Facial hair is currently trendy for men, with more and more men joining #beardgang by the day, however, body hair on women remains a hot topic, one that many women are rather sensitive about.
The amount of body hair you have is partly determined by your genetic makeup. There’s a wide range of normal hair distribution, thickness and color due to differences in heredity/race. Women from certain cultures/tribes tend to have a bit more body hair than others and this is usually not a medical problem but more of an aesthetic one.
Excessive body hair may also be the result of a medical condition. When women have thick, dark hair on their face, neck, chest, tummy, lower back, buttocks or thighs, it is called Hirsutism.
Hirsutism can arise from excess male hormones called androgens, primarily testosterone. It can also be due to a family trait.
Symptoms
Hirsutism is stiff and dark body hair, appearing on the body where women don’t commonly have hair — mainly the face, chest and back. What’s considered excessive can vary depending on ethnicity and culture. So what is excessive hair on a Caucasian woman may be normal for an Asian woman for example.
When excessively high androgen levels cause hirsutism, other signs might develop over time, a process called virilization. Signs of virilization might include:
- Deepening voice
- Balding
- Acne
- Decreased breast size
- Increased muscle mass
- Enlargement of the clitoris
Causes
At puberty, the ovaries begin to produce a mix of female and male sex hormones, causing hair to grow in the armpits and pubic area. Hirsutism can occur if the mix becomes unbalanced with too high a proportion of male sex hormones (androgens).
This high level of male sex hormones can be caused by:
Polycystic ovary syndrome. This is the most common cause of hirsutism and it is caused by an imbalance of sex hormones that can result in irregular periods, obesity, infertility and sometimes multiple cysts on the ovaries.
Cushing’s syndrome. This occurs when the body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol. It can develop from the adrenal glands making too much cortisol or from taking medications such as steroids over a long period (for example in body builders)
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. This inherited condition is characterized by abnormal production of steroid hormones, including cortisol and androgen, by the adrenal glands.
Tumors. In some rare cases, an androgen-secreting tumor in the ovaries or adrenal glands can cause hirsutism.
Medications. Some medications can cause hirsutism. These include danazol, which is used to treat women with endometriosis; systemic corticosteroids and fluoxetine (Prozac) for depression.
Sometimes, hirsutism can occur with no identifiable cause. This happens more frequently in certain populations, such as in women of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and South Asian ancestry.
Treatment
Treatment for hirsutism often involves a combination of treating the underlying disorder, if there is one, self-care methods, hair-removal therapies and medications.
Medications
Medications taken for hirsutism usually take up to six months, the average life cycle of a hair follicle, before you see a significant difference in hair growth. Medications include:
Oral contraceptives. Birth control pills or other hormonal contraceptives, which contain estrogen and progestin, treat hirsutism caused by androgen production. Oral contraceptives are a common treatment for hirsutism in women who don’t want to become pregnant. These medications may have side effects and should be discussed with your doctor.
Anti-androgens. These types of drugs block androgens from attaching to their receptors in your body. They’re sometimes prescribed after six months on oral contraceptives if the oral contraceptives aren’t effective enough.
The most commonly used anti-androgen for treating hirsutism is spironolactone (Aldactone). Because these drugs can cause birth defects, it’s important to use contraception while taking them.
Topical cream. Eflornithine (Vaniqa) is a prescription cream specifically for excessive facial hair in women. It’s applied directly to the affected area of your face and helps slow new hair growth, but doesn’t get rid of existing hair. It can be used with laser therapy to enhance the response.
In recent years, procedures such as electrolysis and laser hair removal have been advertised as permanent hair removal solutions but they may not be 100% effective for every woman and both have their associated risks and should only be carried out by a trained professional.
Excess body hair on it’s own does not cause any physical complications. However it is understandable how this condition can be emotionally distressing or make one self conscious. If you need to take care of excessive body hair, there’s a wide range of options from hair removal creams to electrolysis but remember that it is just hair and it doesn’t make you any less of a woman.
