How to remove peach fuzz

It’s that subtle glisten of golden fluff as you turn your face to the light. The down that thwarts a flawless foundation finish and the fuzzy antagonist to a dewy glow. Peach fuzz or vellus hair, to give it its medical name, is something that is barely noticeable on most, but does irk many of us (thank you HD cameras).

What exactly is it? "Peach fuzz” or “baby hair” is the short (typically less than 2mm long) fine hair found on the face and body that tends to be light in colour and develops on most parts of the body apart from the lips, soles of the feet and palms of the hands,‘ says Dr Bibi Ghalaie (@doctor.bibi), medical director of British Aesthetics. ‘Everyone is born with vellus hair to differing degrees, which forms while we are still developing as foetuses and serves to help regulate body temperature. Under the influence of hormones called androgens at puberty, the majority of the vellus hair on our bodies matures into terminal hair, which happens to a much greater extent in men than it does in women. In adult women, vellus hair can be seen on the face on close inspection and is often a source of annoyance above the upper lip, the chin, the underside of the chin, the cheeks and the jawline.’

According to Dr Bibi, the amount of vellus hairs we have varies from person to person - with ethnicity and genetics both playing a role but hormonal imbalances and medical conditions also contributing too. So what are options for removing peach fuzz at home? Dr Bibi smoothes the way…

‘This is a popular practice is considered more of an anti-ageing than depilation treatment. A scalpel is brushed against the skin of the face, causing exfoliation of the epidermis that results in sloughing away of dead skin cells and the removal of unwanted peach fuzz from the face in the process. It helps rid the skin of any build-up and can improve pigmentation, discomfort is minimal and the skin is left feeling silky smooth. As the hair is not removed at the root, the results are temporary (around 3-4 weeks) and may not be an ideal option for someone wanting to remove coarser, thicker, darker peach fuzz. The plus side? You can do it yourself from home.’

‘Carried out by a hair removal specialist, this professional treatment uses a cotton thread, held and manipulated in a very particular way, to pull hairs out from their root. It can be employed on any part of the body but is particularly popular for the brows and for removing peach fuzz from the face. The pain score is moderate, but it becomes more tolerable as the treatment goes on and there is often a degree of temporary redness afterwards. The treatment can take up to 45 minutes depending on how much of the face is being threaded and results last anywhere between 4-6 weeks.’

‘If you want to remove peach fuzz from home, try using a hair removal cream. Make sure you're looking out for one that's tailored towards sensitive skin and always adhere to the product instructions in order to avoid burning your face while removing your hair. They generally work quickly and effectively with results lasting 4-6 weeks.’

‘Waxing is effective but can be a rather aggressive treatment for removing hair from the face. It can cause irritation and inflammation so it’s is not the ideal treatment option for those with rosacea or acneic skin. While the pain is significant, the cost is minimal and it can be done at home with over the counter waxing strips.’

‘This is a very effective method for permanent hair removal whereby a laser is used to target the pigment in hair. The pigment absorbs the light from the laser which causes damage to the follicle and prevents further hair from re-growing. You’ll typically need 6-8 sessions to achieve a significant reduction in the unwanted hair but certain facial areas where the hair growth is very hormonally driven, may necessitate further sessions. The pain factor is mild, likened to a pinching sensation on the skin, and it can be alleviated by the application of a cooling gel prior to treatment. It’s a quick treatment, with each session taking 10-15 minutes for facial hair, and is fairly affordable. However it should be used with caution in people with darker skin as there is a risk of hyperpigmentation when short wavelength lasers are used. Tanning for 4 weeks before and after treatment is unadvisable and hair cannot be waxed or plucked prior to treatment to preserve the targeted hair follicle.’

‘This method of hair removal involves extracting individual hairs from their roots using a pair of tweezers. Generally a supplementary tactic for stray hairs that have been left behind or that regrow following other hair removal methods, it would be very unusual for tweezing to be employed to remove hair over the entire face. Results last for approx 4-6 weeks and any pain eases with practice and with continued use. I would recommend this as a maintenance treatment rather than a facial hair removal treatment.’