African-American Women with PCOS and Hirsutism

[coco727272]

Hello  everyone, I hope all is well. I was just diagnosed with PCOS although I've had symptoms of it since I was 12 (hirsutism) and I am now 36. My hirsutism was diagnosed as idiopathic because the testing I had did not indicate an elevated testosterone level. I don't know if the testing is more sophisticated now but I had new testing done and it did indicate that my free weak testosterone was elevated.

Anyway, I have a few hairs under my chin, a lot on my neck, chest, stomach, and inner thighs. I know...it's not attractive and very depressing. I pluck (which is not good for you and causes hyperpigmentation) and I shave. I've become very skilled at covering the hyperpigmentation up with concealer but I'm so tired of it. The plucking on my neck has caused so much hyperpigmentation that I have to conceal it or people would look at me and ask me, "What's wrong with your neck?" The skin on my chest also has hyperpigmentation and I only shave this area. I feel like a freak every time I shave my chest because I'm a woman and I'm a woman who loves makeup, clothes, fashion, shoes, etc. It just seems so wrong! If I wear low cut blouses I have to try to conceal the hyperpigmentation but it's difficult because the skin is not completely smooth and it looks like I've shaved so I'm always on the search for really nice big necklaces that would cover this part of my chest. It's difficult being me!!

If anyone can relate to me send me a message and let me know your struggle or what you've done to help this problem. It was difficult for me to share this because although I know it has to do with having PCOS and I did not cause this to happen, it still is embarrassing.

Also, I don't want to seem superficial or extremely vain because I do have other health concerns that are potentially much more damaging than the aesthetic ramifications of hirsutism but I just want to know if other African-American women are experiencing this because our skin is slightly different.

Thanks.

[Carolinagirl_22]

Has anyone tried vaniqa?

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I saw a commercial for it last night I'm really thinking about it.

[shanece101]

hi i'm new to here but i just want to say that i am also african and have had hair on my chin since i was 11 and am now 17 and it has gotten so bad that i have thick hair on my cheeks i have pcos and it is difficult having a beard but also more difficult being the only black person i know who has one. you usually see women of other races with hirsutism and that made me feel like a freak i'm so glad to know that there are other black women out there with this disorder. i just want to know if you all can keep me posted on what's working for you

[bonbon1972]

I"m so glad for this support blog. We all need this site to support each other. I too have suffered with hirsutism in my 20"s and now I'm 36 and still suffering from it. At first when it started I was on Depovera the birth control injection that you get every three months and I was practically on it for four years til I stop to start my family. At first I noticed a mild hair growth under my chin and that's when I started using depilatory cream to get it off and at that time it worked out fine. After I got married that's when I started to see like an increase on hair growth and I stop the depilatory and started to shave from time to time. Like every other day. The hair started to spray out throughout my side burns and the corner of my mouth. So all that time i kept on with shaving. So i saw an add in the paper about laser. So I called and wanted to try and see if it will work. So i went for my free consult, the doc told me about the price and however many treatments I will need to minimize the hair growth. So i was very happy and started the treatment. The first treatment was fine, didn't get burn and anything. 2nd treament was also fine and the3rd and then the 4th but  no sign of hair slowing down so I stop the laser and went back to shaving again. So after few years I said to myself maybe I will try electrolysis, but I did not have any money and wanting to learn more before i try it out. When I was ready to try out I was already in my 30's and at that time I had tolerance for pain so i begin the treatment . The cost was high but since it is a permanent way of reducing the hair I did not care. It cost me about $45dollaars for 30minutes. So I tried it for about 6months and it didn't work so I stop.  Went back shaving every other day.One day I started doing more research  on the net and found out about a medecine that block the men hormones called ALDACTONE generic SPIRONLACTONE and read about it and wanted to try it and this is what saved me and made me feel like the way I felt once before...  Now I took the generic before and also took the brand name . In my opinion the brand might cost a little   bit more but it is the best because all of that breast tenderness the side effect are  minimal compare to  the generic. So I'm using it now  in conjunction with vaniqua and it has been working fine and I can see the hair slowing a lot and of course you have to keep taking  the pills to get the result that you have been seeking.Now about  large pores and the highpigmentation that I had from doing laser and electrolysis, Im planning on getting microdermabrasion done to smooth the skin out a bit, but will keep everyone posted.... Please do not be discouraged... There are a lot of people that are dealing with this excessive hair problem then what you think...Some women are just embarassed about the whole thing and please do not pluck, because it makes the hair growth coarser and dark. Plus it makes you have large pores and you do not want that so if you want to do anything shave with an electric razor to minimize the bumps or just shave with a regular razor. When you use a regular razor shave at the direction of the hair growth and and use a single blade and so it won't be hard on the skin. Shave gently and when you do that you end up not having any bumps and always put on a moisturizer afterwards. When you wash your face try to wash it with cold water so your pores will  not open but when you wash with hot water it opens up the pores and it become more apparent when you apply makeup. Avoid OC skin lighteners unless it is prescribed because it can contain some chemical that will worsen your situation.. Alright I can go on but will stop here. Anyone that has any question for me can write me... Lets check back on this blog... thx..

[anuge001]

I am a 25 year old African American female and I was diagnosed a year ago with PCOS, but i started having an irregular period when i was 20 and hair growth on my face when i was 21 and slim.  My doctor wants me to take birth control and metformin.  I feel like its too many pills, however i feel the same way everyone else feels about the hair growth.  I feel really hesitant to take so much medicine, but i don't want to keep dealing with this excess hair on my chin and neck.
I am happy that I found this post because i felt so alone with this issue.

-Amanda

[reese404]

When i read your story I cried .I know how you feel.I'm the same way, I have the same exact problems. The depressing part about it is, that I'm a teenager. I can't enjoy life the way I want to. Im glad that I found this web page

[cintilady412]

i am 30yrs old and found out i had pcos when i was about 19. im african american and i first noticed hair growing on my upper lip at in junior high school. then it got thicker when i got to high school and i started shaving. my aunt took me to the doctor when i was 19 and still never had a period and thats when i found out. not too long after that i started growing hair on my chin and now its on my stomach. i pluck all the time like when watching tv or ill wax it off. it hurts but i dont care as long as its off. i too wear makeup just to cover the dark shadow of where ive shaved. it is very annoying to deal with and know some doctors and pharamcists alike dont know much about it. ive tried metformin, spironolactone, birth control and now i was told to take a multivitamin with a high amount of folic acid. i want kids an was told it may be difficult for me. i try to stay positive but its hard. most time i wonder why i was cursed with this and not be like most other females. but i do believe that things happen for a reason, but im still trying to figure this one out. lol. im just glad to know there are lots of others out there like me so now i dont feel like a reject.