CHIN HAIRS & SCARRING - PLEASE HELP

[kjeneen]

After (what seemed like) centuries of taking birth control medication(starting in my teens), my hormones seem to still be a bit thrown off even though I took my last injection a good 10 years or more ago.

All of which led to my constant battle with icky, awful, stray chin hairs that bruise my skin whenever they grow back from tweezing, shaving, and whatever. This makes my problem two-fold: 1) getting rid of the unwanted hair, and 2) getting rid of the gross, dark scarring that's got me looking like George Michaels.

What is a woman to do??? And is the high priced expenses of electrolysis the only formidable answer? Lastly, which do I set out to conquer FIRST?

[Lucie]

Maybe you can Nair it. The worst thing to do is pluck that area, because it will cause ingrown hairs, bumps and eventual scarring.

I think laser hair removal would be your best option. I think the laser also reduces the scars as well. Good luck sweetie.

[MsMontoute]

Hey girl, so I had the same issue. It was so embarassing! And unfortunately, I did decide to do electrolysis. I wanted a PERMANENT solution to my hair growth under my chin. After doing a lot of research on the net about the differences between laser treatments (which is cheaper and semi-permanent) and electrolysis, I decided on the electro. I did about 10 treatments of about 1.5hours each (and it is pricey let me tell you…about $180/hour, and in that time, she would always be able to get through removing about ¾ of the hair with the probe that I had and shave the rest). Mind you, I had thick growing hairs, like stubble on a dude and I was miserable….so we had some work to do.

After the 10 treatments, WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! It cut the amount of hair I had in half (never to grow again) and my skin was able to heal from all of tweezing, which by the way, they told me that I should NEVER do tweezing because it scars the skin and had a greater potential for ingrown hairs (which even though I am not done with the treatment have completely gone away, no more ingrowns!!). My skin is much lighter now and the hair that is even left to grown has a different texture. On average now, I have to shave every two days to keep it smooth but once I get my next bonus, I will be finishing it up. I hope this helps!

[kjeneen]

Hey girl, so I had the same issue. It was so embarassing! And unfortunately, I did decide to do electrolysis. I wanted a PERMANENT solution to my hair growth under my chin. After doing a lot of research on the net about the differences between laser treatments (which is cheaper and semi-permanent) and electrolysis, I decided on the electro. I did about 10 treatments of about 1.5hours each (and it is pricey let me tell you…about $180/hour, and in that time, she would always be able to get through removing about ¾ of the hair with the probe that I had and shave the rest). Mind you, I had thick growing hairs, like stubble on a dude and I was miserable….so we had some work to do.

After the 10 treatments, WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! It cut the amount of hair I had in half (never to grow again) and my skin was able to heal from all of tweezing, which by the way, they told me that I should NEVER do tweezing because it scars the skin and had a greater potential for ingrown hairs (which even though I am not done with the treatment have completely gone away, no more ingrowns!!). My skin is much lighter now and the hair that is even left to grown has a different texture. On average now, I have to shave every two days to keep it smooth but once I get my next bonus, I will be finishing it up. I hope this helps!

BIG HUG in tears :cry3:I thought I was alone in this. But you're right, tweezing is bad and razoring only seems to only work for a few days - and even then I'm stuck with the ugly dark spots.

But even though that $180 per hour is a BEAST:whip:, it sounds like its my only option. Thanks a bundle!

[kjeneen]

Maybe you can Nair it. The worst thing to do is pluck that area, because it will cause ingrown hairs, bumps and eventual scarring.

I think laser hair removal would be your best option. I think the laser also reduces the scars as well. Good luck sweetie.

Thanks, Lucie but the last time I tried that the stuff burn my sensitive skin BEFORE doing a thoroughal job. So in the end I was stuck with ugly stubble AND a big red irritated patch:wallbash:

[sunshinelady]

Spearmint tea and saw palmetto. You probably have PCOS.

[yodie]

You're definitely not alone. I had/have the same problem. I started tweezing years ago and that left me with ingrown hairs and scarring. Never tweeze!

I started electrolysis. Definitely helped, but I had so much hair that electrolysis itself was painful and the aesthetician would've taken forever to get all the hairs. I also got terrible, dark scarring from electrolysis. I used to try to hide my chin area all the time.

Found out about laser and started getting that. No, it's definitely not 100% permanent, but it does reduce the hair (about 85%). I'll stick with laser for the rest of my life (if I have to). No terrible scarring (unless you use the wrong laser), it's fast and you def see results.

If you decide to do laser, PLEASE use the appropriate laser. An old aesthetician used the wrong laser on me and I had terrible burns in my face. It was a very traumatic experience - almost as if a child had gotten in my face and colored with a black crayon. I will ONLY go to the doc that I've been going to for awhile. She has a new laser in her office that's supposed to be good for dark skin. She wanted to use this on my face because our regular laser had to warm up for 30 mins. I was about to allow her to do so, because I trust her. Praise God, I did not!! She did a test patch on my arm and told me to watch it while I went away on vacation. Well, wouldn't you know, I had black, burn spots on my arm where she did the test patch. That would've been my face - all over again!

Sorry, so long, but I don't want anyone to suffer thru what I went thru with laser. My skin is gorgeous now and no one would ever know what I went thru, but it does happen.

Always do a test patch with laser treatments.
I will only allow doc to use a YAG/Lyra laser on my skin. Nothing else!!

[R4L]

I've gotten laser and it's FAB! Just make sure you do your homework re: type of laser

[MsMontoute]

You're definitely not alone. I had/have the same problem. I started tweezing years ago and that left me with ingrown hairs and scarring. Never tweeze!

I started electrolysis. Definitely helped, but I had so much hair that electrolysis itself was painful and the aesthetician would've taken forever to get all the hairs. I also got terrible, dark scarring from electrolysis. I used to try to hide my chin area all the time!!

OMG :bighug::runninghug: I am so sorry that sounds terrible. But I am so glad that you are in a better place now!! Its funny because before we would start the electolysis she would offer me wine to dull the pain and I have to tell you that I never needed it, it was absolutely painless. I went to Lucy Peters in NYC for anyone else interested and it was a really great experience.

[HisBestFriend]

If laser removal is too expensive right now then I would suggest that you make or purchase some Tendskin.

Tendskin will lighten the area and make either shaving or tweezering more effective. I had the same problem but recently underwent laser hair removal.

http://www.beautyfii.com/ You can get Tendskin for almost 50% off of the regular price.

Or Make Your Own: Here is the recipe:


1) Dissolve 18 tablets of uncoated aspirin in 5.5 oz of 70% rubbing alcohol

2) Dissolve 8 tablets of uncoated aspirin in 2.5 oz of witch hazel

3) Combine the rubbing alcohol and witch hazel solutions.

Some settling of aspirin may occur, just shake it well before you use it. Apply at least once a day

[DarkHair]

Thanks, Lucie but the last time I tried that the stuff burn my sensitive skin BEFORE doing a thoroughal job. So in the end I was stuck with ugly stubble AND a big red irritated patch:wallbash:

I tried laser as well. It was rather painful, costly, and tedious for me. It didn't do any good. I'd always end up smelling like burnt hair, and it seems that the hair growth has increased. I've also stopped taking birth control since last March. I've found that the exfoliating Nair does VERY well on my chin. I last did it on Monday night. I won't have to use it again until Friday. Though my hairs are thick (I guess) I only have to leave it on for 3 to 5 mins.

[SelahOco]

Like Sunshine said...PCOS can cause unwanted facial hair on women. I got my first chin hair at about 14 years old then noticed them again in college. I was 28 before I was diagnosed with PCOS but that seemed to be the culprit for me.

I went for some treatments in college, but they were too expensive for me to keep up. I was so desperate I decided to research DIY electrolysis kits and found this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Electrolysis-Removes-Unwanted-Forever-Eyebrows/dp/B00011JN5G

This was several years ago, but it worked for me and I was very careful. I had some dark marks that did fade away. And I still have a few hairs, but nothing like it was. I'm to the point that I don't even think about them anymore.

If you're a DYI kinda girl check it out.

[cocomochaa]

nd yag laser. forget wax electroy-whatever it is. nair and veet. LASER all day everyday

[kjeneen]

Thank you, ladies!

[prettyinpurple]

Definitely shave over tweezing. Or use an epilator (I have a mini one for face). But don't tweeze yourself, most of us do get dark spots from not pulling the hair out correctly.

I found that using an AHA face wash helps with getting rid of spots on my face. I like aqua glycolic face wash personally.

Tendskin is awesome for ingrown hairs as someone said :)

[yodie]

Thanks for sharing this link.

Have you seen a reduction of hair growth?
Professional electrolysis always hurt. Do you feel the same jolt when you stick the needle into the follicle?

Like Sunshine said...PCOS can cause unwanted facial hair on women. I got my first chin hair at about 14 years old then noticed them again in college. I was 28 before I was diagnosed with PCOS but that seemed to be the culprit for me.

I went for some treatments in college, but they were too expensive for me to keep up. I was so desperate I decided to research DIY electrolysis kits and found this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Electrolysis-Removes-Unwanted-Forever-Eyebrows/dp/B00011JN5G

This was several years ago, but it worked for me and I was very careful. I had some dark marks that did fade away. And I still have a few hairs, but nothing like it was. I'm to the point that I don't even think about them anymore.

If you're a DYI kinda girl check it out.

[SelahOco]

Thanks for sharing this link.

Have you seen a reduction of hair growth?
Professional electrolysis always hurt. Do you feel the same jolt when you stick the needle into the follicle?

I didn't have alot of pain, though you can feel the little shock. The pin tip is small like a needle but doesn't have the sharp point. What you have to do it place the pin near the base of the hair and it almost slips into the "pore" that the hair is growing out of. No poking or pushing, it just goes in. Then the unit will beep once it's found the root and you have to leave it there for like 30 seconds or so (all in the instructions).

Then you pull it out, and it kills the root of the hair. So you know it worked because you should be able to pull the hair out with your finger at this point.

I had some stubborn hairs that I had to do several times....but most of them slipped right out. The reason I still have some hair is that after like 6 months I stopped doing the treatments, and whatever hair I have now wasn't in growth cycle while I was removing them.

I have very few hairs now....I can pluck them out and keep moving. But this did REALLY work for me. I did have some dark marks...but they all faded away.

I would count and there would be maybe 50 hairs down there when it was at it's worst. I mean from the finest to the most coarse it totalled like 50...so it was enough that it could be noticed, but not a full goatee :) I was very embarrassed by it...but now if I don't pluck there are maybe like 7 hairs that would be noticed if I didn't tend to them.

Much easier to manage for me. I pull them when I see them...maybe once a week. And keep it moving.

[yodie]

Thanks for answering my questions. Did u zap the hairs once and that was it? They stopped growing back?

If so, that's great.

[India*32]

You are not alone. That facial hair was my life's nightmare. I had to apply for a shaving waiver in basic training, just to use my nair. How embrassing. Anyway, fast foward, I learned about waxing my face and now chest hairs. Very painful, but did the trick. Then, I learned about laser hair removal and I've been freed. I started back in Dec 2004 and now need touch ups on my chin and cheeks and anterior, but the majority of the facial hair is gone. I'm so happy. I thought I was the only one. thanks goodness its being controlled.

India

:bdance:

[trinidarkie1]

I'm happy that I found this thread. I've been tweezing for years and never realized that the tweezing was causing the dark spots are you're saying now. I know sometimes I just digs and pick and so I get the hair out but still wreck my skin myself. I'm so destructive when it comes to picking my face :(

I've been using Rx for Brown Skin Bright and Even skincare set and it's definitely lightened up my chin area a lot.