All women have some hair on their face and body naturally, but it’s usually fine in texture, light in colour, and not a cause for concern. But, if hair growth is dark and coarse, or seems excessive, it could be due to one of the following reasons:
- Hormonal changes like puberty (when new hair develops), pregnancy (when extra hair arrives that should shed after delivery), or menopause (when extra unwanted hairs arrive again)
- Previous hair removal methods
- Certain medications
- Stress
- Diet
- Hereditary factors
- Scars and other topical irritations
- Adrenal gland disorders
- A chronic condition such as Hirsutism
- PCOS — Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
I’ve previously mentioned my experience with PCOS and thought I would share a little more about it today.
PCOS can appear with different symptoms for everyone, but one noticeable way can be through excess face and body hair. This can be caused by excess androgen (male hormone) levels. If you experience excess face and body hair, it may be something for you to bring up with your doctor and naturopath. It can also be combined with many other symptoms, such as infertility, irregular cycles, occasional severe acne, male-pattern baldness, etc.
PCOS is a condition that can occur at any age, but often, diagnosis occurs in women of child-bearing age when they find they are having trouble conceiving. There is also evidence that women with PCOS don’t react as they should to insulin, which can result in diabetes.
While the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, electrolysis is a great option to help with the side effect of excess hair growth.