How Laser Hair Removal Can Help Women with PCOS

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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that affects between 1 in 10 and 1 in 20 women. The disorder is caused by a hormonal imbalance and results in a range of symptoms that impact women’s health as well as their appearance. One symptom that women with PCOS must cope with is hirsutism, which is excess hair growth on the face or body. Not only is this hair difficult to manage, it can be embarrassing and take a toll on self-confidence.

Many women with PCOS struggle to control the coarse dark hair that grows on the face, chest, lower abdomen, back, upper arms or legs. Unwanted hair can even find its way to the most intimate regions of the body including the breasts, bikini area and buttocks. Though there are a myriad of treatments on the market to reduce or eliminate hair, most are time or labor-intensive or offer only nominal results.

Searching for a Solution

Unsightly hair is bad enough without having to deal with the negative side effects of unreliable hair removal treatments. The most traditional method for hair removal is shaving, which often doesn’t do a satisfactory job. Shaving removes hair at the skin level but provides only a temporary fix. Hair grows back within 1 to 3 days, and razor burn, cuts, and ingrown hairs are all common complications of this method.

Laser hair removal for PCOS can help women who need a permanent solution to undesirable hair growth. Gentle, efficient and minimally-invasive, laser hair removal reaches hair at its roots, alleviating women of their hairy situation once and for all.

How It Begins

Hair growth begins in the follicles beneath the skin, but it doesn’t spring up all at once. Hair has a life cycle that involves several phases of development. At any given moment, each hair on the body may be at a different stage of its life cycle.

During the active growth stage, hair grows continuously as new cells form in the follicle. For women who suffer from PCOS, an excess of androgen hormones influence hair’s active growth stage and cause what would otherwise be thin, fine hair to become thick and dark. Hair follicles are sensitive to androgen, so hair grows thicker and at a faster rate with increased androgen levels.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Unlike most hair removal methods, laser treatment guarantees near-permanent results. Laser hair removal works by targeting a beam of concentrated light at the site of unwanted hair. The light safely penetrates the skin, working below the surface to impair multiple follicles simultaneously and prevent future hair growth. Laser hair removal is only effective during hair’s active growth stage. Because hair grows at varying stages, multiple treatment sessions are necessary to guarantee that each follicle has been targeted during the correct phase.

To protect the skin, it’s best to allow 10 to 12 weeks between each laser hair removal session. Most people will notice hair loss from the targeted site within a week to ten days following treatment, and an average of 6 to 10 sessions will offer a dramatic overall permanent hair reduction.

Laser hair removal is among the most popular med spa procedures and is safe and useful for nearly every part of the body, including the face, legs, arms, underarms, and bikini line. Ideal results come from working with the right technician. Women interested in pursuing laser hair removal should entrust their care to a certified, experienced laser specialist who can offer expert care and guidance.

Caroll Delo, CCE, CME

Author: Caroll Delo, CCE, CME

Lead aesthetician and co-owner of Simply Smooth, Caroll Delo has over a decade of experience in cosmetic surgery, laser treatments, and medical grade skincare services. Her vast knowledge in cosmetic medicine helps make sure that every man and woman who enters our doors receives top-quality care and expertise.