Cyperus rotundus oil for PCOS hair: a smarter daily routine for unwanted hair
Coarse chin hairs. A shadow on your upper lip by lunch. Tweezers in every bag. If PCOS is behind your unwanted hair, you deserve a routine that works as hard as you do.
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Cyperus rotundus oil is not a PCOS treatment, but it's one of the few hair inhibitors studied in women with hirsutism. In a 2012 randomized study, 91 women with hirsutism or underarm hair used the oil or saline for six months, and the oil was significantly more effective, without affecting serum testosterone. Use Bare Oil, the #1 hair inhibitor oil in the USA, after hair removal, morning and night, alongside the care plan you have with your doctor.
When unwanted hair is hormonal, the usual fixes fall short
Hair linked to PCOS tends to be darker, coarser and faster than the hair most hair removal ads are made for. It shows up where you least want it: chin, upper lip, jawline, neck, chest, belly and inner thighs. So the routine becomes daily. Tweeze, shave, check the mirror in the car, repeat.
All that hair removal takes a toll on your skin: ingrown hairs, bumps, dark marks and irritation. And because the hormones behind the hair don't switch off, the hair keeps coming back. You need two things working together: medical care for the cause, and a daily skin routine for the hair.
First: what cyperus rotundus oil can and can't do for PCOS
Excess hair in women, called hirsutism, is often linked to higher androgen levels, and PCOS is a common cause. That part is for your doctor. Hormone tests, treatment options and follow-ups belong in a medical plan, and new, sudden or fast-growing hair is always worth getting checked.
- It can: soothe and soften skin after hair removal, and help regrowth come back slower, finer and softer with consistent use.
- It can't: treat PCOS, change your hormones or replace your doctor's advice.
Think of Bare Oil as the hair care half of your routine. It works at the skin, where the hair actually grows.
The study on hirsutism: 91 women, six months
In 2012, the Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology published the first report on cyperus rotundus essential oil for decreasing hair growth. Ninety-one women with androgenic hair (hirsutism and underarm hair) completed the study. They were randomly assigned to topical cyperus rotundus oil (47 women) or 0.9% saline (44 women) and used it for six months.
The oil was significantly more effective than saline (p<0.05) by all three methods, and the abstract reports no side effects. The researchers concluded that topical cyperus rotundus oil "is an effective method in treating moderate degrees of hirsutism and axillary hair" without affecting serum testosterone. Read it: Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology, 2012.
Then it went head-to-head with laser
In a randomized clinical study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal (2014), 65 people with unwanted underarm hair were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: topical cyperus rotundus oil, saline, or an Alexandrite laser (GentleLase). Sixty completed the study, and results were judged three ways: hair counts, independent professionals and patient self-assessment.
"Cyperus rotundus essential oil is as effective as the Alexandrite laser for decreasing the growth of axillary hair (both dark and white)."Study conclusion · Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2014 · PubMed 24408514
More randomized trials: 91 women with hirsutism or underarm hair vs. saline (2012), 153 people (PubMed 34618367) and 308 people (PubMed 35290702) all recorded significantly reduced hair growth in the cyperus rotundus oil groups; a 153-person trial after laser favored the oil for pain relief (PubMed 34132024).
How to use cyperus rotundus oil for PCOS hair
- Keep your medical plan. Bare Oil goes alongside your doctor's care, not instead of it.
- Remove hair your usual way. Shave, tweeze, wax, thread or sugar. Laser and electrolysis clients, wait until skin has calmed.
- Apply a few drops to clean, dry, unbroken skin on each area: chin, upper lip, jawline, neck, chest, belly or inner thighs.
- Massage in until absorbed. Keep it away from eyes, mouth and mucous membranes.
- Repeat morning and night, every day. Hormonal hair rewards consistency. Give it weeks, not days.
Patch testing, amounts and timing are all in how to use cyperus rotundus oil, step by step. Working on your chin or upper lip? See cyperus rotundus oil for facial hair.
Women who were done fighting their regrowth
★★★★★ Rated 4.9★ · trusted by 100,000+ women worldwide
"Honestly never thought an oil would really reduce my hair but my skin looks so much better and way smoother, not to mention hair is actually thinner and taking longer to come back. It's def a MUST for any girl that doesn't like being so hairy."
"Waxing every 3 weeks was actually getting ridiculous 😭 ... My skin is very sensitive, so I was prepared for the usual redness or irritation… but nope. ... the biggest difference has been the regrowth. My hair used to come back pretty quickly and thick, but now it's taking longer and coming back much finer and lighter. I went from booking every 3 weeks to basically forgetting I even need to wax sometimes 😭"
"I didnt really think anything of this at first but Ive been using it for a while and I was like...Why is my hair taking SO much longer to grow back?? lol I used to notice regrowth pretty quickly after waxing and shaving and now I can go way longer before I even feel like I need to book another appointment. And the fact that it doubles as a nice body oil is a bonus. My skin stays soft without that greasy oil feeling and im acctually impressed ngl."
"my skin is SUPER SENSITIVE and usually reacts to almost all skincare but this has worked nicely for me 10/10 sensitive skin approved!!!!"
Reviews are from verified buyers on our Bare Oil product page (Judge.me), quoted word for word; Spanish reviews are shown with our English translation. Individual results vary.
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PCOS hair and cyperus rotundus oil: your questions, answered
Can cyperus rotundus oil help with PCOS hair?
It can help with the hair, not the condition. Bare Oil is a topical oil, not a PCOS treatment, and it doesn't change the hormones behind the hair. In a 2012 randomized study of 91 women with hirsutism or underarm hair, topical cyperus rotundus oil was significantly more effective than saline over six months. Talk to your doctor about PCOS itself.
Does cyperus rotundus oil affect testosterone or other hormones?
In the 2012 study, the researchers reported that the oil worked without affecting serum testosterone. It's applied to the skin, where the hair grows. If you're managing PCOS, keep your doctor in the loop about everything you use.
Can I use it with my PCOS medication?
Bare Oil is a cosmetic body oil for external use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before adding anything new to a medical treatment plan, and keep taking what you've been prescribed.
Where can I use it?
On the external skin where unwanted hair grows: chin, upper lip, jawline, neck, chest, belly, underarms and inner thighs. Keep it away from your eyes, mouth and mucous membranes.
How long until I notice a difference?
Skin feels softer from the first application. Changes in regrowth take consistent, twice-daily use over weeks, and hormonal hair asks for patience. The 2012 study evaluated results at six months.
Is it a substitute for seeing a doctor?
No. New, sudden or fast-growing hair, especially with acne, irregular periods or other changes, is a reason to see a doctor. Bare Oil is for the hair care routine that goes alongside your medical care.
Can I use it with laser or electrolysis?
Yes, once the skin has calmed after a session. Many women use Bare Oil between sessions to keep skin soft and regrowth slower. Follow your provider's aftercare instructions first.
References
- Abd El-Kaream GF. Role of Cyperus rotundus oil in decreasing hair growth. Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology. 2012;1(2):111-118. doi.org/10.5455/jice.20120626100304
- Mohammed GF. Topical Cyperus rotundus oil: a new therapeutic modality with comparable efficacy to Alexandrite laser photo-epilation. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2014;34(2):298-305. doi:10.1177/1090820X13518801 · PubMed 24408514
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine). Excessive or unwanted hair in women. medlineplus.gov
- Office on Women's Health (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Polycystic ovary syndrome. womenshealth.gov
- Bare Oil product listing (ingredients, directions and recommended uses). amazon.com
Published by nellaskin, the maker of Bare Oil. The clinical studies cited tested topical cyperus rotundus essential oil, the hero ingredient in Bare Oil. Individual results vary with hair type and consistency of use. Not medical advice; talk to a dermatologist or physician about unwanted hair related to a medical condition.
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