The FINANCIAL — Living in the twenty first century means that it is now possible for people to treat the embarrassing problem hirsutism, when excessive hairiness occurs on women’s bodies in those places where terminal hair does not normally occur, specialists say.
“Excessive hairiness can be the result of several reasons,” said Nino Esakia, endocrinologist at Aversi Clinic in Tbilisi. “I know lots of people that are concerned that the underlying cause of their hirsutism is not being addressed. Excessive hairiness, of course, can be treated, but only by proper methods. First of all patients have to research and find out what the reason is for the problem and only then start treatment, which can include epilation. Incidentally, southern people in general, including Georgians, are known for their excessive hairiness.”
There are various reasons for hirsutism, including hormonal disbalance, genetic factors, unhealthy diet, certain medication etc.
“Excessive hairiness is most easily treated when it is caused by genetic factors,” Sopo Chikovani, Dermato-Cosmetologist of Medi, told The FINANCIAL. “But usually the reasons are different. Stress is a very common factor in our lives and that can also cause hirsutism. Allergies are very common nowadays as well and the medicines to treat allergies can result in excessive hairiness. Other reasons can include hormonal medicines, unhealthy food, frequent diets, ovarian cysts etc.”
The majority of these reasons are symptoms of modern times, but Esakia says that women in the previous century used to suffer from excessive hairiness as well. However women in the past didn’t pay so much attention to the problem.
“Modern lifestyles and even modern fashions have resulted in a boost in demand for epilation,” Esakia explained. “If women don’t take care of their skin and banish any unsightly hairs, then they will appear ugly in modern clothing. I welcome this fact.”
Specialists agree that excessive hair must be removed, but treatment can’t be started with epilation. Women suffering from this problem have to treat the underlying diseases causing the hirsutism and only then epilate, if they want to see permanent results.
“If our client has a hormonal disease then treatment of their excessive hairiness will last for longer,” Chikovani explained. “We advise everyone to first fight against the hairiness by treating the cause and not the result which is the hair itself.”
After treating the disease, women can choose what kind of epilation they want; laser, electro or bio.
Cosmetologist Ani Beridze has been doing electro epilation for a long time. She worries that clients are becoming fewer with time as laser epilation is becoming more popular and affordable.
“Electro epilation is the most effective mean of epilation,” Beridze claims. “It is associated with more pain but the results are really great. Prices are more affordable too in comparison to laser epilation. But as young girls don’t want to have to bear pain, even for better results, they prefer to pay more for laser or even bio epilation.”
Prices for electro epilation in Tbilisi vary from 10 to 20 GEL. The intervals between episodes of epilation are about three to four weeks and after about five procedures the hair doesn’t grow at all anymore.
“I can’t say that electro epilation is not affective,” said Chikovani, who has been doing laser epilation at Medi for 5 years. “But laser epilation has several advantages over the other methods. The interval between procedures is longer. It varies from a month and a half to two months. After this period all the hair starts growing at the same time and not separately. The process is painless. It can cause some localized redness on the skin, but this lasts for a maximum of two hours.”
Specialists say that bio epilation is the worst choice as it can’t effectively treat hairiness. Its results are short-lived. About ten to fifteen days from the procedure the hair starts growing again. After several procedures the new hair can even be rougher and blacker. The majority of Georgian girls however prefer bio epilation as it is the cheapest option. Epilators are widely available on the market and this means that people can do the hair removal procedures themselves. Prices of epilators start from 60 GEL.
Traditionally only women suffer from excessive hairiness. In modern times though many men go in for hair removal procedures as well.
“The number of male clients is growing,” Chikovani told The FINANCIAL. “Mainly the young generation come in. They want epilation done on their cheeks, throat, neck, shoulders, inbetween the brows etc. The middle aged men that come in are usually doing it to remove excessive hair from their ears and nostrils.”
