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What it is: Hair growing where it is not wanted. It can be purely cosmetic, or a sign of a hormonal condition.
Why it happens: Hormones and genetics set how thick and dark hair grows. If it has suddenly coarsened in a male pattern, the cause needs looking into first.
Where to start: There is almost nothing topical for this. Laser hair removal is the main option, and on the topical side there is only eflornithine.

There are no numbers and no citations in this box. What has been established, and how far, is below.

There is a reason this concern exists. The laser hair removal page on this site sat under pores for a long time. There was no right home for it, so it was forced into one. This corrects that.

Broadly there are two ways to reduce hair.

Reducing follicles with light — laser hair removal, IPL
Slowing how fast it grows — a topical drug

The second is eflornithine. There is a vehicle-controlled randomised trial in which adding it to laser did better than laser alone. But we could not confirm from primary sources whether it is approved or available in Korea — that is set down on its page.

Also, the phrase permanent hair removal has to be read carefully. The evidence for laser hair removal is usually that hair counts fell over a given period, not that it does not grow back. That page sets out the situation.

Nothing here yet.

Medicines used for this concern

Medicines are not listed alongside cosmetic ingredients. Dosage and whether a prescription is needed are settled in consultation.

Eflornithine Prescription only

Clinical procedures related to this concern

Procedures are not listed alongside topical ingredients. They are not something you use at home.

IPL (intense pulsed light) Device-based
Laser hair removal Device-based
Electrolysis Device-based