Feeling like a ugly hairy man.

Start here! Share your feelings
#1

Hello I’m new here, and I’ve been suffering with thick hair growth ever since I was 14 I’m 22 now, I am a young African American woman.

The hairs are a nasty black.

I would pluck and tweeze and when I tweeze the hair grows back in less than 2 days.

Plus the fact more than two hairs grow in mostly every single pore, I once found a pore with five hairs in it!!!

Ugh I hate these hairs they make me itchy and I feel dirty, I’m always called a male in public for it, it doesn’t help the fact that I’m tall have a deep voice and practically built like a man even though I’m a woman.

I look far too much like my dad.

I have very thick sideburns that grow from my hairline to my chin, I have a mustache as well a thick v shaped unibrow, thick underarm hair very thick wiry hair on my chin and neck, hairs all on my face an embedded on my nose too.

Incredibly thick eyebrows that if left untamed can be around an inch thick.

And thick bushy curly private hair which causes non stop itchiness, the only place hair doesn’t grow is my ears, hands and feet.

When I looked at my arm one day I was horrified to find out hair was starting to grow towards my hands so now they are growing on my hands.

Same for my feet.

Ugh no one will pay for my hairs to be removed so I pluck but that really doesn’t help.

With these hairs even when I don’t pluck them they cause me to have painful whiteheads with pus and the ingrown hairs in them.

Help!!!

#2

I don’t know if my situation is in the same category of severity as yours, but I completely know how you feel. I have to shave my whole body and my situation has just gotten worse over the years. I’ve had multiple sessions of laser hair removal that worked great on the armpits, bikini line, and arms, but ended up making my facial hair 10 times worse. I started electrolysis months ago and had to stop for a while because I went to a lady that did not give me a proper treatment and I was left with a discoloration around my neck and pitting that I am still dealing with. So now I look like a hairy freak! And I’m broke… this is an aweful thing us women have to go through!

#3

really important to find a good electrologist, I’m sure you have seen many on this forum. start on the face, small steps.

#4

Me’chelle - listen to me please. You must make an appointment with your physician, as in immediately, and get evaluated. Hair removal is not important now. What is important is to get some blood tests and a complete history and physical exam done asap. This may not be only a cosmetic problem and you should be working on finding out WHY you have so much man hair in all the wrong places. Please promise that you will get an a appointment to see a doctor. If it is an internal problem and it is treated, you will find relief from future hair growth. Can you post here that you have made an appointment or private message me? This is really important.

Dee

#5

Me’chelle - Dee is absolutely correct. Please consult your physician because if there is an underlying medical/hormonal cause for your hair growth, it must be identified and addressed. Only blood tests can confirm or rule out this possible source of your issue, and only your doctor can do this for you. Without knowing this, any course of hair removal treatments may be fruitless, as the problem will persist despite everyone’s best efforts.

#6

You could potentially have a condition called PCOS or another one that is causing this. You should see a doctor, potentially an endocrinologist, to determine if this is the case.

Once you figure it out, you can work on hair removal. Coarse hair can be removed with laser for good. For the rest, you’ll need electrolysis. Meanwhile, shaving is an easy option. Waxing lasts longer and avoids stubble.

#7

You poor thing I went to two electrolysists, the first one was terrible when she did it, it hurt and stung,but the second was just right, the second one used the number 4 needle instead of the highest one number 6 on me but I couldn’t afford go there anymore when my Mother died.

I miss my Mother, where did she go?

My dad hardly cares for me, so here I suffer with all this constantly spreading hair.

When I told him it was spreading he laughed.

I will be going to a doctor soon if I can get a ride, with me not having insurance thanks to my dad there is no telling how much surgery will cost.

I’m glad you understand my dad does not, he thinks I want his money, I just want to be hairless I want to be able to wear a bathing suit without looking like a hulking gorilla!

My Mother asked me did I want laser but I said it was expensive $130 an hour,and electrolysis $75 an hour.

I can’t shave my whole body no money for razors, I have discoloration due to the hair growth under my neck and chin.

I always look like I have a 12 o clock shadow!

Yes we shouldn’t have to suffer!

#8

I had a good one before but I need money to go back there, she was once nice enough to give me an extra hour of treatment for free.

My huge amount of hair made her sad.

#9

I will I’m going to a doctor in Melbourne Florida if I can get someone to take me.

However I wonder how I will pay for the appointment as I have no insurance or money.

Especially if I need surgery done, it’s too expensive!

I hate myself.

#10

I’m going to a doctor, I just hope it won’t be expensive.

When I have to be somewhere special like my cousins wedding in June I will have to shave and pluck to look good at her wedding.

#11

I think I have PCOS as my left side constantly hurts.

I just need the money for all this which is something I don’t have.

#12

People not having money for important things makes us all very uneasy and at loss for words. There are free clinics in many areas. You can sign up for Medicaid. If know a social worker, they can help you navigate through this or someone at the free clinic can give you information. If you live near a major medical center, most have a free clinic open in the evenings.

Your chief complaint should be pain in your left side. The hirsutism is a side effect of something internally out of whack. It could be benign or serious. It could be PCOS or a benign adrenal tumor??? My plea to you is to get evaluated asap and then worry about getting the hair removal later. Do your temporary methods for now.

If you are overweight - LOSE the WEIGHT. Get rid of the diet soda’s or anything with artificial sweeteners. Learn about what real food is and enjoy the simplicity of eating food like our ancestors ate for thousands of years. Dump the junk. Exercise. Change your lifestyle and behavior toward food. If you are normal weight, keep it that way.

Surely you know someone that has a car and can give you a ride. Medicaid pays for cab service within 25 miles for doctor visits. I have clients that stretch this a bit and use the cab to come see me. What about taking a bus? A lot of people have a heart and will pay attention to your pleas for help, even if your own father won’t. Your Mother would want you to take good care of yourself.

Be aggressive to help yourself. Have a good cry and then get on with it. You will feel better emotionally, if you direct this. Today’s goal is to seek medical help. Start figuring out the resources available to you in your community. We can offer you sympathy, but only you can make things move in the right direction.

#13

Dee is very right here. We can only offer sympathy here. You need more than that. You need action and that is up to you. But to help in a small way, since you mention Melbourne Florida, here is a link to all the free clinics in Florida.

http://echealthinsurance.com/florida-health-insurance/florida-public-resource-guide/florida_public_health-clinics/

It might not be easy to get in and you have to prove that you cannot afford medical help but if you have no money and no insurance, you should be able to get the help you need.

Here is the link to Florida’s Medicaid system. http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/access/medicaid.shtml#co Typically, indigent people are entitled to some assistance by the state. You need to apply for these benefits and see if you are eligible.

There are ways to get help but you need to find them. If your family cant or wont help, then you have to find it on your own. Good luck to you though. Its a cruel world out there and nobody can make it better for you, you have to do it for yourself.

#14

I already had my interview for medicare I’m not eligible for it, as I have no evidence or anything.

I am however going to a low cost clinic today the appointment will be $70 so I’ll see what they can do.

Thanks for the link, it’s usually a nightmare for someone to take me anywhere as I live very far away from anyone and my dad works all the time.

I’m lucky enough that he could take me today.

#15

I’m not eligible for medicaid or medicare.

I’m going to a low cost clinic today, so hopefully I can find out what’s wrong.

I know the pain on my left side is bad, as I’m feeling it right now.

I’m not too overweight, I don’t eat alot yet I can’t loose any weight.

I can’t exercise, cant walk as I have a painful cyst in my leg, I suffer from terrible fatigue.

Everyone that I know is busy they either have a job or children.

No bus where I’m at I’m in the boondocks.

No one cares.

I know she would want me to take care of myself, yet I neither have the resources or transportation to do this.

I will check out the free clinics.

Thank you.

#16

Do you know why you’re not eligible? If you’re 22, you should be automatically on your dad’s insurance plan. Does he have insurance?

Have you considered getting a part-time job to pay for these expenses?

Try to see a gyno and/or an endocrinologist specialist, not just a regular MD.

#17

We care and we want you to move forward despite how awful you feel right now. Go to that free clinic.

I have said this before and I will repeat it again: many communities do not have access to endocrinologists and if they do have one or two endo’s, wait time can be many months to get an appointment. May I stress again that:

[size:14pt][b]Any medical doctor can do an evaluation of women with hirsutism if they are so inclined to. Nurse practitioners can, too. I doubt that a free clinic has an endocrinologist on board. There are protocols at www.uptodate.com that any doctor can pull up and follow, same as any endocrinologist can do. Some will just refer you to an endocrinologist and be done with you, but they don’t have to. They CAN get the ball rolling. Problem is, there are many under served areas where there are not enough endocrinologists. It may take four to six months to get an appointment. It is important to rule out the serious but rare causes of hirsutism, such as tumors that secrete androgens from the ovaries or the adrenal glands, especially if the hair came on suddenly (typically less than a year) or if the hair becomes progressively worse. So, waiting to get an appointment with an endocrinologist may be a wait for some, so in the meantime, a work up could be started. If something of glaring concern shows up, your doctor can advocate for you and get you pushed to the head of the line, sending the tests onward to the endocrinologist peruse.

Any doctor can do a history and physical exam. They can order lab tests for serum androgens, testosterone, DHEA-S, serum prolactin. They can order a pelvic ultrasound. There is so much more to say, but my point is, there are guidelines for evaluating why women may have too much hair ( or pain in the side). A general practitioner, nurse practitioner, gynecologist, dermatologist can begin the process and refer as necessary. Do not be deterred. Advocate for yourself. I know you can do this.[/size]. [/b]

#18

You mentioned Florida.
I was wondering if you could find an electrology school nearby and begin treatments. I have visited a few schools in Florida and had a friend teach at Hollywood. You can have electrology treatment for very low rates for as low as $10 for a short appointment up to a 90 minute appointment for only $50.

Hollywood School, Hollywood, FL phone (954) 922-5505

Try googling to see if you can find more schools closer to where you live.
This way, you can address the hair growth while trying to discover the underlying cause.

#19

I’m not disabled as the woman had said in my interview.

I’m far too young to get the medicaid.

I’m not on my dad’s insurance, the only thing that was paid were my glasses anything else like a hospital bill were never paid for.

What part time job?!, I can’t even walk a mile without my leg causing me incredible crippling pain.

The doctor I went to is a Gyno and he told me I have PCOS and possibly a blood cot in my leg.

#20

It’s a new law that children up to 26 are able to stay on their parents’ insurance plan. If you have PCOS and a blood clot, you should look into treatments, including at free clinics and state hospitals for now. Hopefully, your dad is concerned enough to help.

You can be on medicaid if you’re not making enough money. You can get birth control at Planned Parenthood and other women’s clinics for free if you don’t have an income. Medicaid is available based on income - it’s not a matter of age. http://healthinsuranceinfo.net/getinsured/florida/financial-assistance/medicaid/

If you’re officially a dependent on your dad’s tax return, then you should be on his health insurance plan if his income is too high. If his income is lower than the minimum, then he’s eligible for medicaid along with you. If his income is too high and you can’t be on his insurance, it will help yuo to be independent and file your own taxes.

If you are disabled as you seem to state, then you should look into getting on disability, which also qualifies you for free healthcare.