A Derm Weighs In On Whether Women Should Shave Their Face? 

How Do We Decide On Whether Shaving Is Effective For Unwanted Hair?

The facial hair is always a problem for women and just as for men when they resort to shaving facial hair, the results might therefore vary greatly. It is here that we observe the advantages, disadvantages, as well as myths connected to shaving facial hair. 

It is real when we talk about the struggle against our strands. For centuries women have been waging war against the hair we don’t want as well as lamenting the hair we wish we had. Including tweezing, plucking, waxing, sugaring, scraping, shaving, dermaplaning (aka dermablading), threading, depilatory creams, topical hair-growth inhibitor (prescription Vaniqa), electrolysis, laser hair removal, as also microwave energy treatments (MiraSmooth), we have resorted to a variety of inventive often painful and occasionally border-line barbaric methods of removing hair. 

As an increasing trend of women is turning to the simple facial hair removal method men have relied on for hundreds of years, is it any wonder that they resort to shaving? 

Advantages

Depending on the rate of each individual’s hair growth, shaving is typically pain-free and may last hours or for up to several days at a time. To help keep your complexion soft and looking luminous, shaving exfoliates the skin. 

Drawbacks

A potential for irritation, redness, small cuts, ingrown hairs, and possibly even infection, are the disadvantages that are the same as you had experienced when shaving any other parts of your body. 

Will shaving cause hair to come back thicker and coarser is what patients regularly ask. The answer is it doesn’t. Shaving does alter it as the hair follicles are programmed to grow at a certain rate and thickness.

As we go through life, based on our age, hormones, medicines, and other factors, this can and does change. The naturally soft tapered end of the hair may feel a bit sharper as it regrows when a razor cuts a strand at a blunt angle. 

Tools

Female faces mostly grow vellus hairs that come as the thin light-coloured strands that are often called peach fuzz, whereas men are prone to terminal hairs on the facial skin that are the thick, coarse, kind growing in response to male hormones. For a smoother face, this means women may not need a four-blade, high-tech razor. Geared for women who want to gently skim off peach fuzz in delicate areas such as the chin or upper lip, more and more precision handheld facial blades and small electric razors are now available. Finishing Touch Flawless Women’s Painless Hair Remover, Michael Todd Sonicsmooth At-Home Dermaplaning Kit, and Schick Silk Touch-Up Multipurpose Exfoliating Dermaplaning Tool are all included in the list of good choices. 

Reserving one razor for exclusive use on the face as well as another for areas of the body like underarms and groin growing coarser hairs as well as having a different balance of germs compared to facial skin is the best approach to the problem. Soothe and hydrate the skin with a plain unscented moisturiser or hyaluronic acid serum and avoid putting anything on your face that could be irritating such as toners, retinoids, or alpha or beta hydroxy acids after shaving. 

Since this could be a sign of a hormonal imbalance such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, any female who notices significant facial hair should consult with a physician. Those prone to coarse, curly, or ingrown hairs on the chin or neck which is a condition of irritated shaving bumps called pseudofolliculitis barbae mostly seen in men and can be exacerbated by shaving as well as an active infection such as a cold sore that is caused by herpes simplex virus or inflamed pimples or cystic acne where shaving could scrape or injure raised acne bumps leaving small wounds and potentially contributing to scars are women who may want to avoid shaving because of these. 

The Final Thoughts To Conclude The Article

Unwanted hair is always a problem faced by women with hormonal imbalance. The reasons vary as do their treatments. So, when you are identified by such a condition, it is best to get the dermatologist’s opinion before you settle down on a treatment plan. There are many treatments while shaving is also an option. Here it remains to be seen whether the process is effective enough and what are the side effects. Many women are worried about the side-effects and an assurance from the dermatologists will help them go on with shaving to remove facial hair.