At Brazils Waxing Center, we help a lot of women who have excess hair growth on their faces. While every woman has some hair on her body, it is generally fine and light. Some women experience a condition called hirsutism, which means the hair that grows on their body is coarser and darker than is typical, and grows in areas where hair usually only grows on men. It is associated with higher levels of androgens, the male hormones. Hirsutism is different from hypertrichosis, which increases hair growth on everywhere on the body and isn’t associated with androgens.
Hirsutism affects roughly 10 percent of women, and seems to be genetic. It runs in families and women of certain heritages, such as Middle Eastern, South Asian, or Mediterranean, are more likely to develop it. While there is nothing harmful to your health about having excess facial hair, there are a couple reasons not to ignore it. For one, many women feel self-conscious about their facial hair, and there is a simple solution: our waxing services! At our waxing salon, we can provide you with the facial waxing service you need to feel more confident in your skin. Additionally, excess facial hair can be an indication of several health conditions. In this blog, we will go over the most common causes of hirsutism, and what you can do about them.
Causes
Excess hair on a woman’s face or body where men normally grow hair is caused by high levels of androgens, including testosterone. While every woman produces androgens, normally, these hormones are at very low levels in the female body. There are several reasons why a woman might produce excess androgens, leading to facial hair growth and other symptoms. Here are some potential causes of excess hair growth.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of hirsutism, responsible for 75 percent of hirsutism cases. PCOS is a condition in which a woman forms benign cysts on her ovaries, which impacts hormone production which can lead to symptoms such as irregular periods, acne, infertility, and excess hair growth.
Menopause
The hormonal changes associated with menopause can cause several side effects, including mood swings, hot flashes, skin changes, and excess hair growth. As women get older and go through menopause, their estrogen levels drop and their testosterone levels rise, contributing to the development of unwanted facial hair.
Cushing’s syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome is a hormonal condition that is caused by high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone in the body. Cushing’s syndrome develops due to the use of corticosteroids, which are used to treat autoimmune disorders. Symptoms include weight gain, easy bruising, muscle weakness, low libido, and excess hair growth.
Obesity
Being overweight or obese can often disrupt the hormone levels in the body, which can cause hirsutism. If you are overweight and are concerned with excess hair, losing weight can sometimes reduce the symptoms of hirsutism.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
This is congenital condition that impacts the adrenal glands, which are the glands that are responsible for hormone production. A woman with congenital adrenal hyperplasia may have excess hair growth and other hormonal symptoms (such as irregular periods) because their androgen production is affected.
Certain medications
There are also certain medications that may cause hirsutism. For example, anabolic steroids may spike testosterone levels, causing hair growth. Additionally, if you take testosterone due to a testosterone deficiency, it may cause you to grow excess hair. Minoxidil and cyclosporine are examples of other medications that could cause unwanted hair growth.
Talking to your doctor
If you find that you are experiencing excess hair growth on your face when you hadn’t before, it’s important to talk to your doctor because it indicates that something is going on with the hormones in your body, particularly if you are experiencing other symptoms. While hirsutism in itself isn’t harmful, it is an indication of several health conditions that may need medical intervention. To determine the cause of your health concerns, your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history, and may test your blood to see your hormone levels, which can help them determine the cause. Depending on the cause of the hirsutism, the doctor may prescribe birth control to regulate your hormone levels, or suggest that you lose weight to address your symptoms.
What we can do for you
Regardless of the cause of unwanted hair, we can help you remove it. At Brazils Waxing Center, we understand that excess hair growth can be embarrassing for women. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with unwanted hair, especially with such an efficient and effective method of hair removal at your disposal. Our waxing salon can provide you with your facial waxing services you desire, whether you are plagued with chin hair, upper lip hair, or unwanted hair elsewhere on your face. Book an appointment online today!
