I 100% agree that anyone suffering should get their GP to do the relavent tests and if needed refer to an endocrinologist. What you do not want is for the GP to make assumptions and pawn you off with some anti androgenic BCP, which is what happened to the OP.
But the unfortunate fact is, if you have no other symptoms than excess hair, in many cases there is no strict hormonal problem that needs addressing. The only thing you can do is get rid of the hair, temporarily or permanently.
As I mentioned before, no drugs can reverse what has happened. Just stop the stimulation of new follicles. Some women have actually found out about their hormonal conditions when they are undergoing electrolysis and find that the hair keeps coming back.
So if someone does have a hormonal condition, do they need electrolysis for the rest of their lives?
So if someone does have a hormonal condition, do they need electrolysis for the rest of their lives?
No, they just need to get the condition under control so that the stimulation of the follicles stops. The electrologist can then get rid of what's there, without new hair complicating the issue. However, yeh, a woman can get all her hair permanently removed with electrolysis and then pregnancy or menopause can cause stimulation of dormant follicles, so they will need a bit of treatment again to get rid of these new hairs.
I gave an example to show that sometimes women don't realise they have an underlying hormonal issue but the electrologist can pick it up when they see the client isn't responding in the way they should - so they tell them to see an endo. In the same way, some women are sure they have PCOS or a hormonal issue but it turns out they don't and it's straightforward to get rid of the hair. It's a really complicated issue. I'd say that the really expert electrologists who have devoted their lives to understanding hair have a far better grasp of it than medical doctors because they deal with it day in day out.
No, they just need to get the condition under control so that the stimulation of the follicles stops. The electrologist can then get rid of what's there, without new hair complicating the issue. However, yeh, a woman can get all her hair permanently removed with electrolysis and then pregnancy or menopause can cause stimulation of dormant follicles, so they will need a bit of treatment again to get rid of these new hairs.
I gave an example to show that sometimes women don't realise they have an underlying hormonal issue but the electrologist can pick it up when they see the client isn't responding in the way they should - so they tell them to see an endo. In the same way, some women are sure they have PCOS or a hormonal issue but it turns out they don't and it's straightforward to get rid of the hair. It's a really complicated issue. I'd say that the really expert electrologists who have devoted their lives to understanding hair have a far better grasp of it than medical doctors because they deal with it day in day out.
Thankyou stoppit!!
Makes sense, yeah I imagine electrologists have a great understanding of the condition.
You said it best to try and get a BIAE approved electrologist right?
Yup. Not all good electrologists are registered but it’s a good place to start because otherwise you are really shooting in the dark. Otherwise, recommendations are really important. Anyone with just a few days of experience from their NVQ course can claim to do electrolysis and many do.
The BIAE registration requires years of practice under your belt and passing the exam. It’s not fool proof though.
Here is their list of registered members. I was encouraged to go to the place where I’ve had most of my electrolysis since they have 4 registered members that also perform remedial electrolysis (removal of milia, skin tags, red veins), so they must be taking it seriously.
There is also a lot more one should know before embarking on the journey, so you know what you should be looking for in treatment and when to run. I will i’A write about all this soon in a new thread.
A little simplistic and I don’t agree with everything, such as only being able to clear a small area at a time because there are electrologists who can do large areas straight with minimal skin reaction (like the one I discuss in the Laser thread in Spain, whom my sister has recently seen). But it is more or less true for the UK. The BIAE itself is pretty stuck in the past and the senior members do not know what kind of machines exist and how advanced electrolysis has become. It is changing though as electrolysis is seeing a resurgence. Every UK electrologist I have spoken to has said how their clients have increased in recent years, due to Laser no less. A lot of failed Laser clients are turning to electrolysis. Some of these electrologist are now realising there is more out there. However, regardless of this, the work can be done if you put in the time and the electrologist is good, so it doesn’t really matter.
My approach, since I did the work here, has been ‘small manageable steps’. It took time but it was worth it. The best thing is that no one ever knew I was having anything done and I did not have to change my routine.
I would recommend - laser removal and then waxing after said 6/8 treatments. To be honest, facial hair is a huge problem among asain women, so I sympathise. And its only cos our hair is darker than the rest. You look at goree's in the sunlight and there entire face is covered with hair - So its nothing to be horrified over. Its just one of those things, some women are very lucky to have no hair - arms/face/very few on legs, I want to throw rocks at them.