Hairy Situations: Too Much, Too Little & Shaving / Question
Published: May 7, 2002
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I've been plucking some of the hair on my upper lip, but I don't think that is the best way. Is it possible to just trim it? I've tried waxing and hair cream removers, but it makes it worse. I'm scared that bleaching it will be harmful to me. What should I do?
Signed: Trim Upper Lip Hair
Dear Trim Upper Lip Hair,
Since you did not specify your age, TeenHealthFX assumes that you have already started or are going through puberty. Unwanted upper lip hair is very common among women and can be very bothersome. You are right! Plucking your upper lip hair is probably not the best way to remove hair from your upper lip because it can be very painful. And trimming the hairs is probably not the best way either because you might risk cutting yourself, which can be just as agonizing and can do damage to the skin on your face. The temporary solutions you mentioned such as waxing and using hair cream removers are commonly used by some women and the best results are when it is done by a professional like a cosmetologist at a beauty salon. You would have to keep up with it monthly or depending on how fast the hair grows back. After the first 2 or 3 times the hair growth should start to slow down. Bleaching the hairs can be an alternative, but it will only lighten the hair instead of removing it so you might not get the results that you want. And like the hair removal agents, it can provoke skin irritations.
If the unwanted upper lip hair is something that you think cannot be taken care of on your own or at your local beauty salon, then perhaps you should talk to a dermatologist about other alternatives such as electrolysis or laser therapy. Keep in mind that these are costly and uncomfortable methods, but they do yield results.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Less than 33% of teens with depression get help, yet 80% of teens with depression can be successfully treated if they seek help from a doctor or therapist.
