What Causes Female Facial Hair And How To Stop Them

admin | September 30, 2015 | Health Food Supplement

Facial hair grow differently for every woman. Some may have thin and light growth on the upper lip or chin, but when the hairs become heavy and beard-like – it can get embarrassing and troublesome.

What causes female facial hair?

The growth of facial hair is indicative of activation of secondary sex characteristics – in males, while the causes of facial hair growth in females are usually indicative of underlying health conditions.

1. Menopause

The number one reason for the unwanted, thick and ugly facial hair on a woman’s face is menopause and imbalance between estrogen and testosterone.

The predominant hormone in a woman’s body is estrogen (hence, the name “female hormone”); however, female still have minimal amounts of testosterone (or male hormone) circulating in their body. When estrogen is abundant, facial hair (called vellus hair) appears fine, short and almost invisible. Men, on the other hand, have them darker, longer and coarser.

During menopause, estrogen dramatically drops making dihydrotestostone (DHT) levels higher than they usually are. It is at this time that women start noticing the growth of dark coarse hair on their faces, especially on the chin, upper lip, jaw line, cheeks and sometimes even in the forehead.

Menopause is not just a huge physical transformation for women, but also a highly emotional one. Imagine experiencing physical discomforts such as hot flushes, bodily pains and the rise of other co-morbidities (high blood pressure, osteoporosis, etc.) then seeing your face morphed by unwanted hairs – it is beyond frustrating!

2. Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes can result from conditions other than menopause. Pregnancy is also a delicate stage of womanhood, where hormone levels are at a fiasco. Pregnant women may also experience unwanted facial hair growths.

Women suffering from primary androgen imbalance (not caused by menopause) cause them to have a resemblance to a male. They have a more angular body compared to a woman, and of course, more hair than a female could ever need (or want).

3. Hirsutism

Not even reaching your 30^th birthday, yet the horrifying chin hairs have started to grow thick. You might have a condition called Hirsutism or excessive hair growth (even in places that shouldn’t have hair in the first place!). This problem may be hereditary or passed down in your genes or due to your ethnicity. European origins are more likely to have facial hair than females from Asian descent. If the older female generations in your family sport beard-like hairs on their faces, well, brace yourself for a hairy future.

If the condition is not genetic, hirsutism might be cause by an underlying medical condition which is best diagnosed by a doctor. A consultation with your health care provider will determine causes of female facial hair and help you find ways to get out of your hairy situation.

How to stop facial hair growth in women

Women with facial hair have tried a myriad of treatments to stop stubborn hair growth. The following treatments and techniques are proven effective to remove lip and chin hair on women:

1. Plucking

Like in your eyebrows or armpit, those stubborn hair in your face can also be plucked using tweezers or any gadget that tweezes hair automatically. Plucking can be very painful, especially on the sensitive areas of the face (upper lip), also, this procedure stimulates active growth of hair, making them grown faster and thicker. Remember the chin hairs starting out light and thin, and now they’ve evolved into full grown man hair! Ugh, you don’t want the hair growth getting any worse.

2. Shaving

Shaving is a painless procedure (unless you accidentally cut yourself) but it also makes hair grow thicker. It leaves a bristle so the hairs remain a little visible. Facial hair also grow a lot quicker so you’ll have to religiously shave to prevent stubbles from showing on your chin. This is not very recommended because it might cause pimples, ingrown hairs and yes, the masculine stubble.

3. Depilatory creams

These creams, much like those used for the legs, remove hair efficiently but only for a few days. You will have to repeat the procedure as the hairs start to grow. It is painless and with minimal, temporary side effects such as mild rash.

4. Waxing

Waxing is the twin of pain, yes, but the results are much favorable compared to the first two. The hair grows considerably slower too (around six weeks). However, this is not a permanent procedure so you will have to visit the salon or clinic for another painful, waxing episode.

5. Laser

Laser treatment is the first of permanent facial growth removal in women. It is a bit heavy on the budget, but it is a good investment. Saving up for laser hair removal in a trusted clinic will save you hundred of bucks and also buckets of tears from painful waxing sessions. In just six to eight sessions, your face is back to its hairless glory.

6. Electrolysis

An alternative treatment to laser therapy that produces permanent hairless results. It can be laborious and painful, yet less expensive than laser treatment.

7. Topical treatments

Topical treatments in the form of lotion claim to reduce the growth of facial hair. It is said to effectively regulate DHT, thus making the hair return to its former appearance – thin, light, less visible, regaining the term “feminine” hair.

A lot of women opt for this treatment because it is painless and very easy to use. It is applied to the face, twice daily after your regular facial rituals. It can be applied with or in place of your moisturizer. This cream also incorporated the functions of other facial products such as: anti-aging, antioxidant, sunblock, antimicrobial and exfoliant.

These treatments work different for every woman, so results and side effects may vary. Reported reactions include mild skin irritations such as rash, redness, tingling, stinging or burning sensation in the affected areas. These side effects are temporary and subsides after product is discontinued.

The perception of facial hair is different for every individual. Others may find them cute and endearing, while some may see them as outright horrendous. It is important to understand the causes of facial hair growth in females in order to choose the best method to stop the hair growth.