Have you noticed how certain things are accepted for men and much less for women? This is particularly the case with white hair, which we often hear said that it sublimates male hair but ages women, but also the mustache, a symbol oh so virile for these gentlemen and very criticized on a woman.
Yet, hair above the upper lip, whether fuzzy giving a peach-skin look or true darker hair, is present in all women. We take stock of this issue with Dr. Émilie Darbet-Andrieu, dermatologist.
The causes of mustache in women
“The presence of hair above the upper lip is completely normal”begins Dr. Darbet-Andrieu. “All over the body, with the exception of the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, there are hairs. Depending on the area, it may be a small, light and inconspicuous down or a hair thicker and more visible.” In other words : everyone has hair above their mouthwomen as well as men (without their having any real use).
But then, why for some women, these are as visible as those of men, while they are almost imperceptible in others? “It’s a question of hormones”answers the dermatologist. “Specifically, it is a hormonal imbalance with an excess of male hormones, androgens, which can lead to increased hair growth on the face and body in women. This is then referred to ashirsutism.” It is also a frequent phenomenon at the time of menopause, linked to the upheaval of the hormonal balance. A study published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2011 reports that 39% of women saw an increase in facial hair after menopause.
What solutions to get rid of hair above the upper lip?
Let it be said: the hair does not necessarily have to be removed. However, if the down or hair above your lips bothers you, it is possible to get rid of it. The dermatologist warns against shaving which, by cutting the hair on the surface of the skin without removing the bulb, tends to “enlarge” the latter (since the new tip of the latter will be its base, necessarily wider) , and, in the case of down, risk of turning it into real thicker hair. Same thing for hair removal cream.
Bleaching is a great option for down, but not enough for real dark hair. Using tweezers can be interesting if you have one or two hairs that bother you, but beyond that, you run the risk of irritating the area and stimulating growth. What about wax? This is an option that works well, as long as you don’t use too hot of a wax. The option is not recommended for sensitive skin.
If the dark hair above your upper lip is a big complex, you can turn to a permanent option : “The laser is ideal for a well-pigmented hair (it does not work on a red or white hair), just like the pulsed lightbut in general, the laser is more effective and requires fewer sessions”, says Dr. Darbet-Andrieu, who specifies that there is still a risk of paradoxical regrowth, ie the appearance of hair on an area close to that treated with the laser. For white or red hair, electric hair removal or electrolysis is the only effective option, but the dermatologist points out that the procedure is “much more tedious than the laser”. In any case, it is recommended to seek advice from your dermatologist beforehand, in order to decide together what is the most suitable solution.
Thanks to Dr. Emilie Darbet-Andrieu, dermatologist.
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⋙ How to get rid of hair on the face?
⋙ Tweezers: the mistake not to make when using it, according to this dermatologist