark hair, they can be used on many parts of the body. While the results of this method are long lasting, it’s expensive, requiring three or more treatment sessions. It can also cause temporary pain.

Electrolysis removes hair by inserting a tiny needle that transmits electric current into each hair follicle to destroy the follicle so it doesn’t grow back. This can cause a tingling sensation, though topical anesthetics can be applied to the skin first to reduce discomfort. Be sure to find a professional who’s highly trained with this method.

If these techniques don’t work for you, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor. He or she may prescribe an oral or topical prescription medication that can slow hair growth. Your doctor may also want to see if a medical issue is causing your unwanted hair. The most common culprit is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is the result of too much of the male hormone androgen. Excessive hair growth can also signal a more serious disorder — especially if masculine features such as bigger muscles are also present.

For most women, though, everything it takes to remove unwanted facial hair or body hair — at least temporarily — can be found on the shelves of their bathroom cabinet or at their local drugstore.