Posts: 1,034
3/17/13 9:14 P

I needto budget for laser again. Thesaw palmetto is having some effect, but I want something faster!

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3/17/13 8:46 A

I also do laser. It has been the only thing that has worked for me. I understand it is expensive. I started paying $250 a session, and after six treatments they put me on the "maintenance phase" and that lower the cost to $125, so that's what I pay now. Even though it can be pricey, it has been totally worth it for me. I too had really dark coarse hair. I could never put my hair up because I couldn't expose my face like that. It was really bad on my sideburns, chin, neck. just horrible. The price, for me at least, is not so bad since I sometimes do a treatment every two months (I think I've gone like 3 months in the past) so that's less than $50 a month if you think about it.
I still shave between treatments but it is not nearly as bad as it was before. You have to do your research though. Laser for women with PCOS is not a permanent fix, like it is for "normal" women. I've been doing laser treatments for the past 10 or 11 years (on and off). I've also tried different types of laser and not all of them work. I even visited a place once where they told me I wasn't a good candidate for it, obviously they didn't know what they were doing. So if it is something you'd consider make sure to do your research first.

Posts: 1
1/13/13 8:23 P

Hello! The hair is the worst. I finally went to get laser done on my face, neck and upper lip, and it was a huge help. It was nowhere near as expensive as it was when the laser thing first started coming out (I could NOT afford it then). It worked really, really well. I wanted to write to let you know that dark, coarse hair responds BEST to laser removal. In fact, the only hair I really have left on my face are these stupid, coarse WHITE hairs that I guess turned grey before I had laser done. So...if you are at all considering it, I really recommend you go and have a few different consultations. (I decided to get it done because I could not stand one more of my First graders asking me why I had a moustache! UGH!)

SparkPoints: (22,052)
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Posts: 126
1/3/13 10:17 P

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I also have hair under my chin and on my neck. I pluck those. Years ago I did one laser hair removal session. It cut the hair down by half. What's annoying is that i get hair bumps and they scar. So a lot of times I think it's an acne bump and it turns out it's a hair bump.

I really don't want to start shaving the hair on my upper lip though. Sigh.

Will look into the white turmeric powder.

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1/3/13 2:04 A

I have the same issue and am trying another technique recommended by several herbalists. I was told to take saw palmetto to lower my testosterone to reduce the facial hair. I will let you know how it goes.

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1/2/13 10:40 P

Besides infertility, this is one of the most devastating parts of having PCOS. I've basically shaved since my senior yr. in high school. First it was once or twice a week...now every day. I tried to pluck, but it hurts and damages my skin...there's just too much hair. I can't afford laser, and I've heard it doesn't always help cysters at least permanently.

A few yrs. ago I heard about a hair removal cream on a different PCOS support forum. Since for most women with PCOS, a regular facial hair removal cream doesn't always work, another solution is to use a cream formulated for men, as facial hair may be coarser than "normal." The recommended brand is SoftSheen Carson Magic Cream for black men, that is supposed to prevent razor bumps.
www.softsheen-carson.com/_us/_en/magic-sha
ve/

I bought this cream and I use it from time to time in addition to shaving. Because I've shaved for so long, it still doesn't remove that hair, but it gets rid of finer hair and peach fuzz very well. Though instructions say to wait 36 hrs. until using again (or shaving), I sometimes wait a few minutes after washing away and shave. It does cause some redness...I have sensitive skin. But they do have a sensitive skin variety that seems to lessen the issue. My face always feels so smooth after using this.

But since you haven't removed your hair and probably don't want to start, there is a method I just heard about last month. For years, Indian women use turmeric powder to create pastes for hair removal. It is supposed to make hair fine over time...sometimes taking several months of dedication. They use it on babies to make them nearly hairless as they grow up. Indian brides use it for hair removal and to lighten their skin. I've tried the paste once so far, using greek yogurt to form the paste. I had the cooking variety which can stain yellow (though I didn't really see any noticeable staining the next morning after a night application). There is a white turmeric powder suitable for the face and cosmetic use as well.

I am willing to try this since it seems proven. I wish I would have known about it as a teen before I ever picked up that razor. I love it because it's natural, too. I hate using smelly depilatory creams and of course have the bad reaction sometimes. I pinned several links to good info. on turmeric powder on my Pinterest board:
pinterest.com/cre8tivcurrents/natural-beau
ty-health-care/

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1/2/13 7:14 A

I wax it off...nothing else seemed to work for me to make it not show :(

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12/31/12 11:12 P

I have very think patches on my chin and neck that I shave daily. Talk to a doctor if you can. Medications like birth control, metformin and/or spironolactone sometimes help to slow the growth and prevent new growth. Vaniqa cream also works to slow down the growth for some people, but you need a prescription and most insurance companies don't cover it. But realize that in most cases, once a follicle goes terminal, it doesn't go back. This could be a sign of a change in your hormones... you might want to consider making an appointment with a doctor and asking for some bloodwork.

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Posts: 2,280
12/31/12 7:29 P

Ronalda, I suffer the same, as most of us do. I actually have most of the extra growth under my face/chin all around like when a man's beard grows..fun! I still haven't discovered what works and at times have been just frustrated that I shaved it! Waxing followed and now I just do whatever I feel like I've got to do..I haven't tried the Sally Hansen, so thanks for the idea! I wish that I could help..sorry!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, anyway!

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12/31/12 11:00 A

Hello All,

I have PCOS and I have noticed the hair on my face has gotten so dark especially on my upper lip.

I don't want to wax or remove the hair. I'm afraid of the hair growing back darker and thicker if I remove it and has been on other parts of my body.

Any suggestions?

Right now I'm using Sally Hansen Hair Bleach but it makes the hair very blond and I am Black so it looks weird. I tried not leaving it on too long but sometimes it's too light.

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