Unwanted Facial Hair
Hair that is unwanted is a common condition that often goes untreated. Women most often seek treatment, but men may also have concerns about this problem. In most cases, a severe underlying medical condition is not the cause of unwanted facial hair.
Hair Growth Cycle
The growth of human hair is cyclic, involving phases of active growth (anagen) and quiescence (telogen). In addition, an intermediate stage of transition, known as catagen, occurs between active growth and cessation of growth. Between 85 and 90 percent of hairs are in the anagen phase at any one time, with the remainder in telogen. During the anagen phase, mitotic activity in the hair bulb and dermal papilla resumes and forms the new hair shaft, pushing out the old inactive hair, or club hair, as the new hair advances.
Matrix Cells The matrix cells, which form the new hair, multiply rapidly and ascend into the follicular canal, dehydrate, and form the growing shaft. The visible hair shaft is composed of an outer cuticle, the cortex and, sometimes, a core of compact, keratinized cells, all of which are made of protein.
Cessation Of Anagen
Hairs that are in the anagen phase during removal are more sensitive to the various treatment modalities than hairs in the telogen phase. Alteration of matrix cell activity during anagen, by whatever method chosen, increases the amount of time from removal to regrowth. As a result, one of three alterations can occur: early cessation of anagen causing telogen to occur, transition into a dystrophic stage of anagen, or degeneration of the matrix.
Telogen Phase
Hair removal, depanding where it is, the time spent in each phase differs considerably, from an anagen phase of two to six years for scalp hair to one to two months for thigh hair. The telogen phase also varies, ranging from one and one half months for mustache hairs to three to six months for leg hairs. During telogen, growth stops, and the entire structure rests for a variable period of time, depending on the site. Once anagen begins, the remaining club hair is ejected, and the growth cycle continues. Patterns of hair growth vary greatly depending on whether the patient is male or female.
Growth Of Androgen-Sensitive Hairs
In addition, ethnicity may also determine normal growth patterns that can be interpreted as abnormal by physicians outside of a patient's native culture. Growth of androgen-sensitive
hairs at various regions of the body (beard, axillae, pubis, chest, and shoulders, for example) can arouse suspicion of an underlying organic cause.
Overproduction Overproduction of testosterone and other androgens in female patients may cause abnormal growth patterns that can be clinically evident as hirsutism. All such patients should be evaluated for an underlying cause of the hair growth, whether the unwanted facial hair is to be treated or not.
Hair Removal Methods Several methods of hair removal are available, each with varying degrees of cost, efficacy, and side effects. Shaving does not change the thickness or growth rate of human hair. Rather, the rough-textured, beveled edge that shaving produces compared with the softer, tapered tip of uncut hair) may give the appearance of thickening.
Side Effects Of Shaving
Although shaving is a useful and safe method of facial hair removal (and the chief method chosen by men), it is not popular among women. Side effects of shaving are generally minimal. Irritation, often caused by components of the shaving lubricant, and minor cuts can occur. Pseudofolliculitis barbae, caused by the in growth of curly hair, is also a fairly common side effect in some ethnic groups.
Epilation Hair removal by Epilation, or plucking, is often the first method chosen by patients. The entire hair shaft and bulb are removed, with results lasting six to eight weeks. While this method is probably the least expensive, it is not practical for use over larger areas.
Plucking During Anagen
Unless the hair is plucked in anagen, the method generally does not change the growth rate of hair. Plucking during anagen may shorten the duration of time spent in this phase and, if repetitive, may permanently damage the matrix. Numerous methods are used for epilation, from tweezers to devices that pluck several hairs at once.
Note: Image(s) the courtesy of http://www.dreamstime.com.