Facial Hair Removal: Understanding Your Options
Learn how the different forms of hair removal can help you get rid of those pesky whiskers -- on your terms
Why (Oh Why) Are You Growing Facial Hair?
Just as you can attribute your sensational skinny ankles or peaches and cream complexion to your family tree, so too do genetics play into how hairy you are -- especially if your ancestors hailed from Mediterranean, Middle Eastern or South Asian lands.
But sometimes, especially if your facial hair is manifesting in a typically male pattern, you may have too many male hormones in your system and that can cause a condition known as hirsutism (excessive hairiness). Hirsutism, it's important to note, is a symptom of an underlying cause which should be addressed by a physician. Kauvar explains: "If a woman has excess facial hair and other signs of hormonal imbalance (acne, thinning scalp hair, body hair in other unusual sites, irregular periods) they should be evaluated by an endocrinologist to rule out the possibility of a treatable hormonal condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome." Other medical ailments may also be the cause; things like Cushing's syndrome (caused by an overabundance of cortisol in the body) and tumors in the adrenal glands can also cause excessive facial hair growth.
So, yes, if you're hair growth has become excessive, you should definitely get checked out by your doctor. Your problem may be more complicated than simply figuring out how to best get rid of your mustache and the sooner you find that out, the better.
SEE NEXT PAGE: How is hirsutism treated?
Just as you can attribute your sensational skinny ankles or peaches and cream complexion to your family tree, so too do genetics play into how hairy you are -- especially if your ancestors hailed from Mediterranean, Middle Eastern or South Asian lands.
But sometimes, especially if your facial hair is manifesting in a typically male pattern, you may have too many male hormones in your system and that can cause a condition known as hirsutism (excessive hairiness). Hirsutism, it's important to note, is a symptom of an underlying cause which should be addressed by a physician. Kauvar explains: "If a woman has excess facial hair and other signs of hormonal imbalance (acne, thinning scalp hair, body hair in other unusual sites, irregular periods) they should be evaluated by an endocrinologist to rule out the possibility of a treatable hormonal condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome." Other medical ailments may also be the cause; things like Cushing's syndrome (caused by an overabundance of cortisol in the body) and tumors in the adrenal glands can also cause excessive facial hair growth.
So, yes, if you're hair growth has become excessive, you should definitely get checked out by your doctor. Your problem may be more complicated than simply figuring out how to best get rid of your mustache and the sooner you find that out, the better.
SEE NEXT PAGE: How is hirsutism treated?
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