Hormones and hair removal

[rachel89]

So after my last session with my therapist, one of the things he mentioned was hormones. This was a major breakthrough  for me, it confirms that I am really a transsexual and it's not something else going on. No letter yet, but I think he is aware of the informed consent model for HRT. I will go to the IC clinic when I have a little more money saved up. One of my concerns is that starting HRT will slow down the hair removal process or make it more difficult. I hate the rage and wild libido (despite hating the fact I have the wrong parts) and physical masculinization caused by testosterone, but I am like crazy dysphoric about my facial hair and want it to be gone yesterday. Will HRT help or hurt the hair removal process? BTW, I am doing electrolysis (I want something really permanent, pain is cathartic, and my electro is like a therapist).

[iKate]

It may help hair removal but not much at all. It hasn't helped me.

You'll likely need laser or electrolysis to get rid of it. Sorry.

[Emily E]

A lot will depend on your personal genetics and how your body responds to HRT but your facial hair wont be effected so continue with the electrolysis with that.

Some parts of your body will seem to loose hair as it converts from terminal hair into vellus hairs these areas will include your chest, shoulders, back, abdomen, buttocks, thighs, tops of hands, tops of feet while your legs, underarms and legs will experience a change in texture and pattern with only a slight reduction in hair volume. 

So save yourself some money and wait until after you have been on HRT for a while before you work to remove unwanted hair (not your face keep up with that)... good luck

[rachel89]

so HRT will not interfere and I can get on with with the process?

[Emily E]

HRT will not interfere and you can get on with the process... I was just saying do your face first then move to other areas after you have been on HRT for a while so you can save some money.

[Gretchen0b]

If you are just starting your transition, you will want to be aware of the changes that will happen with your hair. For most transgender women, your new regimen of hormones and androgen blockers will take 2-3 years for completion. During that time, radical changes to your hair can happen. For most trans but not all, most of your upper body hair (chest and back) will be significantly reduced, up to and possibly over 95% eradication. The hair on your arms can be thinned. Again, it will vary from person to person with the possibility of 75% reduction. Results will also vary with regard to your legs.
The face is the biggest disappointment. For most, no changes will be seen with facial hair once you start your transition. Some claim to have thinning once they transition, but it's difficult to say how much fact is behind that. Once you start your transition, you start treating your facial hair differently. Here are some examples: shaving in different directions, plucking, waxing, tweezing mechanical epilators (Emjoi), laser, and of course, the only FDA approved method for permanent hair removal, electrolysis. With the exception of electrolysis and laser, all of the other methods can lead one to believe that her facial hair has been thinning.

[ChloëAri]

I felt as if my facial hair was greatly reduced after starting HRT, but I was treated with laser therapy before starting HRT so it may just be the IPL laser.

[charlotte15]

I so totally understand! Hair disgusts me. Facial hair above all. I hate these things I pluck out. They look like black worms.

I had medical laser done (YAG) and while I always had a 5 o'clock shadow before, after the 6th laser treatment it was much less. Then I started antiandrogen and I kept going. I don't know how many laser sessions I did - I guess about 15.

A year ago I switched to electrolysis, and 6 months ago HRT. I am left my vellus, a bit darker on some parts of my face, but almost nothing.

The HRT had a strong effect in converting more hair into vellus, which is part good part bad: for laser, the darker the better. For passing, the lighter the better.

You may try to do as much laser as you can, before being left to electrolysis since electrolysis will remove only a fraction of the hair that laser could.

Find a medical laserist if you can, they are so much more effective (pulsed light was only painful, I did not notice as many hair shedding as with YAG laser)

Then when HRT kicks in, switch to electrolysis for the few remaining dark hair and you'll be good.

I don't use makeup, and I have to take care of my facial hair about every 2 weeks (plucking the leftovers, or shaving them)

[LizMarie]

Most women complete facial hair removal while on HRT. It may slow down growth. But the biggest advantage is it thins the facial skin making targeting the male hair follicles easier on some faces (not all). Of course that can look a bit ugly when you grow it out but getting it gone is a good thing, regardless of when you start.

[mfox]

I agree, everyone should start laser hair removal yesterday.   It takes years to finish, so start asap, and don't wait for the minimal effect of HRT.

After 6 laser sessions years ago on my tummy, I thought surely HRT could finish the job, but it hasn't made a difference.  So I just went back and had it finished in 15 minutes by another session.

[Gretchen0b]

Not all woman will be good candidates for laser. To be a good candidate for laser you must have dark hair and have light colored skin, laser targets the dark pigment of the hair. With a good laser tech all the hair that can be reduced will be reduced within 10 laser appointments. Doing more than 10 sessions of laser could be a waste of money. At that point you may want to finish with electrolysis for the last remaining hairs. Electrolysis is the only FDA approved method for 100% permanent hair removal. Laser is approved as hair reduction. A good electrologist who is using the thermolysis  (HF/RF) mode, good quality insulated probes (needles) and with a modern machine can permanently remove a full beard in approximately 150-300 hr. Not all electrologist's and laser techs. are created equally, do your research before committing.