I feel so bad

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

I just started working in an ab/gyn office and yesterday the doctor went in to see a patient. This young woman (approx 30 years old) asked the dr if there was anything that could be done about the hair around her nipples. She showed it to the doctor and it was dark hair that she obviously felt uncomfortable about. He told her nothing could be done because tweezing it would lead in ingown hairs and depilatories would be too strong to use in that area. His behavior seemed very uncaring. I was sure it must have been difficult for this woman to speak up. She looked so upset and the doctor and I left the room to allow her to get dresses. Can nothing really be done to remove this hair and could this be a sign of something more serious?

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Wouldn't electrolysis work?

Tweezing would hurt, could lead to ingrown hairs, and the hair will come back.

Dilapatories might not be good due to sensitivity as the doctor said (and speaking of sensitivity, sounds like the doctor might need a refresher course in sensitivity training IMHO)

But electrolysis is supposed to permanently remove unwanted hair, which I assume is what the patient wanted. Only question I have is whether electrolysis could in any way harm her milk ducts, etc. I wouldn't think so, but that is the only concern I can think of.

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With tweezing, ingrown hairs can be a problem, but not everyone experiences that. A few ingrowns aren't dangerous anyway, are they? I've never heard of anyone discouraging tweezing nipple hair. Should I be more concerned?

I agree that it was rather insensitive of the doc to be so dismissive. I've found many docs to be this way. If something doesn't fit into a neat, easily addressed problem and doesn't seem to be a health threat then too many docs just dismiss it. Even if they can't do anything, it sure feels better if they listen and acknowledge the concern.

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I have been tweezing the hair around my nipples since the birth of my first child 23 years ago and have never had a problem. My girlfriend had electrolysis and it worked great for her.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Our docs recommend electrolysis.

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I tweeze mine. Never really had a problem!

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How about laser hair removal? It would be permanent. And, I would think that the laser txs would be easier (less painful) than tweezing.

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I can't believe I am typing this on a public message board but I am another nipple tweezer with no issues :imbar Just a few dark hairs, but I have never had a problem with ingrown hairs.

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

I felt really bad for this woman. Could it be indicating a possible hormone inbalance? I mean this was not just a few sporifice hairs and she also had some chest hair and chin hair. I was just thinking it may be something more.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I think it's normal, but sometimes abnormal hair growth can indicate PCOS.

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

I thought hair around the nipples was supposed to be normal. I read approximately 30-50 hairs at any given time.

Our culture seems to be such that women are expected to be smooth all over. Therefore, many people assume that ANY hair is abnormal when that just isn't the case. Maybe playboy models are perfectly smooth but normal women are not.

Hirsutism is the abnormal overgrowth of male pattern hair on a female's body. That means excessive facial and chest hair. Not a little hair around the nipples.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
I think it's normal, but sometimes abnormal hair growth can indicate PCOS.

What is PCOS ???

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