During menopause, hormonal changes can cause unwanted facial hair growth in women. This occurs as estrogen levels decline and the ratio of estrogen to androgens like testosterone shifts, allowing more facial hair to grow. There are several methods to remove this unwanted facial hair:
Laser Hair Removal
- Laser hair removal uses pulses of laser light to destroy hair follicles and prevent regrowth. It is very effective at permanently reducing facial hair with several treatments.
- Different laser devices work best on different skin/hair color combinations. Consult a dermatologist to see which laser is right for you.
- While costly, laser hair removal provides long-lasting facial hair reduction with a series of treatments.
Electrolysis
- Electrolysis destroys individual hair follicles by applying a small electrical current inserted into the follicle with a thin probe.
- It provides permanent facial hair removal but requires many repetitive treatments to address all unwanted hairs.
- Electrolysis is considered the only truly permanent form of hair removal but is more time intensive than laser therapy.
Chemical Depilatories
- Creams contain chemicals that dissolve hair so it can be easily wiped away.
- Quick and inexpensive for temporarily removing facial hair.
- Can irritate skin and repeated use carries risk of chemical burn.
Plucking/Tweezing
- Manually removing hairs from below skin using tweezers.
- Provides temporary hair removal from small areas.
- Can be painful and tedious for large areas like chin/upper lip hair growth seen with menopausal hormonal changes.
Bleaching
- Applying bleaching cream oxidizes melanin pigment in facial hair to lighten its appearance.
- Provides no true hair removal but may make hair less visible.
- May irritate skin with repeated use.
To combat increasing
facial hair from changing
hormones during
menopause, consult your healthcare provider about screening for conditions like
polycystic ovary syndrome as well as
hormone replacement therapy.
Hormone therapy replaces declining estrogen and
progesterone to healthier premenopausal levels, which can help prevent unwanted hair growth. Both systemic hormone pills/patches and low-dose topical creams directly on the face may improve facial hair changes.
Talk to your provider about compounded bioidentical hormone replacement from our state of the art Renew Hormone Center if you’re struggling with facial hair changes during menopause. Custom balanced prescriptions delivered right to your door. Safe, natural relief!
Of course, no treatment stops all facial hair growth permanently except for electrolysis or laser therapy. To find the right hair removal routine during menopause, consider combining:
- Laser/electrolysis for permanent reduction in dark, coarse hairs
- Chemical depilatories for quick, temporary removal between treatments
- Medicated bleaching creams to lighten fine, blonde hairs
- Hormone replacement under medical supervision to help rebalance your hormones long-term
Be patient but proactive in trying different modalities to discover what works best to tackle your own unique facial hair situation. Ask your healthcare providers about changes not only in hair growth but also skin, sleep, mood, and other menopausal concerns. There are many options to look and feel your best as hormone levels naturally shift with age.
