Excess Facial Hair In Women - Causes And Treatment

Excess facial hair growth in a woman results from a condition known as the hirsutism. The growth in hair pattern is exactly similar to that of an adult male. Areas, where abnormal hair growth is visible, are chest, above the lips, etc. These hairs are dark, but fine in nature. They are more commonly known as peach fuzz.

There could be a number of reasons for excess facial hair in a woman:

1. Genetic reasons: Women from the Indian sub-continent or Mediterranean region are more likely to have facial hair as compared to their American, European and East-Asian counterparts. One of the common reasons for facial hair growth is genetics. It is a trend that runs in the family, it is more likely that a woman will get it. There is not much that can be done in this case except managing the hair growth effectively.
2. Imbalance of the hormone: Abnormal hormone production can lead to hirsutism. In many cases, there are conditions where female starts producing male hormones leading to abnormal hair growth in the face. One of the most common causes of facial hair growth is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This again is a hormonal imbalance leading to facial hair growth. Even adrenal gland related disorders such as cushing's syndrome, Adrenal cancer and congenital adrenal hyperplasia can lead to excess hair.
3. Medications: Certain medication can lead to excess hair growth in the face. For instance, the certain steroid such as anabolic can lead to excess hair growth. Minoxidil is also known to cause hirsutism if taken in excess of 1 ml per day. Other medication related to testosterone and cyclosporine can lead to excess facial hair in females. It is advised to follow the doctor’s advice before consuming any of these medicines.
4. Androgens: Although androgen is a male hormone, it is present in minute quantities in women too. Facial hair increase is nothing, but the sudden increased production of androgen in a female. Even birth control pills can lead to an increased production of androgen in the body. In these cases, it is very important to seek medical advice.

Treatment and remedies:
Medical help:
One should get medical help at the earliest if one of these conditions matches their symptoms:

• The hair growth is sudden and abrupt.
• One witness male features such as increases muscle, acne and reduced breast size.
• Certain medication has led to the hair growth.

Home Remedies:

• Usage of shaving, plucking and depilatory cream
• Laser hair reduction procedure shows immediate results in stopping and countering any further hair growth.
• Electrolysis can be tried to permanently damage the follicles.
• Weight loss is another good solution to excess hair growth. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a dermatologist.
• A hair transplant procedure is a surgical procedure in which hair is moved from one part of the body, called the 'donor site', to a bald or balding part of the body known as the 'recipient site'. The procedure is performed to restore hair growth and is typically done on the scalp, but can also be performed on other areas of the body.