facial hair after chemo

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bcs75
bcs75 Member Posts: 281
edited May 2015 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I am 4 months out from my last chemo and have noticed alot of peach fuzz on my face and neck. Today while looking in the magnifying mirror,,, holy cow,,,, I actually took some scissors and cut it. Has anyone else had this problem. Maybe it is because I have been sent into menopause and have less estrogen... I am thinking I will have to go to a salon and get waxed.......Between, that, the hot clammy flashes,,, and joint pain,,,, I thought the SE's would be over.....

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  • Hattie
    Hattie Member Posts: 414
    edited November 2008

    sorry.  it happens.  i ignored mine, it went away.  wax if you want.  it will pass.  hang in there, and congrats on saying adios to chemo.

    take care,

    --hattie 

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  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 3,793
    edited November 2008

    Yep, had the side of face, cheek fuzz going on.  I did do a scrub one day and found a lot came off that way :)  It will go away pretty quickly on its on, but mine was skin colored and not really obvious unless someone was up and personal :)

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  • lisamed123
    lisamed123 Member Posts: 186
    edited November 2008

    HI bcs75,

    I was just going to post on the April thread (I still will) about the fact that I did my excessive facial hair waxed off last Thursday night.  It hurt like a bitch.  I almost did not do the second side, but I would have felt ridiculous.  My waxer gave me some gel to take home for the swelling!  I did take three Advil about an hour before.  I had just gone for eyebrows and upper lip, but she noticed the hair and so we did it.  I will keep you posted if there is any re-growth.  I could use it on the back and side of my neck also, but I am not that brave!

    Lisa

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  • kris60
    kris60 Member Posts: 91
    edited November 2008

    yup, throw me in the crowd of fuzzland also, I finished in July and am on tamoxifen...

    The lady that does my hair suggested a little facial razor, it looks like  a cute little straight razor with a guard on it.  I bought mine at a Sally's Beauty Co. Works great, when it starts growing back do it all over again. It comes back the same texture and color too.  It doesn't require cream, wet skin or anything.  I'm too wimpy to wax it.  Just tell yourself it could be a whole lot worse..

    Kris

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  • tiff2008
    tiff2008 Member Posts: 278
    edited November 2008

    Yes!  I'm almost 5 months out from chemo.  I do have facial hair too, I hate it.  At first it was kind of long, I cut it with a sissors.  I asked at my salon what I should do, she said if I wax it, it would possibly come back thicker (same color) and would be a constant up keep with waxing.  I've just been trying to lightly trim it with a razor once in awhile hoping it will go away!!!!  It's really noticable in the sunlight :(  If they say it will eventually go away, when???

    Wishiwere- what kind of scrub did you use? 

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  • abbadoodles
    abbadoodles Member Posts: 2,618
    edited November 2008

    It's called lanugo hair and it's what babies have when born.  It will go away even if you just leave it there for now.  Always some surprise, huh?

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  • portypup
    portypup Member Posts: 37
    edited November 2008

    if you take a razor and shave your face when it's dry it will take care of the fuzz and it's fun. don't worry it won't cause whiskers. It's also a great was to exfoliate i learned this by my facialist.

    randi

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  • flyrzfan
    flyrzfan Member Posts: 557
    edited November 2008

    and I thought I was going crazy! Mine is really light blonde and very fine but man...I knew that was not there before chemo! I assumed it was from the steroids. I plan to leave mine alone...it will come off or it won't but at least it's not that visible.

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  • NatsFan
    NatsFan Member Posts: 3,745
    edited November 2008

    Glad to know that it eventually comes off by itself, but how long does that take?  I'm 5 months out from chemo and have a lush crop of blond fuzz. 

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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited November 2008

    Just shut the bathroom door and lock it...then take a clean, sharp razor and shave that hair off.

    Mostly it's on the flat places on your cheeks and side of your chin, right?  Not so much in those difficult-to-shave places, like under your nose and under your lower lip, where guys have such a hard time shaving.

    The post-chemo hair you shave off may grow back once or twice, and it may feel thicker, but it really isn't.  It's just shorter and stubbier because the ends are cut off instead of tapered.  Just shave it when it starts to annoy you or become noticeable.  Eventually, it won't come back.  For me, that only took a few weeks.  Much easier and less painful than waxing!

    otter 

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  • wbcazzah1
    wbcazzah1 Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2009

    Four months post chemo and glad to know this is normal.  I am using Sally facial hair remover cream. 

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  • Titan
    Titan Member Posts: 2,956
    edited November 2009

    I shaved my facial hair too!  Never came back....but it was weird having facial hair!  Then noticed some on my shoulders...I was thinking..am I some kind of freaking animal?? So I got the razor out and shaved that too!

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  • Jean09
    Jean09 Member Posts: 126
    edited November 2009

    I have the facial  hair too, white fuzzy hairs all over my face and neck.  I HATE it!!!  I also have black hairs growing on the area above my lip and on my chin.  I actually pluck the black hairs with a tweezer.  I didnt know I could actually shave the white fuzzy ones, I'm going to give it a try. 

    Thanks ladies!!!

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  • CaliforniaCloud
    CaliforniaCloud Member Posts: 160
    edited November 2009

    I was shocked when I saw dark hair growing on cheeks.  I never hesitated; I took the razor out and shaved.  It hasn't come back, but I am glad to know that lanugo hair.

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  • jbroeker
    jbroeker Member Posts: 1
    edited November 2009

    I used to use the tiny grooming razors that you can get at Sally's Beauty Supply, but they went out of business where I live, and I also cut myselt a couple of times. Unless you have thick skin, I'd avoid waxing. It might be ok for small areas, but in my case, it would have been too much. I'm very fair, and have very thin skin. The panosonic facial trimmer is pretty cheap, and fast to use all over. You can get it at amazon. Most likely,you could get one locally, but I wouldn't know where. I live in the country, and there's not many places to shop here.

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  • jewels1981
    jewels1981 Member Posts: 22
    edited January 2010

    Oh I am so glad I found this thread.  I was totally freaking out with the facial hair!!  I mean my gosh I am bald, gained weight lost my eyebrows and eye lashes and now a hairy face.  Thank you for good advice.  I guess I am going to shave it.  Eeeks kinda nervous to do it.  The good news all my other hair is growing in too!!

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  • Twinmom77
    Twinmom77 Member Posts: 303
    edited January 2010

    Thanks for posting and bumping this up - I've been obsessing about this for a few weeks now!  Mine is thicker on one side of my face than the other and I'm scared to shave it.  If it comes back thicker and darker and I have to "maintain" it, I'm gonna be pissed, lol!  I think I'll wait a while longer and see if it just falls out on its own.  Good luck jewels in shaving!

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  • Tierney123
    Tierney123 Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2010

    Waxing worked for me, and I only had to do it once.  It does hurt like a b-----, but it's short-lived.  Good luck!!

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  • GryffinSong
    GryffinSong Member Posts: 439
    edited February 2010

    I finally dry shaved mine after someone on this board said it wouldn't grow back. It's been a couple of weeks and she's right ... no regrowth. Whew!!! :)

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited February 2010

    I take a little electric shaver after it every once and awhile, like you'd buy for your 14 year old son who has peach fuzz (I just looked and it says 'Remington' on it; probably got it at Walmart). I hate to say this; but it's been about 2 1/2 YEARS and mine still is coming back!!!

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  • niorla
    niorla Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2010

    I'm not sure about shaving. I have always had this peach fuzz and use threading which minimizes the problem.

    I will be very interested to see how ALL my facial hair will regrow after chemotherapy. Maybe i will have to shave.

    wondering if anyone heard any difinitive advice fom the medical field. These aspects of treatment are big for everyone, but seem to get little medical press.

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  • nfacemire
    nfacemire Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2010

    I just finished my chemo in August and my radiation in Sept. Went to Disney World this week and low and behold I looked in the mirror as I was getting ready to go out and have fun and there I was looking like I was turning into a werewolf. My face had all this hair growing on it. It was about the same length as the hair just starting to grow on my head. I had never heard of such a thing. I found this website and was pleased to see that I am not alone in this ordeal. I haven't done anything to it yet. Didn't know if I wanted to start shaving or just put it in a pony tail. Anyway it was encouraging to learn that it will go away. Just another surprise from BC. Just thankful that I haven't been sick or had any real trouble with this whole ordeal so a little extra hair I can live with (for awhile maybe). Really love this site it is so interesting and refreshing . Thanks for all your comments they really made a difference for me.

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  • badger
    badger Member Posts: 34,614
    edited August 2013

    Edited to redact a post with personal information.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited October 2010

    I don't think it's a little thing at all. On top of everything else, a person shouldn't have to end up looking like a werewolf!!!

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  • Twinmom77
    Twinmom77 Member Posts: 303
    edited October 2010

    nfacemire - you made me laugh out loud with the "put it in a ponytail" comment.  That's hilarious!

    I finally shaved mine and it hasn't been back!  Such a relief!

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited October 2010

    Thanks for posting gals. I just started chemo on Tuesday. I thought when the said my hair would grow back it would be in the same place on my head not move to my face.

    Gee something else to look forward too. I'll be a peach for spring.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited May 2011

    Bumping for others

    BTW it is spring and I now have the peach fuzz. Not sure if I have the guts to shave it.

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  • kks_rd
    kks_rd Member Posts: 363
    edited December 2011

    Just found this thread, thank goodness!  Just wondering if anyone who had posted previously could provide an update...?  I am not sure I have the guts to shave it, but I've got to do SOMETHING.  I returned to work this week and was totally self-conscious.  People are noticing that I have some hair regrowth under my scarves and as much as I would like to show it off, I also do not want to bring attention to my sideburns!

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  • Estelle_Brisbane
    Estelle_Brisbane Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2012

    Just noticed the facial hair, fine, blond and rather disturbing.  However reading these links I am positive it will go away, just wear a balaclava (hahaha).  Oh boy what next. I have my last chemo on 3 July, just encouraged by all I have read here -    there is a solution, either hide, cope or shave it off, but it goes.  Thanks

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  • Terryberry23
    Terryberry23 Member Posts: 24
    edited June 2012

    I waxed mine. It was very shocking when I saw all this facial hair when I was sure I didn't have it before. It never came back. Good luck.

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