Excessive facial or body hair in women is a condition called hirsutism. Hirsutism either runs in the family, 聽usually presenting at menopause and puberty, or it 聽can be an indicator of a larger underlying problem. 聽Research indicates that up to 10-12% of the 聽Australian female population is affected by Polycystic 聽Ovarian Syndrome which can be linked to excessive 聽hair growth and hirsutism.
Hereditary hirsutism is largely an aesthetic rather 聽than a health concern. When not hereditary it is most 聽likely the result of excessive male hormone 聽production (adrenal virilism), or an increased 聽sensitivity of the hair follicle to normal male hormone 聽levels. It is important to both a woman’s health and 聽her self-con dence to have this condition diagnosed 聽by a doctor. Hirsutism and any hormone imbalance 聽that may underlie this condition can be treated. 聽Excessive facial and/or body hair can be managed. 聽Electrolysis is one means of managing excess hair 聽but this can be painful, slow and very costly requiring 聽many visits as only one follicle at a time is usually 聽treated by sending an electrical pulse down the hair 聽shaft.
Laser hair removal (as distinct from the much less 聽effective IPL) is a much more manageable 聽maintenance procedure as it treats a larger number 聽of follicles at a time, is more comfortable than 聽electrolysis and provides fast effective treatments. 聽Hormonal hair growth via Laser Hair Removal therapy is efficient 聽and manageable but not always a permanent solution 聽as it is likely that hormonal hair regrowth may occur 聽although usually at a much slower rate and usually 聽much thinner than before, so hirsutism sufferers 聽should be wary of claims by any service provider that 聽they will achieve a permanent solution.
A woman might consider bleaching her facial hair, 聽which makes it less visible alternatively regularly 聽waxing can also assist. All of these methods should 聽be used as means to treating the symptom, but any 聽woman with progressing hirsutism should consult a 聽doctor for a diagnosis in order not to compromise her 聽health, or her self-confidence.