Talk True聽is a 糖心原创 limited series for medical myth-busting. With each episode, we鈥檒l talk to medical professionals about commonly misunderstood health issues to get the actual facts.
Like most things in our society, men and women have different experiences 鈥 relationships, even 鈥 with facial hair. For men, facial hair is usually associated with maturity and good looks. For women, the situation is different.
And more than a little odd
It鈥檚 not uncommon for people to claim that facial hair in women is a sign of masculinity, 鈥渨ickedness鈥, and even infertility linked to hormonal imbalance. Are these claims based on scientific fact, or are they just myths? provides answers.
What causes facial hair growth in women?
鈥淚鈥檝e heard the funniest beliefs about facial hair; how it indicates riches, wickedness, infertility, or that it means the women would beat their husbands,鈥 Henrietta says.
Henrietta explains that there鈥檚 actually a medical term for this unusual hair growth.
鈥淚t鈥檚 called , and it鈥檚 characterised by excess hair growth in women that occurs in a male pattern distribution: face, arms, chest,聽 abdomen and back. The hair is usually excessive, coarse, curly, and pigmented. Hirsutism is quite common and mostly implies abnormal androgen (hormone) action.鈥
Androgens are hormones typically found in men but are also produced in small quantities in women. Abnormal androgen action, in this case, means that the hormone is produced at a higher level than it should be.
But before you get scared, not all facial hair is a sign of this condition.
鈥淪ome people are just naturally hairy. Sparse hair growth on the chin, for example, doesn鈥檛 necessarily indicate hirsutism.
However, we must note that some people might present with only facial hair in hirsutism, but it is often as described; excessive, coarse, curly and really dark.鈥
Is every woman with facial hair at risk of a medical issue like hormonal imbalance?
In a word, no. Henrietta explains further.
鈥淣ot all facial hair is related to hormonal imbalance, and it doesn鈥檛 indicate masculinity. But when facial hair is caused by hirsutism, the person has high testosterone levels. This doesn鈥檛 always represent a serious medical problem, but if it does, it鈥檒l have to be investigated and managed.
Some serious medical problems that can cause hirsutism include adrenal gland disorders, ovarian tumours or .鈥
Sometimes, the cause of hirsutism is unknown. But Henrietta notes that there are certain risk factors for the condition.
鈥淥besity can influence the way the body produces and processes hormones. If someone in your family also has excess hair, you can have it too.鈥
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Should you be worried?
鈥淲hile facial hair can be a very emotionally distressing experience for most women, excess hair in itself is not harmful. The concern most women have is due to cosmetic reasons and appearance. However, it鈥檚 necessary to rule out any potential or underlying health issue,鈥 Henrietta notes.
Do you need to see a doctor?
Henrietta emphasises that while it鈥檚 not always a concern, excess hair may need to be investigated.
鈥淭he clinician needs to confirm that the underlying condition that caused the hirsutism, if any, isn鈥檛 harmful to the person. For example, while facial hair growth doesn鈥檛 mean the woman has Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), it鈥檚 one of the commonest causes of facial hair growth. PCOS leads to ovarian cysts, which can lead to defective hormone production in a biological female and thus can cause fertility problems if not managed.
Whatever the cause, it doesn鈥檛 mean the patient is losing her femininity.鈥
Can facial hair growth be stopped or treated?
Yes. Depending on the cause of the hair growth, different strategies can be effective in its removal.
鈥淪ystemic therapy, like the use of oral contraceptives, can help to reduce the production of androgens. You can also go the mechanical depilation way via shaving, plucking, waxing or laser hair removal.鈥
The takeaway
Facial hair growth doesn鈥檛 make you less feminine and probably doesn鈥檛 indicate a serious medical issue. If there鈥檚 excess hair in other parts of your body, or you just don鈥檛 feel comfortable with it, please visit a doctor to rule out any underlying medical issue.
The next time someone says, 鈥淵ou have beards/a moustache? That means you鈥檙e wicked o鈥, feel free to hit them with the facts 鈥 Or just show them real wickedness.
NEXT READ: Talk True: Can Sex 鈥淟oosen鈥 the Vagina?
