UNWANTED HAIR (PCOS & INGROW HAIR)

What Causes Excessive Unwanted Hair?

Excessive unwanted hair may not have a specific cause, however excessive unwanted hair

growth in woman is called hirsutism. The hair is usually thick and dark, rather than fine and

fair. This growth of hair usually appears on the face and chest and could also be a side effect

of PCOS.

Hirsutism occurs when females produce an excess of male sex hormones called androgens, or are more sensitive to these hormones. All women produce androgens; it’s fluctuating levels which can cause problems.

Although all females produce androgens, these usually remain at low levels. When there is a

hormonal imbalance of them, excess hair can occur. This fluctuation of hormone levels and

symptoms such as excess hair can be triggered by a medical condition

called PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). Certain medical conditions and the menopause

can also trigger hirsutism.

Hair Removal Options

Laser Hair Removal

Permanent hair reduction of up to 90%. Use of the most advanced medical grade lasers

(Alexandrite and Nd:YAG) mean we are able to match the right laser to your skin tone and

calibrate it exactly to reduce any risk of burning or other side effects.

Shaving

This is the quickest and easiest method of hair removal but can result in shaving rash,

ingrown hairs and irritation, which isn’t ideal if you are removing hair from your face.

Hair Removal Creams

These work by dissolving the hair with a type of acid. They are popular because they don’t

cause stubble, but can irritate some sensitive skin types.

WAX / Pluck /Thread

They are all involve pulling the hair out from the root & can be painful or difficult to do

yourself. They can also lead to folliculitis, which is inflammation of the hair follicles.

Epilators

Epilators are electrical hair removal devices that pluck out individual hairs with lots of tiny

tweezer-type mechanisms, which are built into the handheld device. They provide more long-

term results than shaving but can be painful and cause folliculitis.

Bleaching

This doesn’t remove the hair but will make it lighter and less noticeable. Bleaching isn’t

advised for very sensitive skin types as it may irritate the skin. It’s also not really effective if

you have dark skin because it could make the hair more noticeableThis doesn’t remove the hair but will make it lighter and less noticeable. Bleaching isn’t advised for very sensitive skin types as it may irritate the skin. It’s also not really effective if you have dark skin because it could make the hair more noticeable.

InGrow Hairs

Ingrown hairs are the hairs that have curled and grown back into the skin rather than growing

upwards through the hair follicle. This causes the skin to inflame and become a raised spot.

They tend to be most frequent for people when have shaved or waxed. Although they are

generally harmless, they can also be painful, especially when infected and possibly leave the

skin scarred.

What Causes Ingrown Hairs?

Ingrown hairs most often occur in areas where your hair has been shaved or waxed.

These types of depilation can cause your hair follicles to break and become clogged with

dead skin cells, forcing the hair inside it to grow sideways. Ingrown hairs occur particularly

in the bikini line and legs for women, and in the beard and neck for men.

In these places, the hair that grows back has a sharper edge and can easily poke back into the skin. Usually, you notice you have ingrown hair when you see a red bump on your skin. If infected, you may also see pus and the bump may grow larger. The area around the ingrown hair may also appear red and irritated, swell, itch or feel warm to touch.

Treatment Options at Beauty Concept Colchester

Laser Hair Removal

Permanent hair reduction of up to 90%. Use of the most advanced medical grade lasers

(Alexandrite and Nd:YAG) mean we are able to match the right laser to your skin tone and

calibrate it exactly to reduce any risk of burning or other side effects. We offer laser hair

removal for both men and woman and we can treat all skin types.

PCOS

For many of women Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a part of life. It is a very

common condition and are ovaries that contain many small cysts, which are egg-containing

follicles that have not developed properly due to hormonal abnormalities. It is possible to

have polycystic ovaries without actually having the syndrome. PCOS cannot be cured, but it

can be successfully controlled with the right treatment, allowing the patient to live a normal

life.

What Causes PCOS?

If you have PCOS, you will usually have two or three of the following:

• Polycystic ovaries – this where cysts develop in your ovaries

• Not ovulating regularly – your ovaries will not regularly release eggs

• High levels of male hormones – you will have high levels of androgens in your body

However, it’s important to note that you can have PCOS without having cysts on your

ovaries.

The cause of PCOS is not fully understood, but genetics may be a factor. PCOS seems to run in families, and can be passed down from either your mother’s or father’s side. The condition is associated with abnormal hormone levels in the body, including high levels of insulin.

The symptoms tend to be mild at first and you may only have a few or a lot of them. PCOS

tends to affect women differently but the symptoms may include:

• Irregular or no periods

• Problems with fertility

• Weight gain

• Oily skin or acne

• Excessive hair growth, typically on the face, chest and abdomen

• Thinning or loss of hair on head

• Patches of dark thick skin in armpit or around groin or neck

  
  

Treatment Options at Beauty Concept Colchester

Laser Hair Remover

Permanent hair reduction of up to 90%. Use of the most advanced medical grade lasers

(Alexandrite and Nd:YAG) mean we are able to match the right laser to your skin tone and

calibrate it exactly to reduce any risk of burning or other side effects. We offer laser hair

removal for both men and woman and we can treat all skin types.