Unwanted facial hair is a widespread problem for women. Hormonal changes, medications, and hereditary factors all may play a part in its formation.
There are various safe methods of hair removal available today–tweezing, waxing, depilatory creams and shaving are just a few. Furthermore, a new skin cream called Vaniqa claims to decrease hair growth; but does it actually work?
Shaving
Shaving is an inexpensive, painless method to remove unwanted hair from your face and neck. Additionally, unlike waxing or plucking which may damage skin through ingrown hairs or razor burn, shaving will not irritate or injure it further. But to ensure best results it’s essential that proper technique and quality razor are used when shaving.
Shaving can help improve the way makeup looks by eliminating peach fuzz and creating a clean canvas on which to apply it. In addition, shaving improves overall skin health by exfoliating dead skin cells which build up over time and cause clogged pores or breakouts in pores and breakouts.
Before making any definitive decisions about shaving facial hair or not, it is always a good idea to consult a dermatologist first. He or she may provide solutions or treatments which may address the problem more efficiently.
Facial hair is an integral component of female anatomy and it comes in two varieties. Vellus (sometimes referred to as “peach fuzz”) hair grows almost translucently while terminal (usually darker and thicker) grows darker and faster. While shaving facial hair may seem easy and painless, it should be remembered that shaving does not increase growth speed or thicken existing facial hair further.
Shaving is generally safe and effective way to remove facial hair, but not everyone finds it suitable. If you have sensitive skin, shaving may lead to redness and rashes; additionally it may exacerbate skin conditions like eczema and acne; so before beginning this practice it is wise to consult with a healthcare provider first. A little facial hair is considered normal for most women so the choice to remove or not is ultimately yours alone.
Tweezing
Tweezing is one of the most frequently employed at-home hair removal methods among women, yet this technique may not always be effective or even damage skin. According to New York-based board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, plucking can damage follicles causing bumps or scarring in that area; inflammation of these follicles may increase thicker or coarser growth from next time around.
Plucking hairs can lead to ingrown hairs, an uncomfortable and embarrassing condition in which hair grows back into the skin instead of out. While these ingrown hairs can be difficult to get rid of, treatment should begin immediately or they could grow larger over time causing pain and inflammation.
To prevent ingrown hairs, it’s essential that hair be plucked carefully with stainless steel tweezers that have strong construction that allows them to grab onto individual strands without breaking. Be sure to disinfect tweezers after use with alcohol!
Tweezing can damage the delicate skin on the face. Repeated tweezing can break small hairs that grow beneath the surface of the skin, potentially resulting in pitting and scarring over time.
Tweezing around sensitive areas such as the nipple or mouth should be handled with great caution, while women with sensitive skin should opt for more gentle hair removal methods such as waxing or threading. In addition, moisturizer should always be applied after any type of hair removal process to protect and heal skin after it.
Waxing
Waxing removes hair follicles at their root, giving longer-term relief from unwanted peach fuzz growth. Waxing may also be less painful; however, sensitive skin may still experience some discomfort; to minimize discomfort before waxing you could apply an ice pack or use numbing cream before your appointment.
However, this method may be risky if you’re taking medications such as retinoids or others that affect skin sensitivity. Furthermore, to prevent ingrown hairs – which occur when hair is pulled too forcefully or at an angle – follow proper technique with waxing technicians and always apply post-wax moisturizer afterward to soothe skin sensitivity.
Threading has been around since ancient times and involves wrapping thread around unwanted hair follicles, then pulling it sharply to extract strands of facial hair. This method may last up to four weeks without ingrown hairs developing; however, dermatologist Marisa Garshick cautions that threading might not be best suited for all. “Threading may not be suitable if you have very sensitive skin or active acne breakout,” according to dermatologist Marisa Garshick.
To ease any discomfort, take an over-the-counter pain reliever 30 minutes before your appointment and refrain from tanning, exfoliating, shaving or using other tanning agents on the day of waxing. Also try not to apply baby powder, which could cause friction during the procedure and further discomfort.
Threading
Western society often looks east for inspiration when it comes to beauty treatments, and threading is one of those Eastern techniques that has made an impressionful debut in our culture. This hair-removal method involves using twisted cotton thread to pull hairs from their roots – which makes it particularly suitable for plucking eyebrow and upper lip hairs as well as canine petioles – but can also be done across the face. Unlike waxing which strips the top layer of skin along with its contents and strips off sensitive skin layers simultaneously, threading only affects surface skin layers while waxing strips away layers of skin simultaneously and top layer skin so is less likely to cause allergic reactions from sensitive individuals taking medication that makes skin thinner or prone to irritation.
Although this technique may appear primitive, skilled technicians can actually create an almost seamless look using it. Practitioners start by creating a loop of cotton thread about the thickness of dental floss, then twisting it to form “knots.” Once completed, practitioners move this twisted area quickly back and forth across rows of hair to grasp them at their roots and pull them out – taking your time is important as overdoing it could leave scars or dimples.
Though threading can be a safe treatment option, it’s important to seek out professionals with experience when seeking to have your eyebrows or other areas of the face threaded. When seeking a spa or salon that specializes in this service, make sure they use new and sterile thread and scissors and employ trained estheticians with years of training in esthetics. Also keep in mind that threading has the potential of leading to folliculitis – an inflammation of hair follicles – therefore this treatment might not be best for anyone suffering from acne or other conditions that aggravate inflammation such as this one.
Vaniqa
Unwanted facial hair is an embarrassing problem that affects many women, requiring repeated treatments like shaving, tweezing, or waxing in order to be removed. There is now an effective solution called Vaniqa that can reduce unwanted facial hair growth; it works by inhibiting hair follicle root development to decrease growth frequency thus decreasing frequency of removal procedures.
Vaniqa contains an active ingredient called eflornithine hydrochloride that works by blocking an enzyme essential for hair growth. To experience optimal results from Vaniqa use it twice daily after skin cleansing and before any additional products such as moisturizers or sunscreen are applied – see results within eight weeks and continue for maximum effectiveness!
If you are considering taking Vaniqa, it is essential that you speak with a healthcare provider about your specific needs and any potential concerns. Also be sure to notify them if taking other medications such as over-the-counter medicines, vitamins or herbal supplements; there has been no indication that Vaniqa poses risks during pregnancy or breastfeeding; if pregnant during use it should be discontinued immediately.
Vaniqa may cause irritation such as redness, burning or tingling which usually does not last very long and usually passes quickly. Rarely rash or acne eruption may also occur and should this continue, it is important to notify your healthcare provider immediately.