Yes, it’s taboo. No woman likes to admit having facial hair, but it’s one of the most common aesthetic complaints in beauty. Plus, those chin hairs may be more serious that you think.
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All This Extra Fur, Though?!
Unwanted facial hair, known as hirsutism, affects millions of women of all ages. Around 10% of U.S. women contend with some degree of hirsutism daily.
It is a condition when a woman develops male-like patterns of body hair. Some of the most common areas are the upper lip, chin, neck, back and bikini line.
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What Causes Hirsutism?
Hirsutism develops when there is an imbalance in androgen hormones.
The most common cause is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Major signs of PCOS are irregularities in menstrual cycles, ovarian cysts, high androgen levels and unexpected weight gain especially in the abdomen area.
Another cause of hirsutism is genetics. If immediate female family members have it, chances are you will develop it, too.
Diabetes, when the body’s blood sugar runs dangerously high or low, may be another culprit. Weight gain and diabetes are often correlated together and a lack of metabolism may cause hormonal imbalance. Other conditions include congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hyperthyroidism and rare adrenal and ovarian tumors.
Behaviors such as poor dieting, steroidal medications, smoking and pregnancy can cause hirsutism, too.
Why Me?
You are not alone! Social anxiety and depression are to be expected. Surrounded by so much commercialization of perfect skin, discussing facial hair may be a bit embarrassing of a subject to chat about at the company picnic. People noticing extra body hair may be extra hard for teenagers in a world where bullying may be the sad norm.
Hormonal imbalance also brings stress. If you cannot manage demands in life, anything and everything may overwhelm you, including body image.
READ: Managing Your Weight With PCOS
Ain’t I A Woman: Managing Unwanted Facial Hair
was originally published on
blackdoctor.org
How to Treat Hirsutism?
There are two answers to this question: medication and physical hair removal.
A popular medication is Spironolactone. This medicine acts as an anti-androgen that inhibits testosterone activity. But Spironolactone is a diuretic, meaning it may alter your potassium levels, so testing is necessary throughout your Spironolactone regimen. Side effects may include weight gain, headaches and urinating more frequently. It is imperative you stop Spironolactone if you are pregnant. It may feminize a male fetus.
Other medications include birth control, finasteride and flutamide, metformin and Vaniqa, the only FDA approved topical medication for facial hair.
Medication slows the growth of the hair; it does not always stop it. Shaving will give you relief for a day or two. Waxing, sugaring, tweezing and threading may keep the hair away for maybe a week or more.
But all these methods are temporary and they may cause ingrown hairs, especially with removing thick, curly hairs. Hot compresses and gentle exfoliation may help remove ingrowns.
More professional methods include laser hair removal and electrolysis. A laser is zapped to the skin to pierce the hair follicle, causing its destruction. Over a number of sessions, the follicle will become damaged, causing hair growth to retard, though touch up sessions are typical.
Electrolysis, which involves channeling energy to the hair follicle via a needle, is FDA approved for permanency. With enough successful treatments, those treated follicles will no longer grow hair.
READ: Acne Scars: Make Them Go Away For Good
Are There Natural Approaches?
Studies have shown that herbal supplements myo-inositol, flaxseed and spearmint have anti-androgenic affects. Sipping two cups of spearmint tea daily may significantly slow your hirsutism. Lavender oil and tea tree oil, when applied topically, may reduce milder hirsutism cases. Fennel gel was found to decrease hair thickness in cases of excessive body hair, too.
A balanced diet of leafy greens, fruit, lean meat and fresh fish may help balance hormones. Monitoring your glycemic intake would be helpful because an increase in sugar could throw your hormones off.
Exercising, regardless of your weight, will also help balance your hormonal levels. Exercising can be therapeutic, providing a way to relieve stress and relax.
While hirsutism may a personal embarrassment to you, there are means to managing it and getting rid of it completely. Talk to your doctor today about your hormonal imbalance and love your skin again!
Visit the BlackDoctor.org Diabetes center for more articles.
Mo writes about the embarrassing condition, hirsutism, and related topics of hormonal imbalance. Dealing with hormonal problems for 15 years, she takes her experiences to her blog, www.thehirsutismhub.com and shares it with other women dealing with similar issues.
Ain’t I A Woman: Managing Unwanted Facial Hair
was originally published on
blackdoctor.org
