Soooo I just want to say I'm sorry if I'm intruding or anything, I'm a born female, but I came here, like the subject line shows, because I've started to lose hope. Ever since I was probably...16 I started growing thick black hairs on my chin, sideburn area, and neck. I'll be 19 in a a week, and it's gotten worse over time. I've researched female facial hair growth numerous times, and every time I came across someone with the same issue, theirs was nowhere near as bad as mine. I've gone to an electrolysis tech a few times, 5 or 6 sessions over time, and gave up because I saw no improvement(none at all, and this issue was continuing to get worse, I do see this as giving up way too early, but being also only in my late teens, I don't always have the money for it).The lady I went to for electrolysis was really nice about this issue, but was also concerned it may be a hormonal thing, however I don't know how I can get that checked out, no doctor, no money, blah blah blah, I could ask my mother to help financially, but would I need a specialist for this I have a 6-session laser removal dealio I'll be starting on the 25th. I figure my best chance is to get this done, and finish up with electrolysis after the laser treatments are done. I also want to know if it's safe to get laser AND electrolysis done in the same time span. Like alter every other 2 weeks, laser-two week break-electrolysis-two week break-laser-etc etc. There are no females in my family who share this problem, it's just me. I decided to register an account with a transgender blog page because I figured if I could get any ideas/proof of what to do, it would be here. ugghh, I just need help, I feel disgusting :(
You don't want to mix up the treatments like that. Its best to get laser first and they should have about a six week gap between treatments to allow for the way hair grows in cycles. Then wait a bit and start electro for what's leftover or what comes back as laser is really classified as permanent reduction.
I know a local girl with hirsutism and she most of the time goes around mostly unshaven. she makes no attempt to do much about it either. She has other symptoms of excessive androgens as well, but she was able to have kids and all too.
As for causes, I'm sure you've googled it and likely found out the only way to find out why is through some hormone tests first to determine if its from excess androgens or if its something else that has to be checked. The sooner you can do that the better, so that perhaps you can keep any more vellus hair from going to terminal.
You could have a hormonal imbalance. Is your voice deeper than most women's too and things like? If you started going through a "male puberty" at 16 then that's what it probably is and you're actually in a REALLY similar boat to a lot of the people here. A lot of people find that once they start HRT (hormone replacement therapy) they are a ton happier because their hormone levels finally line up to who they are.
You're low income and have no insurance... is there a free clinic that could help you? Would planned parentood help if you went and told them you had concerns about your hormone levels? This basically just requires a blood test with an endocrinologist to check. If you can afford all this hair removal stuff I'm surprised that you can't afford a couple doctor's appointments.
If it's something else... yeah basically electrolysis (proven hair removal) and laser (proven hair reduction, as permenant for electrolysis for some people but no gaurantees) are your two choices still to remove the hair. Like crazy old bat said, many people are doing laser first and then moving onto electrolysis, since laser is becoming progressively cheaper and more effective. Electrolysis can take 2-4 years of weekly sessions so yeah the fact that it didn't work after six doesn't mean that it won't work if you stick at it. Laser could take a couple years too.
You said you don't have much money... what trans women without money do most often is use a lot of foundation to cover the hair up after shaving each morning. They do this with varying degrees of success but if you look around you can find trans women talking about which things worked best for them.
Oh finally? You're not disgusting. You are a beautiful woman and like all women you have some hair. Some do more than others but no amount stops you from being who you are. Good luck and take care. :)
To Carbon, no, my voice is at a normal female level, actually sounds quite baby-ish o.O Well I just told my mom about it, and she's going to pay for me to get my hormones checked out. If it's not that, then I'm just going to save up the money for hair removal. Another reason I could afford the payments for electrolysis was because at the time I DID have a job, and her services were very affordable. Als,o I usually do use makeup to cover hairs, but even sometimes right after I shave, I have bumps. And I don't usually shave daily, every other day, sometimes less depending on when I leave the house, or where I'm going if I do. And thanks for that ending, aha, I feel totally fine when I'm shaven, it's just so odd to touch my skin and feel a lady beard coming in :P
If anyone else can further enlighten me on hair removal techniques in the meantime, shaving, trimming, removal cream?-if any is safe for the neck/facial area, I'd be so greatful :D
vaniqa?
You came to the right place if you want to know the best hair removal techniques.
Laser first.
Followed by electrolosis.
Spearmint tea has been shown to interfere with the growth rate of body and facial hair.
Here I will just link the article I wrote on it:
http://candiussellcorner.blogspot.com/2011/06/spearmint-for-hair-reduction.html (http://candiussellcorner.blogspot.com/2011/06/spearmint-for-hair-reduction.html)
I've been doing a mix of electrolysis and laser for the past several months. The laser for my dark hairs and the electrolysis for my light and gray hairs. It works fine in combination if you have the right people involved. I'm a born male and just going to start hormones. That said wait until you have your hormone levels checked. It may be as simple as going on a antiandrogin such as "Spiro". Don't give up hope and see your doctor as soon as you can. Best Wishes. Patti
Quote from: melissa1993 on June 14, 2012, 10:33:48 AM
To Carbon, no, my voice is at a normal female level, actually sounds quite baby-ish o.O Well I just told my mom about it, and she's going to pay for me to get my hormones checked out. If it's not that, then I'm just going to save up the money for hair removal. Another reason I could afford the payments for electrolysis was because at the time I DID have a job, and her services were very affordable. Als,o I usually do use makeup to cover hairs, but even sometimes right after I shave, I have bumps. And I don't usually shave daily, every other day, sometimes less depending on when I leave the house, or where I'm going if I do. And thanks for that ending, aha, I feel totally fine when I'm shaven, it's just so odd to touch my skin and feel a lady beard coming in :P
If anyone else can further enlighten me on hair removal techniques in the meantime, shaving, trimming, removal cream?-if any is safe for the neck/facial area, I'd be so greatful :D
The little bumps are called "pseudofolliculitis barbae", or PFB for short.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001826/ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001826/)
Change blades often (at least once a week, twice is better), use a quality shaving cream (not the cheap "foam" stuff, although I am using conditioner now for shaving, for some reason it works better for me...maybe softens the hairs?),
and gently stretch the skin taut as you blade. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudofolliculitis_barbae) says not to:
QuoteSome men use electric razors to control PFB. Those who use a razor, should use a single blade or special wire-wrapped blade to avoid shaving too closely, with a new blade each shave.[6] Shaving in the direction of hair growth every other day, rather than daily, may improve pseudofolliculitis barbae. If one must use a blade, water-soften the beard first with a hot, wet washcloth for five minutes or shave while showering in hot water. Some use shaving powders (a kind of chemical depilatory) to avoid the irritation of using a blade.
Are we talking a full beard (like what a man would have), or just a few (say, less than 50)? If they are dark hairs and you are fair-skinned, laser will have very good effect. Laser works best if there's a contrast between hair color and skin color, although the newer lasers claim to work well on all hair colors/skin colors.
My half sister has hirsutism due to the lowering of estrogen during menopause, plus her dad was of Mediterranean heritage. Those of the Med heritage which with my personal observation while visiting the Med a few times, I noticed the increase of hirsutism in that region. A lot of those women in that region don't even shave their legs or armpits.
There were some women in the past who grew a full beard, retained her female voice and had children. The famed Bearded Lady of the old carnival attractions was one of them. More than likely now a specialist will find the problem and have it treated. Good luck, girl! Hugs!
Joelene
If you are shaving do not use a mens shaving cream as they are formulated to keep the pores open and masculine looking. Go with a shaving cream that is marketed for women.
As to your razor you should be using a razor that is marketed to men with at least three blades or more. Razors marketed to women are designed to need replacing more often so they dull easy.
Quote from: cynthialee on July 17, 2012, 05:17:21 PM
As to your razor you should be using a razor that is marketed to men with at least three blades or more. Razors marketed to women are designed to need replacing more often so they dull easy.
The women have more real estate to cover whilst shaving and that tend to dull the blades quicker. It was a common complaint from about the 1950's on about the men complaining that their wives were using their razors! A used razor tended to nick the skin and pull at the beard. Styptic pencil anyone?
Joelene
Hi
You really need to get a medical check up. You may have a polycystic ovarian syndrome (POCS) which requires treatment. Your hormone levels need to be checked and if your androgens are too high you can go on anti-androgens.
I would get these checked out before spending a lot on laser and electrolysis. You may be able to get some free medical care from a woman's health clinic. I'm not in the USA but I presume there are such things if you cannot afford a family doctor.
These conditions are treatable and do need treatment.
Cindy
Quote from: Cindy James on July 18, 2012, 03:27:28 AM
Hi
You really need to get a medical check up. You may have a polycystic ovarian syndrome (POCS) which requires treatment. Your hormone levels need to be checked and if your androgens are too high you can go on anti-androgens.
I would get these checked out before spending a lot on laser and electrolysis. You may be able to get some free medical care from a woman's health clinic. I'm not in the USA but I presume there are such things if you cannot afford a family doctor.
These conditions are treatable and do need treatment.
Cindy
I second this. I was just about to post about POCS but I decided to read to see if anybody else has said it. Don't just assume it's purely hormonal!!
Quote from: Joelene9 on July 17, 2012, 10:11:00 PM
The women have more real estate to cover whilst shaving and that tend to dull the blades quicker. It was a common complaint from about the 1950's on about the men complaining that their wives were using their razors! A used razor tended to nick the skin and pull at the beard. Styptic pencil anyone?
Joelene
I've never found this to be true. A new razor is sharper and if I use one I cut my skin and bleed. I use used razors all the time.
Firstly i will say ditto on the checkup.
And if it turns out that it is just one of those things, it doesn't reflect on your attractiveness (I assume you are straight from the tone of your posts) as any man who is attracted to you will just fail to notice it. Some years pre-transition I had a girlfriend who had facial hair, and it really didn't register with me until she mentioned it. After which I ignored it again anyway.
It didn't stop us having fantastic sex either.
Karen.
I will agree that a hormone screening is in order, but even if she gets her hormones under control she will have to remove the hair that is there. As we MTF all know too well, just getting rid of androgen isn't going to remove facial hair.
It's been a while since I've gotten back on here, but I want to sincerely thank all of you who took the time to reply and help. I still have this issue-shocker, right?-and I'm going to get my hormones checked for sure, also the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Then go from there..I wish you all luck as well in your lives(:
Melissa it's a bad idea for you to get laser on your face unless the hairs that you have are the same as those you would typically find with a male beard. Laser will only work on coarse dark hairs. Lots of the girls on here are left with "stragglers" I dare say because quite often these are the finer hairs that they probably aren't even aware of, they grow slower and are lost amongst the the more typical coarse facial growth. A lot, if not most laser clinics will claim to be able to help you, they'll happily take your money and claim afterwards that "you weren't ideal for treatment or We've never had this before it usually works" Genetic females should absolutely NOT have laser hair removal on their faces. Worst case scenario the treatment can cause additional growth. I've tried making this case before with someone here at Susans who had immature beard hair. They will possibly have similar growth to you and as such they won't be suitable for treatment either. Do some independent research and stay away from any info put out by laser companies it will be heavily biased.