Can Laser Hair Removal Help With Unwanted Hair Growth Due to PCOS?
Unwanted facial or body hair can be difficult to manage at the best of times, but for people with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), it can become a persistent part of everyday life.
PCOS can affect hormone levels and, for some people, this leads to thicker or darker hair growing on areas such as the face, chin, neck, chest, stomach or back. This type of excessive hair growth is known as hirsutism.
Shaving, waxing and plucking can all help temporarily, but when hair grows back quickly, keeping on top of it can feel like a constant job. This is one reason some people with PCOS consider laser hair removal.
Why can PCOS cause excess hair growth?
PCOS is a hormonal condition that can cause a range of symptoms, including irregular periods, acne, changes in weight, thinning hair on the scalp and excessive facial or body hair.
The unwanted hair growth associated with PCOS is linked to androgens, hormones that everyone produces but which may be present at higher levels, or have a greater effect, in people with PCOS.
This can encourage thicker, darker hairs to develop in areas where they might otherwise be much finer.
It is important to remember that sudden or unexplained changes in hair growth should be discussed with a GP, particularly if PCOS has not already been diagnosed.
Does laser hair removal work if you have PCOS?
Laser hair removal can be used to reduce unwanted hair associated with PCOS. However, there is an important distinction to make: laser treatment targets the hair follicles, not the underlying hormonal condition.
During treatment, laser energy is absorbed by pigment within the hair. The resulting heat damages the follicle and reduces its ability to produce another hair.
Because individual hairs grow at different times, a course of treatments is normally required rather than a single session.
For somebody with PCOS, hormonal activity can continue to encourage new hair growth, even after successful laser treatment. This means results can vary and occasional maintenance sessions may be needed in the future.
It is therefore more accurate to think of laser treatment as a method of long-term hair reduction rather than a cure for PCOS-related hair growth.
Why might laser be preferable to shaving or waxing?
There is nothing wrong with shaving unwanted facial or body hair, despite the persistent myth that shaving makes hair grow back thicker. Waxing, threading and hair removal creams are also perfectly reasonable options.
The disadvantage is simply that they need to be repeated.
When hair growth is particularly noticeable, some people can find themselves shaving or plucking almost daily. Repeated removal can also lead to irritated skin, ingrown hairs or soreness.
Laser treatment aims to reduce the amount of hair growing in the treated area over time. This can make ongoing hair management considerably easier, even if some maintenance is still required.
Anyone considering treatment should look for an experienced provider offering appropriate technology, a consultation and a patch test beforehand. Clinics offering professional laser hair removal can assess factors including skin tone, hair colour and the area being treated before recommending an appropriate treatment plan.
Which PCOS-related areas can be treated?
Laser hair removal can be used on many of the areas commonly affected by PCOS-related hair growth, including:
- Upper lip
- Chin
- Jawline
- Neck
- Chest
- Stomach
- Back
- Arms
- Legs
Facial hair can be particularly frustrating because it is difficult to conceal and may need removing frequently.
Treatment suitability will depend on the individual, however. Hair colour, skin tone, medications and medical history can all affect whether laser treatment is appropriate.
Does hair colour make a difference?
Yes. Laser hair removal works by targeting pigment within the hair, so it generally works most effectively on darker hair.
Very blonde, white, grey or red hair contains less of the pigment that the laser needs to target, which can make treatment less effective.
Modern laser systems can be used across a much wider range of skin tones than older technologies, but choosing an appropriate system and having treatment carried out by an experienced practitioner remains important.
Will PCOS hair come back after laser treatment?
Some regrowth is possible.
This is true for laser hair removal generally, but hormonal conditions such as PCOS can make future hair growth more likely because the treatment does not alter the hormones responsible for stimulating it.
That does not necessarily mean returning to your original level of hair growth. Regrowth can be finer, lighter or more scattered, and some people choose to have occasional top-up treatments to maintain their results.
Managing the underlying PCOS alongside hair removal may also be worthwhile. Depending on an individual’s symptoms, a GP or specialist may recommend medical or lifestyle treatments designed to address hormonal symptoms.
Can you have laser hair removal while receiving treatment for PCOS?
Often, yes, but any medication should be discussed during your laser consultation.
Some medicines can affect the skin or increase sensitivity to light, so the practitioner needs an accurate picture of your medical history and current prescriptions before treatment begins.
Never stop prescribed PCOS medication simply to have laser treatment without speaking to the healthcare professional who prescribed it.
Is laser hair removal permanent for PCOS?
The term “permanent hair removal” can be misleading.
Laser treatment is better described as long-term or permanent hair reduction. A successful course can significantly reduce the number of hairs growing in an area, but it cannot guarantee that no hair will ever grow there again.
This is particularly relevant with PCOS because hormonal changes can stimulate previously inactive follicles.
Setting realistic expectations before starting treatment is therefore important.
Taking a longer-term approach to PCOS hair growth
Living with unwanted hair caused by PCOS can involve much more than simply deciding how to remove it. For some people it is a relatively minor inconvenience, while for others it can have a real impact on confidence and day-to-day routines.
There is no single hair removal method that will suit everybody.
Shaving, waxing and threading remain useful options, while laser hair removal can offer a longer-term approach for people whose hair and skin type are suitable for treatment.
The important thing is to understand what laser can and cannot do. It cannot treat PCOS itself or prevent every future hair from developing. What it can potentially do is substantially reduce the amount of unwanted hair that needs to be managed, making one frustrating symptom of PCOS easier to live with.