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Video

Consultation: Excess Facial Hair

Excess facial hair affects around one in every ten women and it can take a severe toll on their social lives as well. Dr Dawn Harper talks to a patient who feels she is living like a recluse because of this embarrassing illness, and advises a course of laser treatment to alleviate the symptoms – with remarkable results!

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If you are worried that you child is suffering from excessive hair, read the condition guide especially for parents on Embarrassing Bodies: Kids.

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Hi iv had for 30 years,facial hiar and hiar on my body in other places like neck\throt.tummy.brests.iv all so tried electrolysis ,creams waxing, im shaving every day like a man, this is so embarrassing,im loseing my self esteem.i here that laser is the best one to go for but why duse it cost so much???? it seems so unfiar when there are so many ladys needing it.





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I have had excess hair for many years too. After my pregnancies it got worse. I manage with waxing but I get ingrown hairs and the hair is very coarse, it seems to be a losing battle. It really seems like a very common problem. More research needs to be done





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I am an african with black facial hair and I live in London.I tried electrolysis but it came back worse. I am considering a laser but when I called around in London, all I was told was sorry we don't do it for black skin. Is there anywhere else that I could go? Please advise. Thanks





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iam a 24 year young woman,and i am shaving my face for the last 8 years,i have to shav every day and i cant take it anymoremy face is all stubly and red. PLEASE were can i get help i live in ireland.





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I am 39 and for the last say 3 years I have had a loft of what I would call downy hair on my neck and what I see as bits of stubble on my chin which I have to pluck daily. It upsets me as I feel people looking at it. What could be causing it ?





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Since I can remember i've always had very dark hairs over my body which i normally managed with waxing,bleaching and plucking.After my recent pregnacy all my hair have become very hard to remove leaving my upper lip very noticable and unable to hide despite me trying all the creams make-up and salon treatments my funding can afford.This problem has changed me into a completly different person my relationship is at breaking point as i can't even looking at my boyfriend let alone want him too kiss me!! I stay in all day even avioding the school run and baby club's as all I see is people staring at it. I don't want to stop my kids enjoying things. The fact that i'm due to return to the job in a school that I love is killing me. I'm at Breaking point!!!.... I would like to try laser but don't know where to start with it all Please help





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dont give up i used to be like you when i had a hystermity, and my hair growth was terrible i had waxes every 4 weeks after abut 2 years the hair growth was less and less i have now tried electroncis so please do try for your own confidence i know because i was like you if you want the name of the beautician i will give to you. by the way prices not expensive if thats what your thinking of

I have always had dark hairs on my Arms, legs and face since i can remember. Just recently after my second pregnacy I have experience Really heavy growth all over my body mainly my face.All the usual products used before have stopped working. The fact it's on my upper lip now is very depressing,it's making my relationship and everyday life very hard to deal with. I'd like to try laser But don't know the best one to go to in my area Or how expensive it's going to be!! I.m due to go back to work in june. Please help! I've hit rock bottom.





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I'm 34 and have suffered with PCOS since i was 14. I have been shaving my upper lip and chin every morning now for the last 15 years. It has affected my self-esteem continuously for 15 years and has had a massive impact on my love life. I always dip my head when my boyfriend looks at my face or closes in to kiss me. I don't know if he knows as i just don't have the bottle to tell him. The NHS are are a disgrace. They will increase the size of a young girl's breasts but they won't help a woman to prevent a complaint that can lead to severe depression and reclusiveness - impacting on the NHS eventually anyway. How proposterous! Not only that, they are probably aware that we don't want to stand and fight because of how embarrassing this problem is. My beauty parlour charges nearly £100 per seesion for IPL, it takes 10 minutes to administer the treatment - you work out the cost per hour!! This is even more reason to be depressed. I've said enough.





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Could you tell me the best place to go for laser treatment.





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I've had excess (coarse) facial hair for more than 15 years now. First I tried electrolysis, months and months of sessions, but it just came back worse. Then it was depilatory cream but I would get exzema which was very painful and looked as bad as the hair, plus the smell of the cream was awful. I went for laser treatment at boots but was told it wasn't possible as the hair is too light (but it's dark brown, much darker than then rest of my hair). I now get Vaniqua cream from the doc but it stings and isn't that great. So for at least the last 5 years now I have shaved like a bloke, every morning. a usually have a 5 o'clock shadow by the afternoon, but what else is there to do?





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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More Information

  1. Quick Health Advice: Unwanted Facial Hair

    In Videos - Dr Harper explains the causes of unwanted facial hair and some of t…

  2. Hirsutism

    In Conditions - A condition where a woman grows too much body or facial hair in a p…

  3. Dr Dawn Harper

    In Videos - Find out more about Dr Dawn Harper

  4. Dr Dawn Harper

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  5. Quick Health Advice: Male Hairloss

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  6. Dr Priya Manickavasagar

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  7. Dr James Russell

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  8. Premature Greying

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  9. Episode 4

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  10. Alopecia

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  11. Doctor Responses: Excessive Hair

    In Videos - Dr Pixie answers your most frequently asked questions about excessi…

  12. Quick Health Advice: Athlete's Foot

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  13. Ingrowing Pubic Hair

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  14. Quick Health Advice: Psoriasis

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  15. Quick Health Advice: Stress Incontinence

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