Having excessive hair in medical language is called hirsutism.
In women extra hair growth often arises from excess male hormones, primarily testosterone.
Symptoms
Hirsutism is stiff or dark body hair, appearing on the body where women don't commonly have hair — primarily the face, chest, lower abdomen, inner thighs and back.
When high androgen levels cause hirsutism, other signs might develop over time, a process called virilization.
Signs of virilization might include:
- Deepening voice
- Balding
- Acne
- Decreased breast size
- Increased muscle mass
- Enlargement of the clitoris
When to see a doctor
If you think you have too much coarse hair on your face or body, talk with your doctor about treatment options. Excess facial or body hair is often a symptom of an underlying medical problem. Timely diagnosis of the exact cause is essential. An endocrinologist and dermatologist will help you defeat hirsutism.
Hirsutism may be caused by:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Cushing syndrome
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Tumors
- Medications
Often hirsutism occurs with no identifiable cause.
Several factors can influence your likelihood of developing hirsutism, including: Family history, obesity. Also, women of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and South Asian ancestry are more likely to have more body hair with no identifiable cause than are other women.
Hirsutism can be emotionally distressing. Remember, modern medicine is effectively fighting the problem of excessive hair, and the only thing we need to do is make an appointment with the doctor on time.
Hirsutism generally isn't preventable.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirsutism/symptoms-causes/syc-20354935
