Lifestyle Choices

As if women don’t have enough worries, many still have to contend with unwanted facial hair. The genetic tendency to downy hair on the cheeks has been admired by many poets and novelists. Usually this soft, fine hair decreases by the age of 30. Women are dismayed, in contrast, by the appearance of thick, dark hairs on the cheeks or chin (stimulated after menopause by the adrenal androgens no longer balanced by higher levels of ovarian estrogens). To avoid the unnecessary irritation, women should not shave hair on their faces; I recommend simply tweezing these random, unwanted hairs. Regrowth takes around two to four weeks, and repeated tweezing can sometimes damage the follicle sufficiently to thin the hair.

Women with many facial hairs or who prefer not to shave their legs or bikini area, can use one of three alternative methods:

1. Depilatories chemically dissolve hair. Because the outer layer of the skin is composed of a keratin protein similar to that of hair, however, depilatories are also quite irritating to the skin. Often they can be tolerated for several uses, but with time they very frequently cause allergic reactions. I suggest that you first test a small area of skin and wait 24 hours to see if there is any irritation before continuing. Follow the instructions carefully. On the face, use only a facial depilatory, and be sure to remove the depilatory within the time recommended on the packet.
2. Waxing pulls the hair out from the root, just as tweezing does, but unfortunately the hairs must be fairly long for optimal results, and the process is actually quite painful. Because waxing frequently causes ingrown hairs, be sure to use the exfoliating techniques described above in the area to be waxed prior to the procedure. If you wax yourself, always apply a little dusting powder prior to waxing as well as after. Be sure that the wax is not too hot. (Test the temperature of the wax with a small amount on your inner wrist.) The wax should always be pulled against the direction of hair growth.
3. Electrolysis, properly performed, can permanently remove unwanted hairs. This is a painful technique, but fortunately a new anesthetic cream (Emla) can be prescribed by your doctor. It is critical to find a competent technician, since poorly performed electrolysis frequently leaves temporary dark spots or scars, and the hairs might regrow despite the pain suffered in the process.

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