I actually don't remember the first time I used a razor on my face/neck. It was the worst thing that I could have ever done!!! I mean the worst. I didn't know any better. I wish that I did. After doing research (years later) I only (now) use topical creams and tweezers to remove the hair on my face/neck.
I believe the condition that affects the condition of my skin is Hirsutism. I have done my own personal research, but I haven't had my skin diagnosed by a professional in over a year. I've had 2 previous consultations and was always advised to consider laser resurfacing/laser hair removal. At this point I haven't had the finances to take that option.
Some days I feel like when people see me, it's all that they see. I've cried over it. I've been stressed about it. I have had pity parties in the mirror over it. For years, I wouldn't leave the house without wearing foundation because of it. Part of my desire for perfect skin is totally related to the condition of my skin. If you've never had a skin condition, you won't understand. I can admit that I've felt ugly. Harsh, but true.
Writing this blog is hard
I think I've started this process over 10 times and just felt like I couldn't do it. Today, as I sat with my mirror and my tweezers, I was thinking about how tired I am of the process. I've learned that in sharing, you inspire and help others so in my attempt to feel better, I decided to share.
I have used toners and brighteners, unfortunately because of the pressure on the skin with removing the hair, the bumps don't get better and the discoloration continues. I have learned to control how I remove the hair with tweezers. That, is hard. It's hard not tearing into the skin for that last piece of hair. REAL HARD. When you want it gone, you simply want it gone.
Now the other hard part....
here's my skin
no makeup, no brows but I had to do a lip! *girls in red rock*
Skin was cleaned. No other products were added.
lower chin area
notice how some of the hair grows straight and some curled
full chin/upper neck area
jawline/upper neck area
side of face/lower jawline area
this is a few days after a hair removal using topical cream
side/jawline area
enlarged to show skin texture
the inflamed bumps are very painful
the bumps with external hair aren't as bad
with makeup
I have managed to work at getting a good coverage. I'll admit, this is the reason why I prefer a cream foundation because there's no point in me wearing makeup unless it covers my hyperpigmentation.
If you struggle with this...
I'd like to know how you maintain your skin? What products you use to help with the reduction of hair growth? What products you use to brighten the skin?
Thanks for reading.
19 comments:
I am your Sister in Hirsutism. I have the same condition. Tweezers weren't good for me. I have curly hair. The hair bumps were huge. I tried the Laser removal back in 2002 ... I have permanent dark spots. Maybe they've improved the laser, please check before trying. I use shaking creams (the stinky one that sits until dry) or lightly shave after a good lather.
I'm currently using Neutragena Rapid Tone Repair. but like you said, it's a short term fix. The dark spots come back. I love it when people ask, have you tried cocoa butter? Honey I've tried Paula Dean Butter (yes), Crisco (works wonders on diaper rash), lemons for the acid, every dark spot remover ..... nothing lasts
I'm still searching for the Best Makeup coverage. Currently, I'm a Mary Kay medium coverage Bronze 607 cream user. I apply a primer and powder after foundation. But I always need a "second coat" on the neck. Almost as if it's soaks in the makeup
I'd rather use powder but I have a hard time find the right tone. I always go the Mall on Temp Day. :)
You'll have to send me a price sheet for a In-House Visit/Help Package hahaha
Back to our condition. I'm seeing more women with the condition. Young, older, skinny and those like myself, Fluffy. Ok, fat.
There's a ton of information on the net about it. Of course, every cure has a cost.
United in the Struggle
You are my role model! You are brave for doing this. This will bless so many people. My niece, who is older than me has the same issue. She has found that laser hair removeval has worked for her. When you get your money right (kanye voice) you should go on groupon or a deal site because they always have them on there for laser hair. Or tell them about your blog and you are in the beauty industry, they may work with you. Maybe offer to do some social media for them... You never know!
Ms. Jackie,
Thank you so much for sharing. My heart leaped a little and I'm tearing up right now. I know that other people experience things that shake his/her self esteem and this one just happens to be mine. Yesterday, I received a threading hair removal to the area so I'm anxious to see the results in how long it takes the hair to grow back. I am looking into other treatments regarding the bumps. I hope to post more blogs about my condition. Again, thank you and yes we are in this together.
Trina, my dearheart! Thank you! *big smile* I am definitely tucking this in my pocket. I have thought about reaching out but I always get stuck on the self esteem ladder and fall back. The courage to continue is increasing :)
Looks painful. Thank you for sharing. My youngest niece may have this condition. I forwarded the link to my sister.
Wow! Where do I begin? I too had this same exact issue. It all started when I used the razor one time and it just started shedding on my chin and down my neck. I tweezed and waxed only to get frustrated. i strongly suggest laser removal. I lucked up on an awesome deal where i got 6 sessions for 200 bucks. Not only did the laser removal sessions lessen the hair but my dark spots and ingrown hairs have lightened nicely.
I commend you for sharing this experience. I know it was hard because I still have my written post in my drafts because I was too scared to share with others.
I never dealt with this issue, but I still must commend you for posting about this AND posting pictures. That's brave. I know this post will help other who are dealing with this condition as well as other skin conditions that they are embarassed of. I know when I was pregnant I did not post videos or FOTD's because my face blew up and broke out badly (to me). Thanks for posting this xoxo
Hey, this is the first time I've come across your blog and I just want to commend you on your bravery in posting on this topic. This seems to run in my family, with my aunt suffering with the worst of it. I remember her shaving when I was a kid! She eventually had electrolysis (laser?) done on her chin and it is pretty much gone now. Again, you are super brave!
Thank you so much for sharing! I too deal with this condition. I tweeze and use Nair Sensitive Skin Hair Removal ever so often to remove the hair. I am also looking in to Laser Hair Removal, but I am hesitate because of possible scarring. I recently read an article about Dermablend and I am considerning purchasing some to cover the dark spots on my skin. I can't thank you enough for sharing. This struggle can feel so alone. You have truly inspired me!
I am so glad to read this blog because I have the same problem. I was diagnosed with PCOS and hair growth started on my jawline. I first was using over the counter cleanser and that made it worse. Then I would use peroxide to keep bumps down and that worked. My husband is Moroccan and told me to use virgin olive oil and my dark spots lightened up and slowly going away. Also lemon juice from real lemon works well. Squeeze juice in bowl and use cotton ball to dab it with and use it across the dark spots. let it stay on face for 15 minutes and then wash off with cool water. cool water helps close pores. I hope this helps and thank you again for sharing.
Thank you for sharing you comment and I appreciate you for also taking the time to read my blog. :)
Hey for a straight guy that's suffering the same condition, what would you recommend to use to cover it up?
Dermablend or CoverFX cover creams. If you're looking for something more affordable, try cinema secrets foundation.
This my dear is an amazing post. Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us. I am inspired by your bold move and your openness to share your challenge with all of us. Blessings to you beautiful!
I thought those marks are from blackheads. You are good in covering it with makeup but removing it permanently is much better. I suggest that you should see a dermatologist and ask about which laser hair removal will be best for your neck.
I have this problem too. It sucks. I need to wear makeup too. Urs doea look alot better once uou cover up with makeup.(: but yea it jus makes me selve concious.i am always looking in the mirror and i dnt like certain lighting because the bumps show up more.i avoid dates and hanging with friends because of this.and i am hispanic my skin is much lighter.sometimes i think i see it worse than it really is..but then again maybe it is as bad.i use neutugena skin clearing makeup and almay clear complexion.hopefully your skin gets better someday as well as mine.your beautiful.n i feel your pain.we r stronger than this stupid problem.i wish i was brave enough to tell everyone why i hide all the time..because the hair and bad skin makes me depreased.well hope u have a great day!
You are not alone. I have visited a doctor about hyper pigmentation caused by ingrown hairs. The advice I was given was to stop tweeting. I am an African American and the doc said I was not a candidate for laser hair removal. She recommended using a clarisonic brush for deep cleaning / exfoliation twice a day ($200). I highly recommend this. She also recommended a retinol cream at night to prevent acne and a vitamin c for brightening. Retinol works.. I've taken her advice and now alternate between monthly vibradermabrasion facials and chemical peels. ($50-$80) I have also had good luck with piona strong bleaching cream to lighten dark marks. I do all of this and shave my neck daily. While the stubble is still a problem, the hyper pigmentation has definitely improved. Good luck sis.
I suffered with the same issue for over ten years it started in high school and i started shaving it was awful I feel like I haven't had a good life because I have been hiding behind makeup and shaving creams. My face was just as bad as yours if not worse my entire neck and up to my sideburns looked like that DARK from years of shaving and tweezing. Since this post I wanna let the african american ladies know that there has been a laser invented for people of darker tones its called the gel cool glide. First step to getting rid of this is laser laser laser. Trust me its the only way and we say oh its soo expensive..NO go on groupon SEARCH I found a package $1,200 i got 6 sessions AND A FULL YEAR of touch ups which were basically full sessions. It took me almost a year to save up for it but I was done dealing with this problem. My BUMPS ALL OF THEM ARE GONE...ALL OF THEM. here are my suggestions for getting rid of this issue.
1. GET laser start in the winter and invest in scarfs and turtlenecks. While I was getting laser treatment i stopped shaving and removing hair as little as possible to give my skin a break from the damage.
2. Skin care...dump all those cheap mask and washes..I went the natural route and did research..the facial products from The Body shop are THEE BEST. I started using The vitamin C and Vitamin E lines Both help in brightening and evening skin tones.DO NOT USE ANYTHING WITH ACID WHILE YOU ARE GETTING LASER TREATMENT
3. SCRUB SCRUB...exfoliating is your friend ESPECIALLY during laser treatment pay a facial scrubbing pad and scrub it will help with bumps and get the puss out and help hairs get to the surface faster to be laser-ed always when you scrub you promote skin healing faster by removing the top layer of the skin.
4. PUT THE RAZOR AND TWEEZERS DOWN after my 6 sessions were up all my bumps were gone but i kept going back every 3 weeks for my touch ups but I still had some hair growing but instead of shaving which would basically re create the same problem i started using hair removal creams on my face instead ..but not the ones for the face i started using nair Brazilian cream it is strong enough for African american hair but be careful because it is strong and not meant for the face so do not over pass on time. it knocks all the hair out in a second. DO NOT DO THIS BEFORE OR DURING LASER HAIR REMOVAL. you need the hair to be there in the follicle for the laser to be able to kill it.
right now the only issue have left is the left over dis-colorization i have left from the years of this problem they are a couple of spots and some uneven skin tone but i feel blessed that is all i have especially from looking like i did aka the picture above. I dont have to shave I dont have to wax or use tweezers...I can wear very little makeup sometimes none... im looking into AHA ACIDS in order to lighten the dark spots. For the little bit of hair I do grow I am still using Nair...AND i am now on a better birth control with a higher level of estrogen which helps with hair growth. There is hope ladies!
I find an Aztec clay mask made with apple cider vinegar to be helpful as I prioritize smoothness (minimal ingrown hairs and scabs) over hairlessness. I also use the tanda me smooth but I think it's slowing growth but not stopping it.
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