If your face and body hair grow at lightning speed or pop up in places where you wish they didn’t, you might be one of the millions of women living with PCOS. For many women with PCOS, laser hair removal is a big confidence boost.
PCOS affects an estimated 6-13% of women of reproductive age (18-44 years) and has many side effects, including female hirsutism, or excessive hair growth. The hair often grows in areas like the face, back, chest, stomach, abdomen, or arms.
Hair removal methods like shaving or waxing can be deeply irritating and time-consuming, so many women turn to laser hair removal as a long-term, cost-effective solution. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about laser hair removal for PCOS, so you can finally enjoy lasting relief from unwanted hair.
What Is PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome affects millions of women in the U.S. alone, making it the most common hormonal disorder among women of childbearing age. It’s usually diagnosed based on infertility, but many women realize they have it after noticing abnormal hair growth.
The main diagnostic criteria for PCOS are the following: High levels of androgens (the male sex hormones), cysts on the ovaries, and irregular menstruation patterns (or none at all).
There is no singular cause of PCOS, but the condition is believed to have multiple risk factors, including genetics, high androgen levels, and insulin resistance. If there are other women in your family with PCOS or PCOS symptoms, the chances that you have it as well are higher.
PCOS Symptoms
PCOS has many symptoms, and people’s experiences with PCOS can vary, but irregular periods, sleep apnea, pattern baldness, acne, and hirsutism are some of the most common.
These PCOS symptoms are often a direct result of higher levels of androgens. It’s normal for women to have some hair on their face or other body parts, but because of the stimulating effect of the male hormones, PCOS leads to darker, coarser, and more visible hair, which can be frustrating to deal with.
These symptoms can deeply affect a person’s well-being and self-esteem, often leading to emotional distress and frustration.
Does Laser Hair Removal Work for PCOS?
Yes! If you’re frustrated by unwanted hair, you’ll be happy to know that laser hair removal works for PCOS. It can be done on nearly every body part and on the face.
Laser hair removal works by emitting a powerful beam of light that targets the hair follicle directly by sinking into the pigment in the roots. The light energy turns to heat to damage the hair follicle, inhibiting its ability to create new hair.
Because PCOS leads to darker hair growth, the outcomes from laser hair removal can be very favorable, as the hair follicles can more effectively absorb the light from the laser.
Additionally, hair follicles that have been stimulated to grow extra hair are likely to be in anagen (active) phase when you get your treatment. Since laser hair removal only works on active follicles, you have a good chance of targeting a lot of your unwanted hair at once during the lengthened anagen phase.
Getting laser hair removal with PCOS is the most effective and long-lasting way to remove unwanted hair.
That said, it’s important to mention that the hormonal factors associated with PCOS can impact the overall results of laser hair removal. While women with PCOS see a significant hair reduction, they may need more sessions and slightly more frequent maintenance treatments compared to others.
Laser Hair Removal PCOS Results
While laser hair removal works, it can be a longer process for those with PCOS. Results vary greatly from client to client, and hormonal imbalances can change things.
The treatment area you choose to target also has an impact — facial hair can be especially stubborn.
Despite that, most of our clients with PCOS still see noticeable hair reduction. With each treatment, hair growth progressively slows down, making life easier as you go through the process.
Once you achieve your desired results, you may still need to come in for the occasional maintenance session. For most, that once-in-a-while visit to the laser clinic is still vastly more convenient than constant shaving or waxing.
We usually tell our clients they’ll need a minimum of 8 laser sessions to see a difference, but for our clients with PCOS, a program like our Unlimited Plan might make the most sense. It includes 18 months of consistent sessions followed by annual touch-ups for life, which gives consistency and optimal results even with the unpredictability of life with PCOS.
What Areas Can Laser Treat?
Laser hair removal works for all body parts, including ones with heavy hair growth caused by PCOS. Facial hair laser removal is a go-to for many women with PCOS to remove hair growing on the jawline, cheeks, and chin.
In addition to laser hair removal for the face, PCOS patients often also ask us to treat the following areas:
- Chest or areolas
- Abdomen
- Back and buttocks
- Arms and legs
- Underarms
- Bikini line or Brazilian
- Hands and knuckles or tops of toes
There is no area too small or insignificant for laser hair removal! Our menu at SEV is tailored to treat you where it matters, and even includes multiple treatment size options to account for your unique hair growth pattern.
Laser Hair Removal for Your Skin Types
Excessive hair growth from PCOS affects women with darker skin tones at a greater rate. Thankfully, today’s laser hair removal devices work on all skin tones.
Early laser devices used wavelengths of light that weren’t safe for deeper skin tones, which excluded many people from treatment. Nowadays, Nd:YAG lasers with a longer wavelength make laser hair removal a safe and effective option for those with darker skin, as they’re able to penetrate deeper without impacting the melanin-holding layers of skin.
At SEV Laser, we use dual-wavelength laser machines with adjustable laser settings. This way, we can ensure that the laser hair removal process is as safe and effective as can be for all clients, regardless of skin tone.
FAQ
Can Laser Make PCOS Worse?
No. Factors like diet and lifestyle can worsen some PCOS symptoms, but laser only impacts the hair follicles. That said, it’s important you see a licensed provider and only treat areas with dark, visible hair growth.
Does Laser Hair Removal for PCOS Hurt?
Most people say getting laser hair removal only causes minor discomfort, but little pain. At SEV, we make sure you stay comfortable with our cooling system, which soothes the skin with a burst of cold air immediately after each pulse of light.
PCOS and Laser Hair Removal at SEV
At SEV, many of our clients come to us because they struggle with excess hair growth. If you’re living with PCOS, you’re probably tired of sinking time, energy, and money into your hair removal routine.
That’s why laser hair removal is a game-changer. By dramatically reducing your unwanted hair, it’ll save you years of frustration and effort. The treatment process requires regular sessions over the course of a few seasons, but in the end, the results are smooth, hair-free skin.
We can’t wait to welcome you for your treatment at SEV. We pride ourselves on turning laser hair removal into a confidence-boosting experience while keeping our prices reasonable, flexible, and transparent.
The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see smoother skin — if you’d like to see the difference, go ahead and book an appointment at your nearest SEV.
05 May, 2023 
8 min read
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