It may be embarrasing to admit it, but a lot of people men and women alike shave facial hair because it can get pretty disturbing, not to mention the fact that excessive facial hair makes a woman look like manly. But what causes excessive facial hair growth?
Hirsutism
Derived from the Latin word hirsutus which means hairy, this condition is characterized by an excessive and increased hair growth in women in areas where terminal hair (longer, thicker, coarser, and darker hair) are usually very little or they’re not supposed to grow from at all. It is most commonly noted in the face.
Simply put, when a woman has hirsutism, she develops hair-growth similar to that of a man’s. This can pose a serious physical and psychological concern because not only does manly hair growth in a woman unsightly, it can also be an indicator of an underlying disease that needs to be treated.
What causes hirsutism?
A lot of things can trigger excessive facial hair growth in women. Here are some of the most commonly reported causes of hirsutism:
1.Genetics
Some say that this condition can be passed on through the genes. Most cases of women with hirsutism belong to a long line of women in their family that has excessive facial hair.
2.High androgen levels
Androgen are male hormones. Women have it too, just as men have estrogen and progesterone in limited amounts. Some women with hirsutism were noted to have elevated levels of androgens, especially testosterone, which stimulates hair growth, increases the size and length of the hair, and intensify the growth and pigmentation of hair.
3.Insulin resistance
Studies have shown that high concentrations of insulin may stimulate the the cells in the ovaries to produce more androgens which in turn stimulates hair growth.
4.Diseases
Excessive hair growth can be an indicator for medical conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome, cushing’s disease, ovarian cancer, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
5.Medications
Drugs like phenytoin, diazoxide, minoxidil, and cyclosporin may cause an increase in hair growth.
How is hirsutism treated?
There are many ways to remove the excess hair. Some people choose to pluck, other choose to shave. Those that can afford special applications use special depilatory cream or bleaching solutions. Those that can withstand a bit of pain wax their excess hair off.
Applying a hair inhibitor cream like Vaniqa after removing unwanted hair may help slow down the rate of facial hair regrowth, helping you enjoy being facial hair-free for a longer time.
For people whose excess hairs are caused by underlying conditions, having the medical condition treated may help with the excessive facial hair growth. For people whose hirsutism was brought about by the medications they took, changing medications or having a dosage adjustment may help lessen the hair growth.
It is understandable how women with hirsutism may feel ashamed about having too much facial hair, but they must not let it affect them so much. The best thing to do is to see a doctor to find out if it rooted from a more serious condition or if it something they can deal with by simple shaving or cream application. After all, hirsutism is a condition that can easily be managed and treated.
Did you enjoy this article?