You’re plucking, waxing, shaving… and all that hair keeps growing back! Here’s why your body is sprouting like a Chia pet, and you’re confused on what could be making you hairy. Read on to find out.
You have a hormone imbalance
Up to 8 percent of women have hirsutism, which is hair growth in a typical male pattern. This means you can get hair where you don’t want it, like your face, belly, thighs, or butt. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, about half of cases are caused by high levels of male sex hormones or androgens, like testosterone. A frequent culprit is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS usually have excessive growth of facial or body hair because the condition produces excessive amounts of androgens, So how to get rid of body hair? This commonly improves with treatment, which includes medications to help regulate the function of the ovaries and cut the amount of androgens they secrete. The first line of treatment is usually the birth control pill; if that doesn’t work, other anti-androgen medications are available—although you shouldn’t take them if you are trying to get pregnant, as they can cause birth defects. These are the other clear signs you have a hormonal imbalance.
You’re entering menopause
Even if your hormones are normally balanced, it won’t last forever. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), when estrogen levels decrease in menopause, androgens that had previously been held in check can cause unwanted side effects, like excess hair. As many as half of women during menopause experience changes in hair growth, with scalp hair loss and unwanted body hair, especially on the upper lip or chin. Hair growth can be a few hairs or heavy and beard-like, and can be soft like peach fuzz or dark, thick, and wiry. Estrogen replacement may help women with facial hair during menopause, but discuss with your doctor whether it’s right for you.
If you experience a sudden growth of extra hair, see your doctor (an ob-gyn, endocrinologist, or dermatologist) ASAP to see if you have an adrenal gland disorder. In Cushing’s syndrome, the major product of the adrenal gland, cortisol, is increased, but along with it, excess androgens are released as well. In congenital adrenal hyperplasia, there is a deficiency in one of the enzymes that produces cortisol. As a result, cortisol can’t be produced, and the precursors are diverted to producing androgens instead, leading to excessive hair growth. Adrenal tumors, which are usually non-cancerous, can also lead to excess androgens. Regulation of these conditions through medication or surgery (in the case of a tumor) should restore hormone levels and reduce hair growth. These are the grooming treatments every man should be getting.
You’ve gained weight
Another cause of high testosterone that leads to unwanted hair growth is extra weight. “Obesity alters the way that the body produces and processes hormones. When insulin levels in the body are high they stimulate the production of male hormones. Obesity is also linked with PCOS and diabetes, a condition that also affects insulin levels. But the good news is that lifestyle changes can help get you back on track. Weight loss can help lower the amount of male hormones, which can decrease hair growth and improve sugar control and fertility. To lessen the effects of hirsutism, the University of Maryland suggests a diet low in refined sugar and trans fat, and rich in antioxidant food like fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and healthy oils.
You have sensitive hair follicles
If your doctor has ruled out hormone irregularities and adrenal problems, you may simply have sensitive hair follicles. “The androgen receptors in the hair follicles can be super sensitive to any normal androgen circulating in the blood. So even though your testosterone levels may be normal, your hair follicles overreact to it. In this case, getting rid of body hair means removing it through temporary means like shaving, waxing, threading, or depilatories (such as Nair or Veet)—or you can try permanent methods like laser hair removal or electrolysis. Electrolysis targets each individual follicle, so it can be very tedious; laser hair removal doesn’t work on blonde or gray hair (and coloring it dark won’t work because it targets the follicle under the scalp). Talk to a dermatologist skilled in hair removal to figure out which option is best for you.
You’re pregnant
Like other normal hormonal changes in a woman’s life, pregnancy can cause unwanted hairs to spring up. During pregnancy, the extra hormones can cause hair to grow thicker, faster, and darker. This occurs not just on the scalp, but on the body as well, which is usually covered with fine hairs that now appear more prominent. The belly is a common location, as are the face, breast, and thighs. Although there’s an old wives’ tale that a hairy belly during pregnancy means it’s a boy, the hormones really don’t have anything to do with the sex of the baby—it’s just one of those weird pregnancy symptoms no one tells you about! The American Pregnancy Association says most hair removal methods haven’t been confirmed as safe for pregnancy, so shaving is the best option. Or just wait until the baby is born, since after pregnancy your hair should return to normal.
You take certain medications
If you take steroids, like prednisone, or danazol, which treats endometriosis, you may be in for some hairy side effects. “These medications are derived from androgens. Other medications, like Rogaine (minoxidil), which is used to stop or slow hair loss, may promote hair growth in unwanted areas in the body.A drug for immune disorders, and some anti-seizure meds can also cause excess hair. Once you stop taking the meds the hair growth will stop, but while you are still on them you will need to use other methods to remove it.
You have thyroid issues
According to medical research, thyroid problems are commonly associated with hair loss, but it can go the other way too. Thyroid disease can cause excessive hair growth, but it usually does not fit the typical male pattern associated with androgen excesss. In other words, women may end up growing thicker hair in places that’s not normal for men or women, but that thyroid dysfunction can sometimes also coincide with other hormone issues, like elevated prolactin levels. Your doctor will do a full workup to see where the issues lie, and once they’re treated, the hair should stop growing.
It runs in your family
Unfortunately, some ethnic groups are simply hairier than others. It’s quite common for Mediterranean or darker-skinned people to have excessive hair, particularly in the upper lip and jawline areas. So what can you do? You can’t change your genetics, so you’ll have to rely on removing the hair by either temporary or permanent means. One caution for women with darker skin, though: The target for laser hair removal is melanin, so it will be absorbed by your dark hair—but also by the melanin of the skin, so it could lead to loss of skin pigmentation. To avoid the unhappy side effect of white patches on your face or body, make sure to see a doctor with experience in laser hair removal for people of all ethnicities.
Over-tweezing
You know the old wives’ tale that if you shave, the hair will grow back coarser and thicker? Well, that’s not exactly true. Shaving doesn’t affect the underlying follicle because it only cuts off the hair that’s above the skin. But, if you pull the hair out from the follicle, like with tweezing or waxing, it can actually grow back heavier. When you’re using these temporary hair methods, we also stimulating the hair. You’re creating an injury to the hair, and its response is to become a bit thicker.” If this is an issue for you, a prescription cream called Vaniqa can slow the rate of hair growth so that you can go longer in between tweezing sessions.
