Children's Hair Removal

Hair removal products and techniques for children have been a controversial issue for several years. In some instances, though, children can grow abnormal amounts of body hair. It's called pediatric hypertrichosis, and there are ways to slow down the growth or eliminate it completely.

Observe

• Evaluate hair growth over a period of time (usually in the span of two weeks). Examine your child to locate whether certain body parts grow hair more than others. Identify the hair's thickness and pattern.

Discover

• Research your child's family medical history. You may be surprised to know that excessive hair growth may be common for many family members.

Take Note

• Consider your child's age. For many adolescents, growth spurts may occur causing atypical hair growth. Girls usually begin puberty from 8 to 13 years of age. For boys, it begins between ages 10 and 14 (see References 2).

Seek Outside Help

• Visit your child's physician for a proper medical evaluation. Hypertrichosis is a cosmetic problem, but it also could signal an underlying medical condition requiring immediate treatment.

Depilation

• See a trained professional to see if depilation is right for your child. The process includes disintegrating the hair shaft, which destroys the hair bulb. While results are successful, it lasts for approximately two weeks. Children who undergo depilatories should only use them in small areas of the skin.

Laser

• Plan a trip to see a certified laser hair removal specialist for children. Laser hair removal entails a laser beam used to eliminate the hair bulb, the root of the hair. This technique is preferred for women with dark, thick hair. Sessions usually range from three to five weeks and are more costly than other methods. Laser hair removal is recommended to permanently remove breast hair.

Electrolysis

• Schedule an appointment for a consultation to block your child's hair growth indefinitely. The process involves using heat or chemical energy from a probe to remove unwanted hair at the skin's surface. While modern technology has made the process less painful, irritability can occur. Topical anesthetics can be used to relieve tingling if necessary.

Considerations

• Most children who grow body hair at excessive rates do so because they have suffered from a traumatic event in their past. If your child is taking any drugs like minoxidil, a vasodilator, phenetoina or cyclosporine, note that side effects include hypertrichosis. Once your child has discontinued using the drug, the condition improves

Tip

• Stay away from shaving, waxing or plucking hair from a child. These techniques usually cause irritability due to sensitive skin. Instead, opt for shaving powder, which can be applied and removed without pain.