PCOS is an extremely complex condition affecting female reproductive health that often manifests itself with weight gain, irregular periods, infertility and thick hair growth. Women diagnosed with PCOS often face difficulty being properly diagnosed and treated due to its symptoms resembling more common age-related changes.
Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved permanent method for hair removal and can be used on all skin colors and hair types, though it may be expensive and require multiple sessions to achieve results.
Treatments
Many women living with PCOS also suffer from other hormonal conditions that cause unwanted hair growth, known as hirsutism. Although this condition can be distressing, electrolysis provides one treatment solution that may alleviate its discomfort: this permanent hair removal option uses electrical current to permanently destroy hair follicles and prevent them from growing back again.
Treatment works by inserting a fine needle into the follicle and applying an electric current that kills it, followed by removal with tweezers by an experienced technician. Although the procedure can be uncomfortable, its effects are permanent; for optimal results consult an electrologist who is licensed and certified in conducting it.
Laser hair removal can also be an effective method for eliminating unwanted hair. This method uses quick bursts of light to target melanin in hair follicles and damage them, during treatment a dermatologist will either glide or stamp the device over your skin, applying a numbing cream for any discomfort experienced during this procedure. Although results usually occur quickly after multiple sessions.
Laser hair removal can be used on most skin types and colors, though its effectiveness in some situations may differ. While treatments can be painful, the desired results usually take multiple sessions to achieve. Many report tolerable discomfort levels that resemble plucking with tweezers.
Electrolysis or laser hair removal will not address the underlying causes of PCOS; rather, they only address hair growth. Therefore, it is still recommended to meet with a physician or endocrinologist regarding your hormone levels for further assessment and discussion.
Avoid spas that advertise low cost hair removal treatments as this could be an indicator that they lack the required credentials. Also make sure that you ask friends and family for recommendations of professional electrologists so you can ensure you receive optimal treatment for hirsutism.
Side effects
Shaving, waxing and other methods for hair removal may only offer temporary solutions; electrolysis offers permanent ones. Electrolysis involves inserting a thin needle into each individual follicle of each hair in order to send an electrical current through it, thus killing off future growth and stopping further hair follicle development. Electrolysis requires multiple sessions before producing results you like; moreover it doesn’t work on all skin and hair colors, so finding an electrologist who has experience working on your specific type of hair or skin tone may also help.
Search online or contact your doctor’s office for local electrologists; before your treatment make sure any facial or body hair that exceeds quarter inch is trimmed to prepare it for removal; you can also use cooling gel such as aloe vera afterward to soothe any sore spots in the treatment area.
Laser treatments may result in redness and swelling that typically disappear within 24 hours, as well as hyper- or hypopigmentation of your skin afterward. If pain management is an issue for you, an anesthetic cream can be applied before beginning treatment.
If you are considering laser hair removal as a potential treatment plan for PCOS-induced unwanted hair growth, consult with your physician first to be sure it’s an appropriate course. They can assist in selecting an individualized regimen tailored specifically for you that may include medication to lower androgen levels that cause excessive hair growth.
Spironolactone, available at pharmacies or doctor’s offices, can also help reduce unwanted hair growth. Unfortunately, however, spironolactone has yet to receive FDA approval for hair removal purposes; thus it is best to consult your healthcare professional regarding other medications or procedures which might be safer and more effective; they can then suggest treatment plans tailored specifically to you to keep unwanted hair under control while managing other symptoms of your condition simultaneously.
Cost
Women living with PCOS frequently experience abnormal hair growth on their faces and bodies, which can create feelings of self-consciousness and lead to feelings of insecurity. Electrolysis offers a safe and effective method for permanent hair removal for women suffering from PCOS; electrolysis works by inserting a tiny needle into each hair follicle using an electric current to destroy it – ultimately stopping further regrowth in future cycles. Unfortunately this treatment method is considered cosmetic by insurance and therefore not covered.
Electrolysis can be costly and time consuming to achieve results, taking months or years before any results become visible. Before opting for electrolysis, it is crucial that you find a practitioner with appropriate experience and credentials. Furthermore, ask any prospective practitioner questions about the process (numbing options offered, length of session duration etc).
Electrolysis sessions typically range in cost from $75-200 per hour. Exact costs will depend upon several factors, including treatment area and hair removal volume, so it is best to contact your practitioner directly for a customized quote that addresses your unique requirements.
Those considering electrolysis should ensure their hair remains at least 1/4-inch long prior to their appointments; shaving or tweezing could reduce effectiveness of treatment and increase pain during sessions. In addition, caffeine consumption is best avoided as this could increase stress levels further and make treatment more painful.
Although medications can treat some symptoms of PCOS, including excessive hair growth, they cannot provide a permanent solution. Laser or electrolysis treatments offer another effective option to deal with embarrassing stubble and ingrown hairs associated with PCOS; both methods target hair follicles to weaken or destroy them while being more comfortable than shaving or waxing – and can even be performed under medical supervision of a licensed practitioner.
Results
If you suffer from hirsutism, an unwanted hair growth associated with PCOS, laser hair removal may be an ideal treatment solution. This procedure utilizes a highly concentrated beam of light to destroy melanin in hair follicles so they cannot grow back – it’s far less painful than shaving or waxing and requires far fewer sessions before seeing results; additionally it makes for great facial hair removal solutions!
However, for optimal results it is essential that you work with a trained technician. Certified electrologists can be found online or you may ask your physician for a referral. It would also be a good idea to discuss all available treatments with healthcare providers treating PCOS so as to find out whether laser or electrolysis treatment would best fit you and your unique situation.
Electrolysis permanently eradicates hair follicles, unlike shaving or waxing, yet is only suitable for small body parts due to cost considerations and coverage by insurance.
Physicians can prescribe a medication that blocks androgen production to help control unwanted hair growth. Although it may take six weeks, this treatment should lighten and thin existing hair while stopping future growth. Furthermore, people suffering from hirsutism can seek additional assistance from dermatologists.
Laser hair removal is an ideal treatment option for women living with PCOS as it does away with shaving and waxing altogether, while its targeted action helps prevent ingrown hairs. Studies have confirmed its efficacy; after several treatments most women see 30-40% decreases in hair growth.
While shaving away extra hair growth won’t solve PCOS, it may help improve the way you perceive yourself and overcome feelings of shame and depression linked to hirsutism, helping restore confidence in yourself and others. But bear in mind that it could reappear at some point in the future as this is just another symptom of PCOS.
