The Myth Of Female Hirsutism
Most women sprout the odd hair out of their chin at some point, however, this is not female hirsutism. Some of us are chronically hairier than others due to ethnicity or years of tweezing. To call this “female hirsutism” is just to provide an explanation of some sort to anxious young women. Sometimes ethnicity is the cause of that peach fuzz on your upper lip, sometimes it’s just bad luck. Chances are if you have a lush mane of hair and eyes fringed with long lashes you pay for it in side burns and chin hair. It’s not a bad trade if you know a good electrologist to prune those side burns!
The client in the image above has hair all over her face and body. Technically it is female hirsutism, but even the chin hair is in range of normal. The fuzz is an inheritance from her mother she shares with her sisters too. We treat the hair on her chin , including the finer hairs that can become a problem in the future. My client will never get to the point where her mother is. She will never spend 30 minutes a day tweezing her face and neck like her mother does. The time my client spent on electrolysis in her 30s saves time later in her future.
Female Hirsutism Or Just Plain Hairy?
If fine hair was visible on your face since childhood then it’s part of your genetic profile to be hairy. We’re used to looking for a root cause to every condition. You do not need to take spironolactane if you grow some arm hair as you move through menopause. A bit of extra hair doesn’t mean a hormone imbalance that requires daily medication. Excessive hair growth often accompanies changes in our physiology. That’s why you notice hair growth during puberty, pregnancy and menopause. Hormone levels fluctuate with weight gain or loss as well.
Generally the hair you see sprout during these periods is permanent. For example, when a woman going through menopause develops chin hair, the only way to permanently remove it is with electrolysis. The exception is the fine, colourless body hair grown during pregnancy. This sheds once you give birth and your hormones return to normal.
Temporary Hair Removal Methods Stimulate Hair Growth
Waxing, threading and tweezing all stimulate female hirsutism on ladies’ faces. Many women pluck one lone hair sticking out of their chin. Before long they’ve got a few more, then a few more creeping up the jawline. Within a decade or two you’re looking at a full beard. If, however, you get electrolysis when you have just a few hairs you will not grow a full beard. You may sprout 1 or 2 hairs every couple of years. A 20 minute touch up with me is better than the beard.
Normal patterns of hair growth on the female body include hair growth from the navel up to the breast bone, a triangle on the lower back, or even upper arms and shoulders.
If you have hormonal imbalances in your body, there are generally other symptoms to accompany it. Hair loss, irregular periods, and weight gain to are the common ones that lead to female hirsutism. Although the majority of women’s “excess” hair is seemingly the result of genetics, in some instances the hair growth is linked to genuine imbalances in the body that need medical attention.
Causes Of Female Hirsutism
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) as a cause of female beard growth
PCOS is probably the most common disorder to contribute to excess hair growth. If you have a sudden increase in hair growth on your face or body accompanied by other issues such as an irregular menstrual cycle or sudden weight gain then it’s a good idea to see your doctor for an assessment. The hair growth resulting from PCOS can, in some instances, get under with pharmaceuticals. For most women, however, permanent hair removal such as electrolysis is the only way to get rid of a female beard once it grows. Female beard growth from PCOS will not go away on its own. If you want more information on PCOS, this is a good resource.
While PCOS is the most common disorder leading to excessive hair growth in women, there are other possible causes if your doctor rules out PCOS. Tumors or cancers of the adrenal gland or ovary, Cushing syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and even the use of certain medications can all contribute to excessive hair growth in women. Often the symptoms are similar between the various disorders – unexplained weight gain, problems with the menses, acne and infertility are all characteristic of the above-mentioned disorders.
Conclusion
In conclusion, most cases of female hirsutism can be brought under control with electrolysis permanent hair removal. Since electrolysis is the only truly permanent method of hair removal, you will not grow new hair in the treated follicles. This is true only if you are treated by a good electrologist and we are RARE. It is, however, important to understand the underlying cause of your excessive hair growth. The majority of time it is a genetic predisposition to hairiness, but in the case of PCOS or another disorder you need to understand how to manage the disease in order for you to gain control of the excess hair.