Excess
Hair
When there is an excessive amount of hair growth on the face or body or when the hair grows in unusual places, we term this as excess hair.
Laser Hair Removal is a long term solution to remove the unwanted hair on these areas. We offer the award winning Harmony XL Pro with Soprano head for pain-free Laser Hair Removal- suitable on all skin types and removes hair quickly with minimal discomfort.
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What is Excess Hair?
It is normal to have facial and body hair, but an excess of hair growth can cause a level of discomfort or cause people to feel self-conscious about their appearance.
What are the signs of Excess Hair?
We classify excess hair as being Hirsutism or hypertrichosis.
Hirsutism usually first appears in late teenage years and tends to get more severe as a woman gets older. It is usually isolated hair growth in specific sites such as the moustache, beard, eyebrows, abdomen, chest, upper back and inner thighs. It can appear on just one of these sites or multiple sites. The hair that grows is usually thicker and darker than normal hair. Hirsute women may also develop thicker, longer hair than is usual on their limbs and back.
Hypertrichosis can be present at birth or appear at any time after, and either involves a generalised all-over increased hair growth, or localised excess hair growth to one or more sites.
What Causes Excess Hair?
Hirsutism is caused by an increased number of male hormones (androgens), causing women who suffer with the condition to develop hair in the same places as males. It has a genetic basis. Hirsutism later in life may be due to polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS), insulin resistance or obesity.
The cause of Hypertrichosis is unknown. It may be associated with other skin conditions, malnutrition, cancer or a side-effect of drugs or medication.
Who is at risk of Excess Hair?
Hirsutism is often genetic, meaning that male or female family members are more likely to have more hair than average. It tends to get more severe as a woman gets older.
Androgenic medications can also lead to symptoms of hirsutism.
How do you treat Excess Hair?
If the excess hair is causing discomfort and distress you should see your GP or a Dermatologist to diagnose any underlying medical conditions.
If you have been given the all-clear then treatment for excess hair will focus on reducing the appearance of the visible hair (camouflaging) or removing the hair.
Some options include bleaching which can make unwanted hair lighter and therefore less obvious, home hair-removal techniques that includes waxing, hair removal creams and shaving, Electrolysis which uses an electrical current that targets hairs in their anagen phase to provide a permanent form of hair removal.
Laser Hair Removal is a viable and popular option for most people as it can provide a more permanent and longer lasting solution. Patients may need a minimum of 6 treatments initially, thereafter hair regrowth will be noticeably lighter and finer than before.
At London Real Skin we can also offer Laser Hair Removal in conjunction with prescription cream for reducing facial hair (Vaniqa) which can increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
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