As a woman, you probably already spend a significant amount of time on your beauty routine. From skincare, makeup, to what shoes to wear with that top, it all takes time. After all, you want to feel elegant, beautiful, comfortable and happy I your own skin. Unfortunately, there could be conditions that could test your patience and even impact your self-esteem.
Today, we are talking about PCOS, the excessive hair growth it causes and it’s about time we all talked about. Yes, it happens and no, you are not less beautiful because of it. You are beautiful regardless of PCOS and we help many of our clients fight the uncomfortable symptoms of PCOS.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS is caused by a hormonal imbalance. It can first appear in puberty and has symptoms, which can include:
- Irregular menstruation
- Alopecia
- Obesity
- Trouble getting and staying pregnant
- Oily skin
- Acne
- Uneven pigmentation
- Skin tags
- Many small cysts on the ovaries
- High cholesterol and high blood pressure
- Hirsutism (excessive hair growth)
Here at DermApproach in Reston, Virginia, we have several clients who decided to opt in for Laser Hair Removal and IPL treatments to help treat the uncomfortable symptom that is excessive hair growth, and for good reason.
Hirsutism is an abnormal growth of hair on the woman’s face, arms, legs, back, chest and lower belly. This growth of hair is caused by an excessive amount of androgen, which is a male hormone. The hair can be so noticeable that it’s a cause of embarrassment and anxiety. We understand what you’re going through and the good news is that there is a way to prevent it. Although we do not diagnose patients with PCOS; that is something that your doctor and healthcare provider would do, however, advances in laser technology have allowed excess and unwanted hair to be removed without damaging surrounding tissue.
Both lasers and IPL are treatments used to remove excess hair. Laser is a very concentrated light, while IPL uses many different wavelengths with each pulse of light.
Are You a Candidate for Laser Hair Removal?
The best candidate for laser hair removal is typically someone with a fair-skin complexion and dark hair. On the other hand, IPL can be used on almost every skin color.
What Happens With Laser Hair Removal?
During both laser and intense pulse light treatments, the hair is trimmed and the device is customized for your hair and skin color. We will provide you with special glasses and coverings to protect your eyes from the laser.
During your laser treatment, the light targets the hair follicle, which then gets destroyed when it absorbs the light energy. Patients can report seeing hair fall out easily in about three weeks. Usually 5-10 treatments are required for patients with PCOS, yet it can vary case by case. Each session lasts about 15 minutes to an hour depending on which part of the body is being treated. In any event, we’ve seen amazing results for our patients and we can’t wait to help you become hair-free!
What Does This Mean for You?
All in all, please know that there is a solution out there for you and we will make sure to answer every single question that is on your mind.
We’re here to help you feel beautiful inside and out. Don’t let PCOS dictate how you feel about yourself.
For more information, click here to set up a consultation or call 571-253-3385 today to schedule your appointment in our Reston, Virginia office. We can’t wait to help you feel your best!
