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How to Prevent Hair Growth on the Body

Jul 9, 2011 / By Dana Severson

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Shaving isn't the only way to remove unwanted hair.

Photo: Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images

Body hair may serve a purpose, but it's no less annoying -- or time consuming, for that matter -- to get rid of. Shaving, waxing and depilatories all do the trick, but most women would agree stopping unwanted hair from ever growing back would be a lot easier. Not to mention, never enduring another razor bump, burn or nick again can make life just a little less painful.

Get in touch with your local electrologist. These hair removal specialists can remove unwanted hair with one zap of an epilator. But unlike the standard epilator, which basically rips the hair from your skin, this device uses an electrical shock to damage the hair follicle, preventing hair growth. Sometimes, women do need to come back once or twice a year for a touch up, but that's a small price to pay for smooth skin.

Oust unwanted hair with laser hair removal. This technique is somewhat similar to electrolysis, but you can treat larger areas of skin at one time. And instead of an electrical shock, the follicles are damaged with pulses of intense light, preventing hair from regrowing. You may need to head back for a clean up every now and then, but your skin should stay hair-free for at least six to 12 months. For some women, it can even be longer.

Ask your doctor or dermatologist about eflornithine. This prescription medication actually slows hair growth, but it's best suited for facial hair. If you have a little peach fuzz on your cheeks, chin or upper lip, this may be an option for you. All it takes is a thin layer over problem areas to slow hair growth to a crawl.

Resist the temptation to pick up home laser or electrolysis kits. Using a home laser is a lot like running your arm over a checkout scanner; it's not doing much more than checking for a price. Home electrolysis kits, however, can damage your skin. You need to shock the follicle, so some of these kits require inserting a probe under the skin, which can lead to infection and scarring.

It isn't uncommon to experience some skin discoloration after electrolysis. Most of the time, the skin will return to its normal color, but there is a chance that it can be permanent.