By Denice Schwind, PA-C

Spring is a time of new beginnings and embracing your natural beauty inside and out. It is also the unveiling of our wintertime arms and legs in shorts and sundresses and we start to notice signs of unsightly, unwanted hair. It is fairly common for most women to have unwanted hair on areas such as on the upper lip, chin, underarms, bikini and legs.

Unwanted hair can have many causes, including genetics. Certain medications such as steroids, higher levels of certain hormones and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome are also causes of unwanted hair growth. If you have sudden hair growth, you should consult with your physician to see if there is an underlying medical cause.

Depending on the location of the hair, type of hair growth and your budget there are several options to remove unwanted hair:

Waxing/Sugaring:  Hot waxing or sugaring by a professional is a good option for temporary hair removal.  You should stop certain prescription creams such as Retin-A and glycolic creams at least one week prior to hot wax treatments. Sugaring is a new popular way to remove unwanted hair; which can last up to six weeks. Made from sugar, lemon juice and water heated to a certain temperature, sugaring is a safe and effective treatment.

Laser Hair Reduction: This is an effective treatment that reduces hair growth by approximately 80-90 percent after a series of five treatments on average.  The laser is able to pass through the skin and be absorbed by the melanin in the hair follicle. Therefore, the ideal candidate for this procedure has hair that is darker than their skin. This treatment is very safe and effective if performed by a medical professional.

Electrolysis: Electrolysis is performed by placing a tiny needle with an electric current in the hair follicle. This is a good option for fine blonde hair or grey hair.

Prescription medications for unwanted hair:  Spironolactone is a pill that may slow or reduce hair growth in areas that you don’t want hair. Another option is Vaniqa cream that’s approved by the FDA for slowing facial hair growth in women. This cream slows hair growth, but it will not remove the hair. You apply it to the area twice a day. Once you stop using the cream, the hair will regrow.

Denice Schwind, PA-C has specialized in medical and cosmetic dermatology since 2004 and is an industry leader in skin care and anti-aging. She will provide monthly expert, unbiased information about skin care products, top trends, medical issues and anti-aging advice to My Edmonds News readers.  Feel free to submit questions directly to Denice at denice@purskinclinic.com.