Somewhere along the way, the sexist notion that bodies assigned female should have smooth, hairless, baby seal skin gained traction. But contrary to popular belief, it’s actually quite common (and completely normal) for females to have facial hair, be it along the jaw, above the lip, or on the chin.
What can be a sign of something wrong though, is experiencing thick, rapid hair growth across your face and body. In fact, new, sudden changes in hair growth can actually be one of the frontward presenting signs of a hormonal imbalance. To get to the bottom of what kind of hair growth signals a hormonal balance (or any other serious condition), we reached out to OB/GYN Shweta Desai and a dermatologist Dr. Michelle Green for everything there is to know about the intersection of hair growth and hormones.
Ahead, with their help, discover whether your facial hair is nothing to worry about or if it’s time to ring your doctor for direct medical advice.
Causes of Facial Hair in Females
So often we’re taught to believe that any and all facial hair in females is a sign of a problem. In reality, Desai says that facial hair growth in women is totally normal, so long as it’s in small amounts. Think: peach fuzz or a few darker strands here and there. “The appearance of peach fuzz or a stray dark, coarse strand of hair every once in a while [say, on your chin], shouldn’t be a reason to sound the alarms,” adds Green.
While some facial hair is par for the course, Desai, who is the chief wellness advisor at Love Wellness, says that if the hair is growing in thick and coarse, there’s a chance that hirsutism (or excessive male-pattern hair growth) is at play. “Hirsutism affects between five and 10 percent of females of reproductive age,” she explains, noting that it’s caused by an uptick in androgens (aka male hormones like testosterone).
When diagnosing hirsutism, Desai says that multiple factors play a role, including age, race, and family history. “Providers will examine areas that are known to be most sensitive to androgens, including the upper lip, chin, chest, abdomen, pubic region, arms, thighs, and back,” she adds.
If your doctor finds that your excessive growth patterns are occurring in areas of androgen sensitivity, then it’s likely that your hair growth is a sign of hormonal imbalance. As for the cause of the imbalance? Desai says that PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which begins at puberty and causes an imbalance of sex hormones), androgen-secreting tumors, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia could be at play (more on those, below).
Facial Hair Growth: When Is It a Sign of Hormonal Imbalance?
When it comes to excessive growth, most times it is a sign of a hormonal imbalance. However, according to Green, genetics and metabolism also influence patterns of hair growth. So, while PCOS and adrenal gland disorders might be the cause, it’s also possible that pregnancy and menopause—two completely normal cycles of life that cause intense changes in hormones—could play a role. Additionally, she points out that unwanted facial hair growth can also be related to using certain medications like Minoxidil (Rogaine), Androgel (testosterone), or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
Additionally, Desai mentions that, while extremely rare, excessive facial hair growth can be due to hypertrichosis. “Hypertrichosis is the excessive growth of androgen-independent hair that is soft and in non-androgen sensitive areas,” she explains. “This type of hair growth is most commonly due to family history, but can also be related to hypothyroidism, anorexia, or oral medications.”
Because of all these factors, it’s important to know when facial hair growth is actually a concern for your health.
When Is Facial Hair a Red Flag?
A stray hair here or there isn’t a big deal. Neither is peach fuzz on your lip or cheeks. It’s when you notice a sudden change in the density, pattern, or overall appearance of your facial hair that Green says you should be concerned and see your physician for evaluation.
“These things may be a sign that other changes are happening in the body,” she explains. “Other signs of hyperandrogenism, besides hair growth, are acne, high blood pressure, irregular periods, deepening of your voice, weight gain, and increased muscle mass.”
When to Consult a Doctor
Since so many factors could be at play, she recommends making an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist to go over your concerns. Though, you can also make an appointment with an OB/GYN, as they’re specialized in disorders like PCOS, which could be at play.
Either way, if you are concerned about any excessive hair growth, it’s important to raise questions on the matter to your doctor of choice. That way, you’ll be able to approach your hair growth with medical expertise and it’s possible that you may even be able to rule out disorders that need medical management.
How to Remove Unwanted Facial Hair
Depending on the cause of your facial hair growth, your hair removal options will vary. If your hair growth is due to a hormonal imbalance, Green says that testosterone-reducing oral medications like Spironolactone (which also helps treat acne) can help, as can oral contraceptives which also help regulate hormonal imbalance. And, whether your hair growth is the result of hormone imbalance or genetics, there’s always the option to tweeze, bleach, wax, and laser it away if it bothers you.
“The most effective method for treating unwanted hair growth is laser hair removal,” Green says. “Other methods of hair removal can be painful, time-consuming, costly, and messy.” Conversely, laser hair removal like GentleLase and GentleYAG can target hair growth in a few sessions to permanently stop its growth, all without damaging skin in the process.
Can a hormone imbalance cause hair growth?
Both men and women can develop hormonal imbalances that can cause hair to thin or fall out. Often, treating the imbalance helps your hair regrow. Although most people think of estrogen or testosterone when they think of a hormone imbalance, issues with your thyroid can also lead to hair thinning.
