Written by Hammad Sadiq
This article looks to answer some commonly asked questions about female facial hair, such as:
- What are the causes of excessive female facial hair?
- Are there ways to treat excessive facial hair at home?
- How do I know if it’s something more serious?
What Is Excessive Facial Hair?
All women will have some degree of facial hair, and generally, it tends to be light or downy, rather than thick or coarse. Many women may have what they deem to be excessive, or obvious, facial hair which they decide they want to remove whilst a number of women find no reason to remove it.
This article will help you to understand some common reasons for excess female facial hair, also referred to as hirsutism, as well as the different treatment options. There are now many options available for female facial hair removal and in this article, we’ll outline some of the ways in which it’s possible to remove or reduce facial hair.
What Causes Excessive or Obvious Facial Hair?
Testosterone Levels
Whilst the role of testosterone in the male body is well known, the hormone also plays a key role in the female body as an androgen, helping to regulate energy levels and produce lean muscle mass amongst other things. However, the main difference is in the levels as males produce much higher levels of testosterone than women. When a female produces higher than average levels of testosterone, this can cause excessive hair growth on the face and body, known as Hirsutism. (1)
PCOS
A condition otherwise known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome can increase levels of androgens in the female body, leading to generalised excess hair growth. This condition, which is fairly common, leads to cysts growing around the ovaries and will usually be diagnosed by a doctor following a scan. If you have acne, irregular periods, weight gain or facial hair, then it’s recommended you visit your GP for further testing for PCOS.
Menopause or Pregnancy
These are the times when women’s bodies go through the most rigorous hormonal imbalances and fluctuations, and excess facial hair can very commonly be a result of this. During pregnancy, the placenta and ovaries increase the secretion of androgens (2), whilst the menopause process can cause periods of imbalance in your hormones. However, the good news is that excess hair growth related to menopause and pregnancy tend to be a phase, and is rarely temporary or long term.
Physical Factors
Weight and ethnicity are also factors which can affect this. Overweight and obese women are much more likely to present with excess facial hair, as well as women with certain ethnic backgrounds such as South East Asian. These groups may find excess or obvious facial hair to be a more common problem. (3)
Health Conditions or Treatment
Certain health problems and drugs have been closely linked to excess facial hair in females. These include Cushing’s Syndrome and Acromelagy which are rare hormonal disorders, as well as conditions which affect the adrenal glands such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In addition, certain drugs such as minoxidil, which is used to treat high blood pressure, lists excess facial hair as a potential side effect.
What are the Different Methods for Facial Hair Removal?
There are various methods of removing facial hair, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. It can often take weeks, commonly months, to start seeing a noticeable difference especially in situations where the hair growth is excessive. It’s important to note that with many of the below methods, there will be a certain degree of patience required before a long term reduction is seen. Below we’ve outlined for you the commonly used methods, along with their respective pros and cons.
Home Removal Methods
Shaving and waxing are the most common and are relatively cheap compared with other methods. However, they require regular, often daily, use in order to maintain their effect. They may also cause skin irritation or uncomfortable stubble in the case of shaving. For many women, however, home removal methods remain the most commonly used way to deal with facial hair.
Topical Cream
There are creams available on the market which can inhibit, or slow down, facial hair growth and are available on prescription from your GP.
The most common of these is in the UK is Vaniqa (Eflornithine). This can visibly reduce the appearance of facial hair and is available here
The cream acts on your hair follicles to prevent hair growth. You should notice an effect within six to eight weeks of use. It’s a great option for those who can’t use oral contraceptives.
There are also some over the counter depilatory creams (hair removal cream), which can be used in less severe cases of hair growth. These can be useful to remove hair on the upper lip as well as body hair.
Laser Hair Removal
This is usually carried out by an expert in a clinic and can be quite costly. However, the results are often positive as this method will also reduce hair growth in the long term as it targets hair from the root rather than just trimming or cutting it on a surface level. It can also last unto a few months, so is a great option for those who struggle with daily hair removal in their busy schedules.
As well as commercial laser removal services, there is a home device (s) available to help get rid of unwanted hair. The success of these devices can vary depending on your hair type.
Certain oral contraceptives can help to reduce excess hair on the face and body, including co-cyprindiol tablets which have an anti-androgen effect. However, there are side effects to these tablets that must be prescribed by a GP, so make sure to discuss with them before considering this option.
Are There Other Treatments my GP can Give?
Whilst many women will deal with the symptom of excess facial hair, few will visit the GP to find out the underlying reason. If you have excess facial hair and haven’t yet been diagnosed with hirsutism, it’s important to visit your GP so they can refer you for further investigation to rule out ovarian tumours amongst other conditions.
There are also certain unlicensed treatments for Hirsutism which your GP may recommend after referring you to a specialist, if common hair removal methods haven’t worked for you or if your hair growth is accompanied by other complications of high androgen levels (4). These include:
Anti-androgens
These include drugs such as Spironolactone which androgens and can greatly help to reduce hair growth as well as other symptoms of Hirsutism. Other drugs such as Finasteride can stop testosterone from becoming more potent, and thus lessen the effects.
Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues
These are synthetic hormones with examples being goserelin and leuprorelin. These act to lower hormone levels and can lower sex hormone levels by 95% in both sexes.
External Links
- NHS – NHS Choices Conditions – Hirsutism. Available:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hirsutism/. Last accessed January 2019
(2) What to Expect- Pregnancy- Hair Removal. Available:
https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/hair-removal. Last accessed January 2019.
(3) NHS- Treatments- Hirsutism. Available:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hirsutism/treatment/. Last Accessed January 2019
The information contained in this article is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Should you have any concerns about your health please speak to your pharmacist or doctor.
