Natural Ways to Curb Growth of Hair on Face in Women
HEALTH /
by KARAN BROOME
/

While having thick and dark hair on the face is a normal effect of hormones in men, for women it's a condition called hirsutism that can appear for a variety of reasons.

The most common is excessive production of androgens, caused by a hormonal imbalance. This can appear as a result of things like stress, menopause, and obesity, but also because of medical conditions like Polycystic ovarian syndrome, characterized by multiple cysts in the ovaries which cause a deficient hormonal production, and adrenal gland disorders, which affect the production of a variety of hormones like cortisol. Certain medications like Minoxidil, Cyclosporine, and anabolic steroids have excessive hair on the face as a side effect.

What Are the Natural Ways to Curb Growth of Hair on Face in Women?

It is possible in many cases to find a natural removal method for hair on the face that works well and is consistent. This list will give you some promising natural options that remove hair without the harshness of non-natural methods.

1. Spearmint tea

Drinking spearmint tea twice a day lowers the body's androgen levels, helping reduce facial hair in women with hirsutism and Polycystic ovarian syndrome. This tea decreases testosterone levels and can be a good treatment for mild hirsutism. To make this tea, you only need to soak some spearmint in boiling water for a few minutes and strain it before drinking it.

2. Sugar and lemon juice

The method consists of applying a cooked mix of sugar, lemon juice, and water to the area that has unwanted hair and letting in it dry before washing it off. This should be done three times a week. The exfoliating qualities of sugar and the way it sticks to hair and not the skin when it's warm make it so that the dried sugar will rip the hair off without damaging the skin. Lemon juice is added to the mix as it breaches any remaining hairs.

3. Lemon orange or apricot honey scrub

These two natural, fruit-based scrubs remove the hair on the treated zone by pulling them out without damaging the skin. To make the lemon orange scrub, you need to mix powdered orange and lemon peel, oatmeal, olive oil, and water to make a paste. If you prefer the honey apricot scrub, you'll just need to powder dried apricots and mix them with some honey. You'll need to rub either of them on your face for 5 minutes 3 times a week.

What Are Some Effective Artificial Methods of Unwanted Chin Hairs?

Sometimes you need stronger, more aggressive methods than the natural ones offered above. If you're looking into ways to eliminate excessive hair on your chin, here are some artificial, but effective methods that help treat this condition.

1. Mechanical methods

  • Tweezers

It is many people's first choice for removing a few hairs on their chin. The safest way to pluck hair is to sterilize the tweezers with rubbing alcohol before starting. Make sure to stretch the skin around the area to get a grip of the hair near the root for minimal pain. This is no permanent solution, as hair will grow back after a few weeks, but it's cheap and quick if you have just a few hairs. It is also to note that using tweezers may cause folliculitis, therefore, you should avoid friction and use a warm compress to reduce irritation, if any.

  • Shaving

Another classic method is shaving the hair off with a razor. Applying some sort of shaving cream is recommended as it will make the process smoother and help avoid irritation. Make sure to use a razor that's sharp and proceed with caution as not to cut yourself. This is fast and effective, but it'll only get rid of the hair for a few days before needing maintenance.

  • Threading

This method is very popular in salons right now. It consists of removing hair on the face by twisting a cotton thread around the hairs and pulling them out in rows. This procedure, like plucking hair, will last for a few weeks and is superior to waxing in that it doesn't irritate the skin.

  • Laser hair removal

The method offers a permanent or semi-permanent solution to excessive hair growth, as it uses concentrated light to damage follicles, effectively stopping them from producing hair. The drawback of this treatment is that it takes multiple sessions, is expensive, and some may find it irritating or painful, but if you're looking at how to reduce hair on the face, this method is extremely effective.

2. Medication

  • Eflornithine

This topical cream reduces hair growth in the applied area and only takes a couple of months to show results. However, it can cause skin irritation and rashes in those with sensitive skin, so you should talk to a dermatologist about this method before starting.

  • Birth control

If you're suffering from a hormonal imbalance, your doctor may prescribe birth control to reduce the amount of hair in your chin, as female hormones like progesterone and estrogen reduce hair growth on the face. This is especially useful for treating symptoms of the Polycystic ovarian syndrome, as it will reduce hair growth in the face and help shrink cysts. It is a good long-term solution for hormonal imbalances, but it might take as long as six months to take effect.

  • Antiandrogens

The medication, available in steroid and non-steroid form, blocks androgen receptors in the body, and reduces the production of hormones in the ovaries, the adrenal gland, and the pituitary glands, reducing the production of some other hormones that cause excessive chin hair.

To Sum Up

If chin and general hair on the face is a stressful and unwanted part of your looks or if you think that you might be suffering from one of the conditions discussed in this article, try the mentioned methods or talk to your doctor as they're the only ones who can tell you what the underlying cause of those dark hairs is and recommend the best treatment for you. Watch the below video if you wish to explore more on tips to eliminate excessive hair on your chin.