If you have PCOS, you probably know your tweezers better than you'd like to. Chin hairs that come back in days, a shadow along the jaw, an upper lip you thread every week. It's one of the most common reasons women come to us for laser hair removal, and one of the most frustrating things to manage on your own.
Here's why PCOS causes facial hair, what laser can and can't do about it, and how to get the best results.
Why PCOS Causes Facial Hair
Polycystic ovary syndrome affects roughly 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, and excess hair growth is one of its most common signs. The medical name for it is hirsutism, and most women with PCOS deal with it to some degree.
The cause is androgens, the hormones often called "male" hormones, which everyone makes in some amount. PCOS often raises them, and higher androgens turn the fine, light hair most women have on their face into coarse, dark hair that grows in a more typically male pattern:
- Chin and jawline
- Upper lip
- Neck
- Chest and around the nipples
- The line from the belly button down
- Lower back and inner thighs
Because the growth is driven by hormones, it's persistent. Plucking, waxing and threading clear it for days or weeks, and then it's back.
Does Laser Hair Removal Work for PCOS?
Yes, and PCOS hair is often a good match for laser. The laser targets the pigment in the hair follicle, and PCOS hair tends to be dark and coarse, which is exactly what laser treats best.
What's different is what to expect. On most areas, laser gives 80 to 90 percent hair reduction over a full course. With PCOS, the follicles we treat stay treated, but your hormones can wake up new ones over time. You'll see a big reduction; you'll just likely need a few more sessions than average, plus an occasional touch-up to keep it there.
How Many Sessions Will You Need?
For most areas we recommend at least six sessions. For PCOS facial hair, plan on a few more:
- 8 to 10 sessions for the chin, jaw and upper lip, spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart
- A visible difference after the first 2 or 3, with hair growing back finer, lighter and slower
- A touch-up session once or twice a year afterward to catch new growth
There's more detail on timing in How Many Laser Hair Removal Sessions Do You Actually Need?
Laser Works Best Alongside Medical Treatment
Laser removes the hair that's there. It doesn't change the hormones behind it. That's why the best results come when you're also treating PCOS with your doctor. Common options include:
- Birth control pills, which can lower androgen levels
- Spironolactone, a medication that blocks the effect of androgens on hair follicles
- Eflornithine cream (Vaniqa), a prescription cream that slows facial hair growth
Studies have found that pairing laser with eflornithine cream clears facial hair faster than laser alone. Hormonal medications usually take around six months to show their full effect on hair, so there's no reason to wait on one before starting the other. Your doctor or gynecologist can tell you which options fit you.
Laser vs Electrolysis for PCOS Hair
Electrolysis is the other option you'll hear about, and it has a real place. The two work very differently:
- Laser treats many follicles with every pulse, so a chin takes minutes. It needs pigment in the hair, so it works on dark hair and won't work on white, gray, light blonde or red hair.
- Electrolysis treats one follicle at a time with a fine probe and a small electric current. It works on any hair color and is the only method the FDA allows to be called permanent hair removal. It's also slow: clearing a chin can take many hours of appointments spread over a year or more.
For most women with PCOS, laser is the faster, more affordable way to clear most of the hair, and electrolysis is a good way to finish off the light or gray strays laser can't see. We don't offer electrolysis, but if you have hairs the laser won't treat, I'll tell you and point you toward it.
PCOS and Darker Skin
PCOS affects women of every background, and a lot of women with brown or Black skin have been told laser isn't safe for them. With the right laser, that's out of date. Our Cynosure Elite IQ uses a long-pulsed 1064nm Nd:YAG wavelength for darker skin, and the FDA-cleared Skintel reader measures your skin's melanin before every session, so your settings come from a real number. Once you stop plucking and waxing, the dark marks that irritation leaves behind often fade on their own, too. More in our guide to laser hair removal on darker skin.
How to Prepare for Your First Session
- Two weeks before: no plucking, waxing, threading or epilators. They pull out the root the laser needs to target. Shaving is fine as often as you like, and no, it won't make the hair grow back thicker.
- Two weeks before: no fresh sun or self-tanner on the area.
- The day of: shave the area, all the way to the skin.
- At your consultation: tell us about every medication you take, including anything for PCOS.
What It Feels Like
A quick snap, like a rubber band. The Elite IQ's Zimmer cooling blows cold air on your skin the whole time, and a chin or upper lip takes just a few minutes. Most people find it far easier than waxing or threading. See our laser hair removal page for more on the technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book a Consultation in Streeterville
If you're tired of tweezing, come in for a consultation. We'll look at your hair and skin, read your melanin with the Skintel reader, and build a session plan that accounts for PCOS from the start.
Book online or call (312) 539-5818. We're at 220 E Illinois St, Suite 703, in Streeterville. Current offers are on our specials page.
This article is general information, not medical advice. PCOS is a medical condition; talk to your doctor about diagnosis and treatment.