Hirsutism Excessive Hair Growth in Women: Causes, Treatment
All of these conditions can affect the way your body produces androgens. While PCOS causes excess facial hair, some females also experience a thinning of the hair on the head. A few random hairs on the chin and neck popping up along with peach fuzz is routine and often related to hormonal changes our body cycles through over our lifetime. Having some hair on your chin is perfectly normal and usually a cosmetic concern more than a medical one. Chin hair can be removed safely using a number of at-home and professional methods, if you choose to do so.
At-home waxing
Hirsutism is caused by high levels of male hormones (called androgens). It's normal for women's bodies to make androgens, and low levels don't cause excess hair growth. But when these amounts are too high, they can cause hirsutism and other things, like acne, a deep voice, and small breasts. PCOS can also impact your hormone levels, leading to weight gain, irregular periods, acne, and, yup, increased hair growth. People with PCOS often notice excessive hair growth specifically in what Dr. Sood refers to as "androgen-dependent areas," like the chin.
Symptoms of Hirsutism
See your doc if you're having any of these symptoms, so she can do a proper evaluation to determine what's going on. In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove an ovarian or adrenal tumor (even if it's benign). But on the bright side, the growth likely won't return once it's removed, according to NLM.
Chin hair removal options
If you have hirsutism, you will need continuing treatment if you want to address your symptoms. Most people find an effective therapy that they can use as a long-term fix. Some women and people AFAB have idiopathic hirsutism, which means there’s no known cause. Conditions that cause hirsutism, such as PCOS or adrenal gland disorders, may require lifelong treatment. In some cases, women may experience idiopathic hirsutism, which means that there’s no detectable cause for why the hirsutism developed.
They can perform blood tests and other diagnostic tests to check your hormone levels and offer solutions. A couple of stray chin hairs can be easily plucked out with tweezers. The downside to shaving is that you’ll likely have to do it more often and regrowth appears coarser. When you're insulin resistant, your body doesn't respond properly to insulin—a hormone that helps turn sugar into energy, according to NLM. So instead, your blood sugar stays elevated, which can lead to prediabetes and diabetes.
Hirsutism: Understanding Excessive Hair in Women
SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. It can require several follow-up treatments after the initial session. A doctor will rule out various other potential causes before diagnosing idiopathic hirsutism. Your doctor may do blood tests, ask about your symptoms, and do other diagnostic tests to find out the reason for your symptoms and how to correct them. In order to shave your face effectively, you should use a tool designed specifically for this purpose.
Insulin resistance can also raise the body's levels of testosterone, and thus the amount of facial and body hair you grow as well, Dr. Sood explains. Eflornithine (aka Vaniqa) is an FDA-approved topical medication that slows the growth of unwanted facial hair. It's available by prescription and must be used regularly to be effective. As with other prescription medications, speak with your doctor about side effects before taking eflornithine. Some of the medication's potential side effects include acne, stinging, and burning.
The Ferriman-Gallwey score is a simple, inexpensive, and reliable diagnostic tool for hirsutism. There are more elaborate and expensive methods to determine the extent of excess hair growth that may be more precise. These include photographic measures, computerized assessment of photographs, and microscopic measurement and counting of hair shafts. Hirsutism is a common condition, affecting between 5 and 10 percent of women.
10 Best Facial Hair Removal Methods for Women - Harper's BAZAAR
10 Best Facial Hair Removal Methods for Women.
Posted: Mon, 21 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Dermaplaning is a procedure in which a technician uses an exfoliating blade to remove dead skin cells and hair from your face. You may only think of epilators when removing hair from the legs or from larger areas of the body. But epilators come in multiple sizes, making them ideal for eliminating hair on all parts of the body, including your face. Typically, the results of tweezing last longer than shaving — up to 6 weeks.
If excessive hair growth is a symptom of PCOS or adrenal disorders, you may need additional pharmacological treatment. Drug therapy in the form of birth control pills and anti-androgen medications can help balance your hormone levels. When it comes to women's facial hair, chin hair is one of the more common concerns.
Signs of a reaction include skin redness, bumps, and itchiness. Wait at least 24 hours after a patch test before applying the cream over larger sections of your face. Before you wax, do a patch test on your skin to see if you develop an allergic reaction, and to make sure the wax is the right temperature. If you choose a wax that needs to be warmed at home, purchase a wax warmer, which will heat the wax evenly and allow you better control over the temperature. Also, make sure to purchase plenty of waxing sticks to only use each stick once.
Tweezing is another effective and inexpensive way to remove facial hair. Instead of removing hair with a razor blade, tweezers are designed to pluck or pull hair from the roots. Dr. Ana Kausel, an endocrinologist at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, said that when women grow hair in a pattern and thickness similar to that of men, it’s called hirsutism. As we age and enter menopause, our hormones begin to shift, and when that happens, hairs may sprout where there weren’t any before. Once a diagnosis is made, your doctor might use something called the Ferriman-Gallwey scale.
In addition to removing hair, facial shaving can also be used as a mechanical (physical) exfoliator to remove dead skin cells. Facial shaving can be used to remove both vellus and terminal hair. Facial hair can be annoying for some people, but getting rid of unwanted hair is an easy fix. Depending on the chosen method, you can get rid of hair for days, weeks, or months. Note that it can cause skin irritation in some people, as well as skin cuts and dryness. It’s not recommended for skin with acne or other dermatologic conditions.
Hypertrichosis also causes excess hair growth, but it’s a different condition than hirsutism. With hypertrichosis, excess hair grows anywhere on your body. On the other hand, people with hirsutism have a lot of hair growth on specific areas that depend on male hormones, such as the face, chest, back, and stomach. Chin hair can grow at any age, but most women notice growth increasing with age since hormonal balances shift as we get older.
Extra hair growth is simply a symptom of PCOS that affects up to 70% of women and people AFAB with the condition. Hirsutism is a condition in women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) in which you have a lot of hair growing in places where it usually does just for men. Also, although hirsutism doesn't cause physical complications, the underlying cause of a hormonal imbalance can.
Facial shaving also provides mechanical exfoliation, which can help skin look brighter and cleaner. Sensitive skin, or skin that has red, irritated patches for any reason, may also not respond well to shaving. Social media users called out the grooming brand for “opportunistic” marketing.
Comments
Post a Comment