Neither Pygeum nor Spearmint is the cause of the redness and severe itching that has accompanied my attempts to remove body hair from my thighs, chest, stomach, upper arms, and arm pits. Recall that I have been using an epilator for this purpose. I can say with certainty, that the reason for the itching is the existence of many in-grown hairs. The severity of the condition depends on where the epilation is performed. The backs of both thighs produce the most in-grown hairs and the worst case of red pimples and on-again/off-again itching. For some reason the itching happens mainly in the evening. I found that icing the skin is the only way to get relief.
I've been using my Tria 4X laser hair removal on my right thigh after shaving with an electric razor. The amount of redness and itching is much less. It could be that what in-grown hairs I'm still getting on the right thigh are due to earlier epilating.
Epilating doesn't appear to cause in-grown hairs on my belly area, so I think I can continue to use it there.
Shaving with a multi-blade razor also causes in-growns for me. Susceptibility to in-growns is largely genetic, I've read.
For me, the laser seems to do away with body hair much more effectively than epilating, anyway. My understanding is that the laser will damage the hair root (papilla) to the point that it may not be able to grow a new hair shaft. That's also the way electrolysis works.
If anyone is considering ways to reduce body hair, please consider the potential for producing in-grown hairs. Experiment on a small section of your body with a blade razor, electric razor, epilator, depilatory, or laser to test the reaction before going whole hog.
In-grown hairs are more likely to happen using a multi-blade razor or epilator than other methods. A multi-blade razor cuts a sharp edge to the hair below the skin's surface. An epilator will also create a sharp edge on hairs which break off below the skin's surface. These hairs will tend to embed themselves in the skin, especially if your hair is curly or the follicle is sharply angled to the skin's surface.
You can minimize the occurrence of in-grown hairs by exfoliating your skin whenever bathing or showering. I use a mitt and body wash. I scrub the skin rather aggressively until it turns a reddish pink. The idea is to remove the layer of dead skin cells which tend to cover the follicle opening and prevent the growing hair from emerging above the skin.
Some have found that epilating over and over will eventually discourage or even stop the growth of body hair. I have not experienced this myself. If it works, it's an inexpensive way to reduce body hair compared to laser or electrolysis.
Keep in mind, however, that there is no guaranteed way to rid the body of hair, even with electrolysis, unless you drastically reduce the DHT level in your body. The skin will develop new hair follicles given time. Transsexuals who are under HRT treatment or after SRS, will have body hair patterns similar to genetic women because their bodies will have only minute amounts of DHT.
I hope to reduce body hair growth by lowering my DHT with anti-androgen herbals. Saw Palmetto and Pygeum are anti-androgens that will reduce the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Spearmint will also reduce DHT indirectly by lowering free testosterone. Reducing DHT can also have the effect of stopping, even reversing, male pattern baldness.
I hope this helps those of you struggling with body hair issues like I am. Even with a nice pair of breasts, it's hard to look feminine with dense, dark body hair. LOL.
Clara Kay
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With the laser, I keep my right thigh shaved between treatments so the stubble is not a problem.