Self Treatment of Hirsutism

Tweezing

Plucking out the hair. It is quick, inexpensive convenient for small areas. Painful, needs to be done frequently, sometimes daily. May develop ingrown hairs as twisting of the hair follicle can cause future hair to become embedded in the skin.

Shaving

Shaves hair off at the level of skin. Quick, easy, painless inexpensive and can be used for large areas. There is a stigma associated with this for some. It leaves stubble that can be both seen and felt. Gives the shortest benefit. Cuts can occur.

Folliculitis is sometimes seen as well as razor bumps. It will not make the hair grow thicker although the sharp cut ends can be more easily felt.

Waxing

Pulls hair out from the root by waxing or sugaring.
Quick, convenient home kits are available. It is painful and can be messy. A disadvantage is that the hair has to grow to a certain length for it to work. It may also cause burning.

Bleaching

A cream is applied to the hair which removes the dark colour.
Quick (15-20 mins), painless and easy. Skin must not be broken, chapped or recently tweezed. It can burn and rarely an allergy may form. It has a strong smell. Hair bleaching can be performed using either 6% hydrogen peroxide or 20% ammonia solution.

Home Electrolysis

Electric current applied through a pair of tweezers. Good for small areas. Fast. Painful. May last for many weeks or months. Can be costly and may produce persistent discoloration.

Epilatories

Rubber roller or coiled spring that catches the hair so it can be pulled out from the roots. Quick, painful.

Depilatories

Chemical agents that dissolve the sulfur bonds that holds the hair together The cream or lotion is applied to the hairy area and left on for a few minutes. A fast method giving results fro up to 2 weeks. It can be irritating to the skin producing dermatitis. The risk of scarring is small although there may be some persistent pigmentation.