Does being on oral meds like OCPs or spironolactone diminish or enhance the effects of electrolysis? We are talking about the “current” hair not the ones that might arise later from hormonal influence. While these medicines don’t ‘destroy/erase’ the hair a person already has, they do have an effect on the thickness of these current hair. What is the opinion of the electrologists here on taking these meds while undergoing electrolysis or even LHR?
Also, for discussion sake, let’s exclude PCOS patients. Let’s talk in the context of genetically hairy/oily skinned patients or those with idiopathic hirsutism.
If someone does not have a metabolic disorder and is only taking anti-androgenics for cosmetic reasons, is that necessary?
First of all, those meds have to be taken for a couple of months before you may or may not see a noticeable difference in hair growth.
I think it is a bad idea to take the meds for ONLY cosmetic reasons while undergoing LHR or electrolysis. Electrologists need to see the hairs to treat those follicles and you might as well let the tech. clear you as quickly as possible.
So many variables. Male/female. Dose? type? duration? Area being treated? Previous treatments on area? Any additional considerations,ie age, surgical interventions: removal of testes/ovaries and on it goes…
I think it’s right to say it can enhance the effects of electrolysis. In some instances it might even make electrolysis or LHR removal redundant because depending on the area, the dose, the individual etc, etc, the hair might disappear all on it’s own… given time
My personal opinion for what it is worth is that it won’t be particularly useful for LHR removal because the hairs do/can become finer and lose their pigment and they will no longer be supposedly ( )suitable for LHR. Again depending on med, dose, time, individual, genetics, etc etc
Clear as mud good! glad to be of service
I did notice changes in my facial hair with different OCPs (which I was taking for BC). Microgynon made my hair grow a lot faster. I didn’t say anything to anyone but my husband noticed it. For me, the signs were that the hairs along my jawline (I’m assuming you have seen some of my pics to know my hair pattern) were appearing longer and more obvious. I felt like I needed to bleach more often. I stopped for other reasons and it went back to normal. Later (after a break of not using any pills), my doctor prescribed me Yasmin, which had the opposite effect.
Now, all this is really a bit unknown. Josefa’s feeling is that OCP’s do change things. She advised that I stop yasmin before treatment so there would be no doubt for treatment. Since I was not clearing everything, rather reducing the most obvious hairs, we didn’t want the medication to be making otherwise obvious hairs look less so.
Arlene, what I have is idiopathic hirsutism/genetic hairiness + oily and severely acne prone skin. It markedly resembles a PCOS female on the surface but the difference is: completely normal enzymes and testosterone levels and no insulin resistance or abnormal periods and all that good stuff. The proposed explanation is excessive conversion of testosterone to DHT at the skin level.
My reason for ever taking those drugs (recommended to me by an endocrinologist, gynecologist and a dermatologist) is to improve my acne. Now with age I’ve stopped getting facial acne (though I still have extremely oily and rough skin from clogged pores, it’s been a couple of years that I’ve stopped getting any pustules/papules/white heads/sebum plugs on the face. I still have body acne and even that has improved 50% as compared to it’s worst stage. I’ve struggled for a decade while everyone was enjoying life and spironolactone improves my quality of life by leaps because it controls the acne and oiliness. If I was only hairy, I wouldn’t bother with any oral meds. Furthermore, the bigger reason is if I control it now, then I can expect the marks and scarring to reduce fully in the next 2 years. If I let my body handle it, I’m stuck with active acne for at least a couple years with compounding of marks/scars which will subside even later.
I’m currently concerned with hair removal on upper legs (laser), bikini line, underarms and full arms (electrolysis for these areas). I’m not bothering with my face at all for now for 2 reasons: I initially started with it and did several hours maybe even 20hrs. I can shock you with the pics if I show you what electrolysis did to my which which had recently cleared of acne. That said, I do not blame the electrologist even 1%. It’s just my skin which is the way it is. Second reason is that my bleached facial hair cover scars very decently. So for now, no facial work for me. May be 5 years later.
Phew…so I’m starting back on spironolactone now that insurance is back. But I’m also going to start LHR on full thighs and possibly get electrolysis for full arms in the next few months. I’m just wondering what will happen 2 years later when I stop taking spironolactone?? Any answers anyone?
When electrologists clear any area, what happens more commonly (I’m not asking what SHOULD happen but what usually does? The ‘shoulds’ unfortunately are seen only with amazing electrologists like you guys here): The hair is completely gone or the hair becomes so light and thin that it is not visible any more? If the latter happens to me then getting off of spironolactone would mean those light hairs could thicken. But if they are gone in the first place, they are gone.
I think this is a bigger concern with LHR because with my previous lower leg laser treatment, I noticed significant reduction in thickness but not so much in amount. But then again, are legs in females prone to testosterone/DHT stimulation?
My god this turned out to be too long…sorry about that guys…
Whether the hair is completely gone or not depends on the efficacy of the treatment. Just like with laser, if the electrologist delivers enough energy to weaken the hair but not fully disable it, it may grow back thinner.
The upper part of the legs, ie above the knee, is prone to testosterone stimulation. Basically anywhere males typically have hair and females typically don’t.
zaphairzap,
Just curious if you have ever tried Skinoren for your oily, rough, congested skin? It is a topical ointment containing Azaleaic Acid and it works wonders for a lot of my clients with moderate acne
