When to worry over sudden facial hair appearance in women
Your body will go through a lot of changes in your lifetime, while some are normal, others could be a cause for concern.
If you have a bit of fuzz above your lip or chin, that’s nothing to worry about.
However, when facial hair appears suddenly it might point to some health issues.
The scientific term for excessive hair growth on women’s bodies and faces is hirsutism. In cases like this, the hair will look very much like a man’s. The condition occurs when a woman has a high level of male hormones, like testosterone, in her body.
One health condition that can be responsible for excessive facial hair growth in women is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS can cause an imbalance in the oestrogen and testosterone levels in women and eventually lead to hirsutism.
Other symptoms of PCOS include sudden weight gain, irregular periods and even baldness. Apart from this condition, other potential causes of hirsutism are tumours in the ovaries, adrenal or pituitary glands. PCOS could also be a reaction to some medications as well.
While sudden facial hair growth can be a sign of something serious going on in your body, try not to panic. However, be sure to bring up the matter with your doctor so she can look for the underlying causes and provide a treatment that can help.
It is also possible that your hirsutism is genetic. However, keep in mind that if the sudden appearance of facial hair is coupled with menstrual irregularity, you should not ignore the symptoms.