Excessive or Unwanted Hair in Women

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Home Care & Treatment

There are a variety of ways to remove unwanted hair:

• Bleaching -- lightening hair to make it less noticeable.
• Hair removal -- shaving, plucking, waxing, or chemical depilation.
• Electrolysis -- using electrical current to damage individual hair follicles so they do not grow back. This is expensive and requires multiple treatments.
• Laser hair removal -- using laser to damage individual hair follicles so they do not grow back. This is expensive and requires multiple treatments.
• Weight loss -- in overweight women, weight loss can decrease male hormone levels and reduce hair growth.

Birth control pills and anti-androgen medications can also help reduce hair growth. A physician must prescribe these medications.