Facial Hair
Over 50
Dealing with Facial Hair over 50
For women, dealing with facial hair is never fun at any age. As early as their teen years, women spend hours trying to remove or control unwanted facial hair, including chin, sideburns, and upper lip. But particularly during and after menopause, the faster growth of hair on the face can be unsightly and very unwanted. There are a variety of ways that women have used to address this issue in the past. Not all of them are equal, however. How to deal with facial hair over 50? Electrolysis by Alison has more than 20 years of experience helping women and men with their excess facial hair. We welcome clients of all ages, and find that electrolysis is very effective for permanent hair removal for women over 50.
Menopause Facial Hair Growth
Facial hair after menopause can really interfere with a woman’s appearance. The menopausal transition most often begins between ages 45 and 55. It usually lasts about seven years but can be as long as 14 years. The duration can depend on lifestyle factors such as smoking, age it begins, and race and ethnicity. During perimenopause, the body’s production of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones made by the ovaries, varies greatly.
Signs and symptoms, including changes in menstruation can vary among women.
Menopause symptoms include:
- Irregular periods.
- Vaginal dryness.
- Hot flashes.
- Chills.
- Night sweats.
- Sleep problems.
- Mood changes.
- Weight gain and slowed metabolism.
- Thinning hair and dry skin
- Loss of breast fullness
As much as seventeen percent of women suffer from hirsutism (excess hair on the body and face). Among menopausal women, due to hormonal changes this percentage is significantly higher. Increased amounts of male hormones in a woman’s system causes greater production of body and facial hair. Women find in particular that dark hairs on their upper lip can be unsightly.
Common Hair Removal Methods
Many women are willing to try any number of techniques to get rid of it. Shaving is a common recourse. After all, it’s frequently used to remove hair on women’s underarms, legs, and pubic region. However, shaving is not a long-term solution. Within a few days, it can begin to grow back, showing as stubble. What’s more, facial hair that is shaved off can sometimes grow back darker, thicker, and more resistant to typical methods. Waxing is another tried-and-tested option that women apply to their faces after using it elsewhere with success. Waxing can be effective at removing hair from the upper lip and other areas of the face. However, it is also much more painful compared to shaving less sensitive areas like the legs. It also generally leaves behind irritated and bleeding skin which can draw even more attention than the hair. Products used to mask the discoloration and broken skin can cause further irritation. What’s worse, both waxing and shaving leave certain skin types at heightened risk of folliculitis. Ingrown hairs, exposing hair follicles to germs, or dragging blades or heated wax across sensitive skin: all can cause unpleasant infections. Any depilatory technique which relies on yanking or snapping hairs below the surface of the skin is prone to causing ingrown hairs. The stress placed on the hair and the follicle can cause new growth to come in crooked. This may agitate lower layers of skin, causing infections and inflammation. This is one of the issues with threading, which is another popular hair removal technique women favor. Some people even thread their own faces, which we absolutely advise against for multiple reasons. It’s difficult to get the right angle for effective threading work on your own upper lip. What’s more, threading comes with the danger of boils and bruising if done too roughly.
There are downsides to many of the common solutions women choose to get rid of hair on their faces. The average American woman spends approximately $27,000 on waxing in her lifetime. That’s a ridiculously high amount for such an imperfect solution. One way that women try and circumvent this long term expenditure is through laser hair removal. However, this is the wrong way to deal with unwanted facial hair. Laser treatment can be hazardous for dark skinned women and light skinned women with fair hair. Laser hair removal relies on a contrast between the color of the hair and the color of the skin. If there is not enough of a contrast, or if the person’s skin color is darker than the hair, the laser may damage the skin. Burns and scarring are not uncommon. Skin discoloration can also occur, to both fair and dark complexions. In extreme cases, keloid scarring is possible. Laser treatment is by necessity expensive due to the sophisticated equipment used and the expert training required. However, it does not do a good job of permanently removing facial hair. Laser hair removal is not permanent, according to the FDA. The most is can offer is ‘permanent reduction’, as while it damages follicles, it is too scattered to target them effectively. Hair continues to grow back after laser treatment. Sessions cost an average of approximately $300. For something that advertises itself as permanent, we feel that laser therapy is the wrong way to tackle unwanted facial hair.
The Wrong Way to Deal With Unwanted Facial Hair
What’s the Best Facial Hair Removal Technique for Women Over 50?
For older women struggling with facial hair growth, electrolysis is the best a strong and most permanent solution. It avoids many of the other drawbacks of other hair removal techniques. It doesn’t burn or discolor the skin like laser therapy. It doesn’t cause abrasions or ingrown hairs like shaving, waxing, or threading. It doesn’t require huge amounts of money over time. It doesn’t even require that much time. That’s because electrolysis is a permanent hair removal technique. It’s the only technique that has been officially recognized by the FDA as a permanent method of hair removal. It’s perfect for dealing with concentrations of facial hair. Electrolysis is very good at targeting and removing hairs in small areas. Electrolysis can be used on areas like the upper lip, chin, eyebrows, and sideburns. Say goodbye to those dark hairs forever with a course of electrolysis. Over time, it’s the most cost-effective hair removal technique available. Well worth the investment.
Electrolysis for Menopausal Women
The British Journal of Dermatology estimates that 39% of post-menopausal women experience increased facial hair growth, particularly on the chin. A decrease in female hormones like progesterone and estrogen causes hair loss. This can mean dihydrotestosterone (DHT) rates proportionately increase. DHT in men can cause male pattern baldness, and also precipitates growth of body hair in both men and women. Some women only experience growth of ‘peach fuzz’, fine, lighter hair known scientifically as vellus hair. For others, terminal hair growth is more common. Terminal hairs are dark, coarse, and long. Electrolysis can be used on both kinds of hair. Vellus hairs grow from shallower follicles, so it can be less invasive than electrolysis for terminal hairs. However, vellus hairs can also be far more prolific than terminal hairs. Removing vellus hair by any method that isn’t electrolysis can be problematic. Methods like waxing or plucking, which can stimulate blood flow to the follicle area, can cause growback of terminal hairs.
Choose Electrolysis for a Smooth Face
If you are struggling with your peach fuzz or more prominent hair and don’t know what to do, we can help. Hundreds of thousands of women in similar situations have gone through the same experience.Our electrolysis clinic is conveniently located in West Los Angeles. It’s designed to be a soothing and pleasant space to help you relax during the process. In our serene surroundings you can take the next step towards a smooth face free of unwanted facial hair. To find out more about the process and arrange a free consultation, call us today. Our number is (323) 840-1711. We look forward to helping you with your beauty goals!