Female facial hair

Important, please read!

At a glance

Facial hirsutism, or excessive facial hair growth, is a condition that affects around 10% of women in Ireland.

Excessive facial hair growth can be caused by an imbalance of hormones called androgens in your body, or by your body being more sensitive to these hormones. Other causes of this condition can include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity, medications (such as steroids), as well as certain tumours, among others.

Symptoms

Symptoms of female facial  hair includes-

• Coarse, thick, dark hair growth on parts of your body that would commonly grow as fine, thin hair
• Acne
• Deeper voice
• Decreased breast size
• Increased sex drive
• Increased muscle development

Treatments

Treatments for female facial hair depends on the severity of the condition. Your GP may recommend- 

• Things you can do at home to remove or lighten the hair – such as shaving, waxing, plucking, hair removal creams or bleaching
• A prescription cream to slow hair growth on your face
• Losing weight if you're overweight – this can help control hormone levels
• Taking a contraceptive pill if you've not been through the menopause yet – this can help control hormone levels

Your GP may refer you to a specialist if you have an extreme case of female facial hair (hirsutism). They may also recommend other medicines to control your hormone levels.