Jeanettes,
I also have PCOS and facial hair, which had been a plague for me ever since I was 14. What started as down on my upper lip developed over the years into a genuine beard. I’m extremely pale, freckled and auburn-haired, but my facial hair was black, very coarse and dense. Worse than yours, I think, only with a different pattern --my sideburns were OK, bleaching was more than enough there, but my worst area was under the chin and also my upper lip, although I was starting to have really coarse hair on my cheeks too. Over the years I used all conceivable methods of hair removal, and each time I had to move on eventually to more and more aggressive methods. For example, when bleaching and hair removal creams stopped working in some areas (as the hair was too black and too thick), I’d start waxing, but sooner or later the hair was so coarse that waxing wouldn’t work either, so I’d move to shaving etc. This means that at a given point in time I was bleaching, waxing, plucking and shaving SIMULTANEOUSLY, depending on where and when. As you may imagine, my skin was in a catastrophic condition, and yet the hair was still noticeable. Oh, and I was using Vaniqa too --it helped a lot, but my problem was so enormous that the hair was still a nightmare.
Last June, a few days after my 33rd birthday, I had my first laser session. I had done extensive research over the years and was aware of the risks, so I chose a high-end clinic that a friend had recommended personally. I knew that my problem was (is) hormone-related, so I knew what to expect. The doctor said I’d probably need a minimum of ten to twelve sessions, but I was more or less convinced that I’d need gazillions. My only wish was that the hirsutism wouldn’t become worse. Actually I never asked the doctor if she could guarantee good results --I just asked if she could guarantee that the laser wouldn’t aggravate my problem.
I have had ten sessions now (today was my tenth), with positive results from the very first one. I haven’t got any pictures for you to compare --I did take some pre-treatment pictures with that goal in mind but I deleted them almost immediately, because I really couldn’t look at my face in the mirror, let alone keep photos of it (I regret it now). I can tell you, however, that the results are impressive. I’d say there’s a 80%-90% reduction in density, coarseness and growth speed. I have a session every four to six weeks and do NOTHING in between sessions. I used to spend HOURS everyday (literally) just to get mediocre results, but now I just clip or shave perhaps once or “help” the dead hairs fall (1,5-2 weeks after a session, the hairs that weren’t completely destroyed become “loose” and they just fall out if you touch them). I love having that extra time everyday! My social interactions have improved dramatically as well. I’m a reserved person anyway, but the facial hair had made me a virtual recluse. I still have some facial hair, more than “normal” women, I suppose, and I guess that some people would say that my laser treatment is a failure since the hair is not gone forever and completely, but the improvement is huge and my expectations were realistic, and that’s why I can say I’m really happy. The nurse who handles the laser is full of compassion and optimism and always comments on my dramatic improvement and adds that we’ll get rid of all hair eventually, but I always answer that I’m really happy and contented to have come this far and that my only wish is that I won’t regress.
I still use Vaniqa. Last time I couldn’t get a new tube for a couple of weeks and I noticed a little regression --not a regression, really, a less dramatic improvement, rather. But now I’m using it again and the results are better.
I don’t take any PCOS medication. I was on Diane(tte) for a while a few years ago and it was wonderful for the hair problem, but I had to stop it because I have migraines and high blood pressure, and the combination was a bit dangerous. I’ve always been overweight and most doctors would dismiss me with a photocopied (standard) diet plan. I complied at first, but I would lose a lot of weight and then balloon as soon as I started maintenance diets, and that made the hirsutism worse, so I gave up. Please remember that the connection between insulin resistance and PCOS was discovered only recently --when I was a teenager they thought I was causing the problem by overeating (this was really frustrating). I’ve educated myself in the meantime and I have just started a non-starch, non-sugar diet (http://www.amazon.com/Glycemic-Load-Diet-powerful-reversing-resistance/dp/0071462694). I eat whatever I want in the quantities I want, but I pass on bread, rice, pasta and sugar as a general rule. I’m losing weight, I have no cravings and feel wonderful, but it’s too early to notice any results on the hair thing. I’ll probably take metformin in the future, as I’m trying to conceive now. This has to do with my improved hirsutism too --until last June I was so overwhelmed with the facial hair problem that I had no stamina or even material time to pursue any other projects. This may sound crazy but I assure you that my life revolved around the facial hair, as it consumed hours and hours of my time and most of my thoughts.
I know this is quite a long post, but I thought I’d let you know what my background is so that you see that I know what you are talking about. My advice is: go for it! Go ahead and have laser at a reputable clinic, use Vaniqa and do some research on low glycemic load (note: not low glycemic index) diets (the book I mention above is very useful) and maybe on metformin. Please act now and don’t put it off like I did. You are braver than I was (the fact that you posted your photo proves that), so you’ll have it easier. The sooner you act, the better results you’ll get. If you must borrow the money, go ahead --it’s worth the while. In retrospect, I wish I could have laser when I was your age.
Just a final (technical) note: the machine they use on me is a Candela Alexandrite laser at 20 (from the first session on). It hurts less and less as the hair disappears, but the upper lip still hurts a lot (just like waxing my old coarse hair, though). I don’t use any numbing cream. After each session, my face is really red and bumpy, and feels hot. I apply an aloe vera balm and I’m usually fine by the next morning. I never sunbathe (regardless of the laser treatments) so I don’t know what the effect would be. After eight months I have not had any pigmentation or discoloration problems (knock on wood) and my freckles are still there, no more, no less than pre-treament. I have no secondary hair growth (knock on wood again). Oh, and I live in Europe. English is not my mother language, so excuse my errors.
I wish you tons of luck. If you have questions don’t hesitate to ask.
