Harnaam Kaur is a body confidence activist. She also speaks out against bullying. But it wasn’t always this way.
Kaur has a condition called poly cystic ovary syndrome which can cause excess hair growth. As a result, she was the victim of bullying all through primary and secondary school. This led to self-harm and she thought about taking her life.
The condition is called hirsutism, is not uncommon and can be treated.
Why does hair grow so extensively on a man’s face? Each hair grows out of a little pit in the skin called a follicle. Cells that live in the base of that pit cause the hair to form when androgens (“male” hormones) in the blood reach those cells. So two things are required: androgens in the blood, and cells that respond to androgens by making hairs.
Why would hair grow on some women’s faces the way it grows on most men’s faces? Because men and women are not as different as you might think. Women actually have measurable amounts of androgens in their blood. The levels are much lower than they are in a man’s blood, but they are present. And the cells in the hair follicles on a woman’s face also make hairs in response to androgens.
When a woman has unusually high levels of androgens in the blood, she can start to grow hair in places that most women don’t. Such hair growth may also be caused by cells in the hair follicles that are more easily stimulated by androgens to make hairs, even when androgen levels are normal.
In some cases, the extra androgen comes from medications. Some birth control pills as well as certain steroids contain androgens, or have effects similar to androgens. Other drugs indirectly cause the body to make extra androgen hormones; these include some medicines to treat schizophrenia, seizures, migraine headaches, bipolar disorder and high blood pressure.
Occasionally, an abnormality in the ovaries, the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland can cause overproduction of androgens. One such (common) condition is poly-cystic ovarian syndrome. Your doctor can rule out these causes with various blood tests.
If your doctor diagnoses a specific cause, he or she can suggest appropriate treatment. For example, the rare tumors that produce androgen hormones can be treated with surgery, radiation or both.
All women with hirsutism can benefit from cosmetic treatments. These include:
- Plucking, shaving, waxing or depilatory creams.
- Laser hair-removal techniques use light to generate heat inside hair follicles, destroying their ability to produce hair.
- Electrolysis also destroys the ability of the follicles to grow hair by using electricity to produce heat within the hair follicles. It can leave small areas of scarring.
Long-term use of medical treatments can decrease levels of androgens or their impact on hair follicles. Medical treatments include:
- Estrogen-containing medicines. Several medicines, including birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progesterone, can alter the impact of androgens.
- Anti-androgen medicines. The most commonly used medicine is spironolactone (Aldactone). Others are available.
Natural Methods of Removal
If one has the patience, discipline, and the will power to follow a regime, one can try some of the following natural methods of facial hair removal. These techniques are relatively safe and cheap; however, they need to be regularly used over a period of at least 6 months for results to be visible. The benefit of these techniques is that the ingredients are readily available in our kitchens and are known to be generally agreeable to sensitive skins.
- Turmeric
Turmeric powder, in combination with various other ingredients, is known to slow down the growth of facial hair and eventually stop it from re-growing. When a paste of turmeric and yogurt is regularly applied, it reduces the growth of hair. This method is particularly effective if started at a young age. Also Turmeric is a powerful medicine that has long been used in the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine, and has manyhealth benefits.
- Gram flour
Another effective hair removal method is the use of gram flour paste. A mixture of gram flour, turmeric, and lemon juice or fresh cream can be applied to the skin. Once the paste has dried, a washcloth dipped in warm water can be used to rub it off in circular motions.
- Sugar wax
This is a natural version of the wax used in beauty salons, albeit much safer and better for the skin. It is made by heating a mixture of sugar, lemon, and water until the sugar melts and turns brown. This concoction should be used while it is still hot. After applying a moderately thick layer on the skin, a muslin cloth or a commercially available waxing strip should be placed on the area to be waxed. This strip should be pulled in the direction opposite to that of hair growth.
Another type of natural wax that can be used is honey wax. This is a mixture of honey, lemon, and sugar heated in a similar way. However, this is more expensive to make than sugar wax.
- Pumice stone
Scrubbing the skin regularly with a pumice stone is a slow but an effective method to reduce the growth of unwanted facial hair. But this may not be good for sensitive skins.
- Spearmint tea
This remedy is effective if the growth of unwanted hair is due to excessive production of testosterone. A cup or two of spearmint tea made by soaking fresh spearmint leaves in hot water has been shown to reduce the levels of testosterone, thereby reducing the growth of hair. For results to show, this brew should be drunk every day.
- Egg white mask
A face mask made up of egg whites, sugar, and corn flour can be applied to the area where hair growth is not needed. Once dry, the mask can be rubbed off using a damp washcloth or wet fingers. This mask also acts like a scrub and has a cleansing action on the skin.
- Include Phytoestrogens in the diet
Phytoestrogens are plant products that mimic the action of estrogen’s, which is a hormone secreted in female bodies. This hormone discourages the growth of facial hair. Some foods that are rich in phytoestrogens are alfalfa, fennel, flax seeds, and licorice. Cooking meals with these ingredients can help reduce the density of facial hair.
- Papaya
Raw papaya pulp and turmeric or raw milk works well to reduce the growth of unwanted hair. In addition, papaya has the benefit of bleaching fine hair.
Potatoes and yellow lentils
Another natural ingredient that can help remove unwanted hair is a paste of potato juice, crushed yellow lentil juice, and lemon juice. The lentils should be soaked overnight and then crushed and strained to get the juice. Honey can also be added to this for further benefits.Strawberry is the best fruit for smooth skin.
- Green gram
Powdered green gram, when mixed with rose water and lemon juice can control the growth of unwanted facial hair. Lemon juice also acts as an astringent and cleans the pores of the skin.
There are numerous other techniques that can prove to be effective if used on a regular basis such as the paste of basil leaves and onion membranes. The secret to all these methods is patience and regularity. Women should not expect results overnight with these methods. These remedies may not be permanent, either. However, they are much safer to use than commercially available methods.
“Women performing at-home face-shaving has been getting some recent attention, but it’s something that has been done for years,” says Dr. Palmer. “Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn are even rumored to have done it. It’s a less intense form of dermaplaning, a cosmetic procedure performed by an aesthetician, dermatologist, or cosmetic surgeon, in which an instrument similar to a scalpel is used to shave the face. The procedure exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells, and in the process also removes fine vellus hair. My patients feel it gives them a smoother finish for makeup.”
Will it make hair grow back like stubble?
“There is a myth that shaving facial hair will cause it to grow back coarser or darker. This myth is not correct. Your hair will grow back the same way.”
What are the pros?
Aside from less facial hair, Dr. Palmer says you’ll see:· Smoother, exfoliated facial skin· Increased skin cell turnover· Easier makeup application· Increased skin penetration and effectiveness of facial rejuvenation skin care products
And the cons?
· not addressing a larger facial hair issue with your dermatologist, which could indicate a hormonal imbalance, according to Dr Palmer. (I.e. if you feel you have a change in facial hair, make sure to discuss it with your doctor.)· folliculitis (where your hair follicles become inflamed) · ingrown hairs
Thank you for reading.
Steve Ramsey, PhD.
Calgary, Canada
Have a nice day and smooth skin.