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Excessive hair that grows on a woman’s body and face is the result of a condition called hirsutism. All women have facial and body hair, but the hair is usually very fine and light in color.
The main difference between typical hair on a woman’s body and face and hair caused by hirsutism is the texture. Excessive hair that grows on a woman’s face, arms, back, or chest is usually coarse and dark. Women with this condition have characteristics that are commonly associated with male hormones. Hirsutism is excess hair in areas where it’s typically seen in men, such as the face and lower abdomen.
Hirsutism affects between 5 and 10 percent of women. It tends to run in families, so you may be more likely to have unwanted hair growth if your mother, sister, or other female relative also has it. The presence of excess body hair can lead to feelings of self-consciousness, but it isn’t dangerous. However, the hormonal imbalance that can lead to it may compromise a woman’s health.
Why do women grow excessive or unwanted hair?
Women develop excessive body or facial hair due to higher-than-normal levels of androgens, including testosterone. All females produce androgens, but the levels typically remain low. Certain medical conditions can cause a woman to produce too many androgens. This can cause male-pattern hair growth and other male characteristics, such as a deep voice.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one common cause of hirsutism. It accounts for three out of every four hirsutism cases.
Benign cysts that form on the ovaries can affect hormone production, leading to irregular menstrual cycles and decreased fertility.
Women with PCOS often have moderate-to-severe acne and tend to be overweight. Additional symptoms can include fatigue, infertility, pelvic pain, mood changes, sleep problems and headaches.
Adrenal gland disorders
Other forms of hormonal imbalance that cause excessive hair growth include, adrenal gland disorders which include, adrenal cancer, adrenal tumours, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and Cushing’s disease.
The adrenal glands, located just above your kidneys, are responsible for hormone production. People with congenital adrenal hyperplasia are born without an enzyme that’s necessary for hormone production. Those with Cushing’s disease have higher-than-normal levels of cortisol.
Cortisol is sometimes called the stress hormone. All of these conditions can affect the way your body produces androgens.
Symptoms of adrenal gland disorders include high blood pressure, bone and muscle weakness, excess weight in the upper body, headaches and high or low blood sugar levels.
In some cases, women may experience idiopathic hirsutism, which means that there’s no detectable cause for why the hirsutism developed. It’s usually chronic and may be harder to treat.
Diagnosing hirsutism
Your doctor will take a detailed medical history when diagnosing hirsutism. Discuss your medication use with your doctor to help them determine the cause of your condition.
Your doctor will likely order blood tests to measure your hormone levels. In some cases, your doctor may also order blood work to make sure you don’t have diabetes.
Ultrasounds or MRI scans of your ovaries and adrenal glands may be necessary to check for the presence of tumors or cysts.
Treatment for excessive hair
Hormone management
If you are overweight, your doctor will probably suggest that you lose weight to reduce your hair growth. Obesity can change the way your body produces and processes hormones. Maintaining a healthy weight may correct your level of androgens without the use of medication. You may need medical treatment if excessive hair growth is a symptom of PCOS or adrenal disorders. Drug therapy in the form of birth control pills and anti-androgen medications can help balance your hormone levels.
Anti-androgen medications
Steroidal androgens and non-steroidal or pure anti-androgens can block androgen receptors and reduce androgen production from the adrenal glands, ovaries, and pituitary glands.
Combination birth control pills
These pills which have both estrogen and progesterone, may help shrink the cysts from PCOS. The estrogen can also help reduce excess hair. These drugs are usually a long-term solution for hirsutism. You will most likely notice improvement after three to six months of drug therapy.
Cream
Your doctor may prescribe the cream eflornithine to reduce the growth of facial hair. Your facial hair growth should slow after one to two months. Side effects of eflornithine include skin rash and irritation.
Hair removal
Hair removal techniques are a non medical way to manage excessive or unwanted hair. These are the same hair removal methods that many women use to keep their legs, bikini line, and underarms free of hair.
Waxing, shaving and depilatories
If you have hirsutism, you may need to be more proactive about waxing, shaving, and using depilatories which are chemical foams. These processes are affordable and take effect immediately, but they require continual treatment.
Laser hair removal
Laser hair removal involves using concentrated light rays to damage your hair follicles. Damaged follicles can’t produce hair, and the hair that’s present falls out. With sufficient treatments, laser hair removal can provide permanent or near-permanent results.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is the removal of hair using an electric current. It treats each hair follicle individually, so the sessions can take longer. Both laser hair removal and electrolysis can be expensive and require multiple sessions to achieve the desired results. Some patients find these treatments uncomfortable or slightly painful.
Outlook on excessive hair
Excessive body and facial hair in women is a long-term challenge. Most women with diagnosed hormonal imbalances respond well to treatment, but the hair can grow back if your hormone levels become out of sync again. This health condition makes some women self-conscious, and depressed. In this case, counseling and support from friends and family can help these women cope with psychological aspects of having excessive hairs.
Depending on the underlying cause and choice of treatment, treating hirsutism may or may not be a lifelong commitment. Conditions that cause hirsutism, such as PCOS or adrenal gland disorders, may require lifelong treatment.
