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  The Largest Organ in Your Body - Your Skin!

Rid Yourself of Upper Lip Hair

By Skincareguide.ca

Unwanted facial hair for a woman can be annoying and embarrassing. The condition, called hirsutism, may be a result of excess androgen (a male sex hormone) and/or sensitivity to it. These androgens can also produce adult acne, seborrhea and even bald spots. You can learn more about hirsutism on www.unwantedfacialhair.ca.

Rule Out Any Underlying Medical Conditions

It is always important to rule out any other underlying conditions before proceeding with a treatment. Your physician will want further testing if you have experienced any of the following conditions:

  • You've experienced a rapid increase in hair growth
  • There was a sudden onset of hair growth
  • You show signs of virilization (deepening voice, cliteromegaly)
  • You show signs of Cushing's syndrome

Treatment Options

There are a number of treatment options available to rid yourself of this unwanted hair. Sometimes a combination of different types of treatments works well. There is no single type of treatment for unwanted hair removal that works for all women. It is very dependent of where the hair is, the type of hair (ie/ dark hair versus light hair), the amount of hair, your age and what procedure or treatment you are comfortable with.

Some available treatments include:

Plucking, Waxing, Shaving or Depilatory Creams
These are relatively inexpensive options but for some women may be painful or irritating and not entirely effective as the hair returns.

Electrolysis, Lasers or IPL (Intense Pulse Light)
These are more expensive, time consuming and painful options; however they may permanently rid you of your unwanted facial hair.

Vaniqa ® (Eflornithine 13.9% cream)
This treatment is a prescription cream that blocks an enzyme that is required for the growth of hair. It may be used in conjunction with other treatments (ie/ lasers) to enhance the effectiveness of both treatments and has shown to have minimal adverse effects. Read more about this treatment and others on www.unwantedfacialhair.ca/growth_inhibitors.html

Antiandrogens and oral contraceptives
These prescription medications inhibit androgen production. They may take months to show a benefit and there are risks associated with these medications.

If you are looking for a solution to your unwanted facial hair, discuss your options with your physician.

To learn tips about taking care of your skin and hair, click on Daily Skin Care Tips website.

About SkinCareGuide.ca:
The SkinCareGuide Network of dermatology-related websites was founded by a prestigious group of international dermatologists. It provides comprehensive information for patients and physicians about the skin, its care and various skin conditions and treatments. All content is reviewed by an independent Board of Medical Advisors to ensure that the information is accurate, unbiased and up-to-date. This information is not intended to replace a consultation with your own physician.