Over time, it is normal for some hair growth to increase with age; however, excessive hair growth could be an indicator of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). While medications treat the hormonal imbalance that causes PCOS, electrolysis may be used to remove unwanted hair and minimize symptoms.
Electrolysis is the only permanent hair removal method approved by the FDA and can be performed on all skin and hair colors.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition which disrupts how a woman’s body makes and uses hormones, leading to menstrual cycle problems and skin and hair changes; additionally it may make pregnancy harder to come by. While its exact cause remains unknown, PCOS could be related to genetics or heredity; additional studies indicate being overweight may increase your chance of being diagnosed.
Women living with PCOS often produce higher-than-usual amounts of androgens from their ovaries, which may prevent ovulation from happening each month and prolong uterine lining build-up beyond its expected timeline, leading to heavy menstrual bleeding when shed. Follicles that grow and release eggs may develop cysts on ultrasound images of their ovaries; these cysts may interfere with regular periods but do not present a threat.
Signs and symptoms of PCOS include acne, excessive facial and body hair growth and weight gain. People diagnosed with PCOS may also be more prone to diabetes.
Doctors do not yet fully understand what causes PCOS, though some researchers speculate it could be related to hormones. While it can run in families and some symptoms may be linked to stress or depression. If a woman suspects she might have PCOS, she should see her doctor. She will likely ask about past health, family history and any symptoms present – they may perform a pelvic exam and order blood tests; eventually a gynecologist or endocrinologist will diagnose her condition while, if needed, surgeons could use heat or needles to destroy cysts on her ovaries –
Diagnosis
If you are experiencing symptoms of excess hair growth, irregular periods, or weight gain, be sure to speak with a healthcare provider immediately. They’ll assess your symptoms before performing a physical examination that includes ultrasound imaging of the ovaries for cysts or reproductive abnormalities; additionally they may conduct blood tests to measure hormone levels as well as rule out other possible causes like diabetes or high cholesterol.
If your doctor diagnoses you with PCOS, they may prescribe medications to ease symptoms and regulate your menstrual cycle. Additionally, they might suggest other medicines or procedures for reducing unwanted body hair, such as depilatory creams or laser treatments; fertility medications might even be suggested if you wish to become pregnant.
Women and girls living with hirsutism may consider electrolysis, which permanently removes facial and body hair through electrolysis treatment. When selecting an electrologist to conduct electrolysis treatments it’s wise to choose an electrologist with specialized training who has also been approved by their state board.
Agnes Kos attended the Accurate Academy of Electrology in Hinsdale and is a certified professional electrologist who has helped many clients overcome issues like hirsutism and PCOS. With her passion and commitment, Agnes strives to help others through long-term success for her clients and her profession.
Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved permanent hair removal treatment and considered cosmetic procedure. Electrolysis involves creating electrically generated chemical reactions to destroy hair follicles using electrical current, making this suitable for all skin types and conditions. There are three variations to this procedure – galvanic, thermolysis and combination treatments are offered – while to be successful it requires multiple sessions over weeks or months in order to be effective.
Treatment
If you notice signs and symptoms of PCOS, it is vitally important that you seek medical advice as it could pose potentially life-threatening threats if left untreated.
If a doctor diagnoses you with the condition, they may prescribe medication to alleviate your symptoms. Such medication could include spironolactone for controlling androgen production; additionally it will treat other issues that could be contributing to symptoms, including irregular menstrual cycles, excess hair growth and skin conditions such as acne.
Women living with PCOS often find hirsutism (excess facial or body hair) to be one of their most distressing symptoms, so it is important to remain mindful and not allow it to stop you from seeking treatment. Androgen-driven hair growth often appears coarse and dark in colour; women suffering from hirsutism often resort to plucking, shaving and waxing in order to remove unwanted hair but this should never be used as an attempt at hiding unwanted growth as this could result in permanent hair loss in that area!
Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal technique that works by breaking up and dismantling unwanted follicles to destroy their roots, using an electric needle inserted into each one. When selecting an electrolysis provider it’s essential that they be licensed and trained, since improper administration could result in skin discoloration and scarring – both can occur from incompetent administration of electrolysis treatments.
Laser hair reduction offers another viable option to remove unwanted body hair by targeting it with light beams. Some lasers, like Candela GentleMax Pro used by Milan Laser, come equipped with comfort features that include numbing cream or chilled air that is blown on treatment areas prior to each pulse of laser radiation.
Symptoms
Women living with PCOS often struggle with unwanted hair growth due to overproduction of androgens by their ovaries and adrenal glands, which promote male-pattern hair growth. Medication may help reduce or stop this excess growth; various hair removal treatments including depilatory creams, tweezing, waxing and electrolysis may also be used to remove unwanted facial and body hair – although none of these methods remove or stop future hair follicle growth.
Doctors typically diagnose PCOS through physical exam and questioning about symptoms. Common PCOS signs and symptoms include missed periods, abnormally heavy or light menstrual bleeding, enlarged ovaries (as seen on ultrasound), excess hair growth, acne and difficulty becoming pregnant – symptoms women experiencing should seek medical advice as soon as possible for diagnosis and evaluation.
As part of an evaluation, your doctor may suggest prescribing medications to manage symptoms associated with PCOS. For instance, they might suggest spironolactone to suppress production of androgens and other hormones, helping normalize menstruation cycles while increasing fertility; it may even aid weight loss since many women who suffer from PCOS are overweight.
Women living with PCOS should adhere to a healthy eating and exercise regime and regularly engage in physical activity, in order to reduce weight while alleviating other symptoms such as fatigue, high cholesterol and blood sugar. Furthermore, it’s important not to neglect depression symptoms which should be treated by mental health professionals; additionally if having trouble getting pregnant due to PCOS is becoming an issue then ask your physician about referral to a reproductive endocrinologist.
Prevention
Women living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) frequently experience the appearance of excess facial or body hair, known as hirsutism. This symptom can have profound psychological ramifications for young women and could even indicate hormonal issues like polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
Long-term hair removal methods such as electrolysis are the most efficient way to achieve permanent hair-free looks for women with PCOS and hirsutism. Electrolysis destroys each individual follicle responsible for producing unwanted hair follicles; additionally, this technique is safe for all skin types and colors.
Electrolysis is a safe, FDA-approved cosmetic solution to eliminate unwanted hair on any area of the face or body. An electrologist inserts a fine needle into each hair follicle next to its shaft, applying electrical current that destroys it permanently. Electrolysis takes longer compared to laser treatments because each individual hair must be targeted individually.
Electrolysis cannot treat all cases of hirsutism and only provides results if no additional symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance have surfaced, such as irregular periods or weight gain. Therefore, it is advised that anyone experiencing such symptoms first consult their physician prior to undertaking any hair removal treatments.
Though many of the symptoms of PCOS may be easy to overlook, it is crucial that we remember this condition can lead to serious and possibly life-threatening health complications if left untreated. Therefore, taking proactive steps against its symptoms – particularly unwanted hair growth and related conditions such as acne – is crucial in treating PCOS effectively.
