Unwanted hair on the face is a common problem. It affects many men and women. There are many simple and affordable methods to remove unwanted hair. Most methods of hair removal are available at your local drug or grocery store. Some people have to be treated by a doctor or with medicine in their attempt of removing facial hair.

If you have too much hair on your face, especially if you are a woman, it could be caused by a medical problem and should be checked by your doctor before you remove unwanted hair.

For most women, facial hair is very fine and there's no need for removing facial hair. Some women just naturally have thicker, darker hair on their upper lip or chin. Some medical conditions and medicines can cause thick facial hair to grow. Also, this condition could run in your family. If your facial hair suddenly starts to grow thicker and darker, you should see your doctor and may want to remove unwanted hair.

There are many ways to remove unwanted hair. Shaving and plucking are the most common methods of removing facial hair. However, removing facial hair through shaving is not popular amongst women, even though it does not make hair grow back faster or thicker.

While plucking hurts a little bit and doesn't last forever, it is probably the most common method women use to remove unwanted hair. Waxing (with hot or cold wax) is a way or removing many hairs at one time. Chemicals (depilatories) can be used to dissolve the hair. These hair removal methods? effects are also temporary.

Electrolysis is the only permanent way to remove unwanted hair. A thin metal probe is inserted in the opening in the skin where the hair grows. An electric current destroys the hair at its base. You may need to get this treatment of removing facial hair more than once to get rid of the hair for good. However, electrolysis is a more expensive option of removing facial hair. If you have a pacemaker, you can't use this method to remove unwanted hair.

A laser beam can be used to get rid of hair by destroying the hair at its base. This procedure has to be done by a dermatologist (a skin doctor). It is probably the most expensive way to remove unwanted hair.

In the future, it may become a permanent way of removing facial hair. Skin irritation and redness are the most common side effects from removing facial hair. Shaving can cause skin cuts and may lead to ingrown hairs. Plucking can hurt, especially if a lot of hair is removed.

If you use hot wax to remove unwanted hair, it can burn your skin. Chemicals that dissolve hair often smell bad and can cause allergic skin reactions. Electrolysis hurts and may can cause thick scars (called keloids). It may also change the color of the skin around where you remove unwanted hair. Laser hair removal can also cause burns and color changes in the skin.

Most hair removal methods are not permanent. Your doctor can tell you more about the different ways to remove unwanted hair and help you decide which is the best for you.