If you are noticing a change in the pattern of your facial hair growth, or if your facial hair is getting denser, then you may have a certain medical disorder, or it may be a side effect from the medications you are taking. While using depilatory creams and waxes can temporarily eliminate excess facial hair, or hirsutism, only hair removal treatments administered by a professional such as a dermatologist will eliminate it permanently. Here are three reasons why you may be developing abnormal facial hair and what you can do about them:
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Certain endocrine or gynecological disorders can lead to abnormal hair growth, especially on your face and arms. One such disorder is polycystic ovarian syndrome. This condition refers to multiple cyst formation on your ovaries, and in addition to increased facial hair, polycystic ovarian syndrome can cause obesity, the thinning of the hair on your head, and infertility.
If you have polycystic ovarian syndrome, your dermatologist can determine which hair removal treatment is best for you. Laser hair removal works exceptionally well, and is typically well-tolerated by virtually all patients. Also, he or she can recommend effective treatment options to help restore hair growth on your head. One such treatment is the topical administration of a medication that has been used in the treatment of high blood pressure.
Androgen Medications
Androgen medications are sometimes used in the treatment of endometriosis, a condition where endometrial tissue grows abnormally, outside of the uterus. While effective in slowing the progression of endometriosis, androgen medications can raise your testosterone levels.
Side effects of androgen medications include tiredness, exercise intolerance, oily skin, cessation of menstrual periods, and excessive hair growth. Your dermatologist will determine which hair loss treatment option is best for you based upon your general state of health and skin condition. Laser hair removal and electrolysis treatments work exceptionally well in the management of facial hirsutism, and patients are typically very pleased with the results.
Menopause
Hormonal fluctuations are another reason facial hair growth patterns change. During menopause, the hormone estrogen sharply declines. When estrogen declines, testosterone can increase, and because of this, increased facial hair may develop.
If you are self-conscious about excessive facial hair, see your gynecologist, who may prescribe a short course of hormone replacement therapy to help slow the progression of facial hair growth. He or she may also order a hormonal panel blood test to determine if you have any dramatically abnormal levels of estrogen or testosterone. Based on these findings, your dermatologist will recommend an effective treatment plan for your facial hair loss goals.
If you are noticing denser or darker hair on your face, see both your family practitioner and your dermatologist. When you work with both of these physicians, you can develop an effective plan of care to help slow the growth of facial hair and prevent it from coming back in the future.
Share22 August 2018
It is never fun to wake up and notice a brand new skin issue, but unfortunately, that's what my sisters and I were up against a few years ago when we all realized we had the same skin disorder. It was ugly, it was embarrassing, and it wasn't going away, which really made us wonder if we could continue to go on. We began thinking about ways to resolve the problem, and it occurred to us that we should work with a dermatologist. We met with a medical professional who had a lot of experience in the field, and it was amazing to see how great the results were. Check out this blog for more information.