Facial Hair on Women: How do you deal with it?

Posted by ainsleigh @ainsleigh, Jul 12, 2018

I have a problem with facial hair. Have had no success finding a solution with doctors and am not able to afford electrolysis etc. Does anyone have
ideas to deal with this? Would be very appreciative for input.
Thanks!

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@dntsass01

Hi! I have problems with increased facial hair as well, but mine is related to prednisone and Imuran. I swear I could grow a better beard than my husband if I really tried. 🙂 I pluck and use a cream from Avon for the upper lip and chin. Works very well. The rest of the face I just pluck the longer ones I see and also take a small scissors and kind of snip away. I hope you find out what is causing your problem. Take care.

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never heard of a cream..??? you said it works????? can you tell me the name???

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@contentandwell

@tazscott For a while I went to a woman who removed them via electrolysis. It didn’t hurt and is supposed to be permanent. The only downside is cost. I stopped going after about 7 treatments.
JK

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@contentandwell - has the effect of the electrolysis been helpful/lasting for you?

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@lisalucier

@contentandwell - has the effect of the electrolysis been helpful/lasting for you?

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@lisalucier. It was very helpful. It is supposed to permanently destroy the hair, and perhaps it does, but others spring up to replace the ones that are gone so I think maintenance would be fairly ongoing. I was happy with it though, just didn’t want to spend the money anymore.
JK

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I have a nice beard,, sigh........ want it gone PERMANENTLY ! I was at the dermatologist last week with my dad,, and the conversation came up... they said they can to lazer.. it will be gone for good!!! she didn't know the billing exactly,, but thought it was arounf 150.00!! I"M IN!!!!!

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@mcmurf2

I have a nice beard,, sigh........ want it gone PERMANENTLY ! I was at the dermatologist last week with my dad,, and the conversation came up... they said they can to lazer.. it will be gone for good!!! she didn't know the billing exactly,, but thought it was arounf 150.00!! I"M IN!!!!!

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@mcmurf2 $150 sounds fairly reasonable. It won’t take long to save that much in blades!
JK

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@ainsleigh

@lisalucier -Hi Lisa
As there did not seem to be any answer to the facial hair problem with doctors and tests, I have continued to explore
and when looking at possible side effects of my medications found that all three that I take Ativan, Clonazepam and
Fluoxetine can cause that problem! They can cause many other things too for example small red spots on the body
(I have that too.) I think we all need to educate ourselves on the side effects of our meds. We may be in for some surprises.
Now I wonder if I could phase out my meds-will have to give it some thought and talk about it with my doctor!
Ainsleigh

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Does anyone else taking Clonazepam and or Prozac/Fluoxetine have a problem with facial hair?

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@ainsleigh

Does anyone else taking Clonazepam and or Prozac/Fluoxetine have a problem with facial hair?

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Hi, @ainsleigh - I actually take Prozac/fluoxetine, and I have not noted anything with my facial hair.

Some Mayo Clinic information on hirsutism (male-type hair growth in women) talks a bit about medications that might lead to this symptom in the "Causes" section https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirsutism/symptoms-causes/syc-20354935

Here is a list of side effects of clonazepam https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/clonazepam-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20072102

And here is a list of side effects for fluoxetine https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/fluoxetine-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20063952

Are you noting some increase in facial hair since you started on one of these medications?

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Hi Lisa
Yes I have noticed an increase in facial hair since being on Prozac and Clonazepam. If you look up Mayo Clinic Prozac and Hirsutism it does show a connection. It is also listed as a possible side effect for Clonazepam in their list. Also ironically I seem to be losing some hair on my scalp! I am
starting to gradually reduce my meds. Have cut my Lorazepam 1 mg. tablets in half daily. Am cutting my Clonazepm .5mg in half and am taking one half every other day .Hope to tackle the Prozac after I get off the former.
Best regards
Ainsleigh

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@ainsleigh

Hi Lisa
Yes I have noticed an increase in facial hair since being on Prozac and Clonazepam. If you look up Mayo Clinic Prozac and Hirsutism it does show a connection. It is also listed as a possible side effect for Clonazepam in their list. Also ironically I seem to be losing some hair on my scalp! I am
starting to gradually reduce my meds. Have cut my Lorazepam 1 mg. tablets in half daily. Am cutting my Clonazepm .5mg in half and am taking one half every other day .Hope to tackle the Prozac after I get off the former.
Best regards
Ainsleigh

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To comment on my last post-I have stopped taking Lorazepam, Clonazepam and also Prozac but have not seen any improvement in the facial hair situation. Think I will look in to the epilator.

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@ainsleigh

To comment on my last post-I have stopped taking Lorazepam, Clonazepam and also Prozac but have not seen any improvement in the facial hair situation. Think I will look in to the epilator.

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I think once the hair follicles stimulated to grow adult type facial hair, one is stuck for good with it (I am one of those persons). My hair is to light colored to use laser, and electrolysis is very painful, time consuming, and expensive. I tried the cream for slowing down air growth, but it is also very expensive. I decided to simply shave every 3 to 4.days. This is cheap, and effective.

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