Hirsutism is characterized by the presence of excessive, coarse, and dark hair in areas where women typically have fine, light hair, such as the upper lip, chin, breasts, and abdomen. In cases of hirsutism, these hairs grow longer than usual, with upper lip hairs potentially reaching up to 1 cm in length instead of remaining short and fine ..Read Full Article
One cause of this excessive hair growth is heightened sensitivity to hormones. Many women worry that having excess hair signals an overabundance of masculine hormones and a deficiency in femininity. However, it’s important to understand that all women naturally produce small amounts of testosterone, commonly known as the “male” hormone. This hormone is primarily produced by the adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys.
In women with heightened skin sensitivity to testosterone, this hormone can lead to increased hair growth on the upper lip, chin, chest, and lower abdomen. The challenge is that even with normal hormone levels, the skin may react more intensely to testosterone, causing more body hair to develop from puberty through menopause. After menopause, body hair generally decreases, except for facial hair, which may continue to grow.
Excessive hair growth can also be linked to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a condition where women may experience ovarian cysts and an imbalance between the pituitary and adrenal glands, leading to elevated male hormone levels. This condition often presents additional symptoms beyond excessive hair growth, usually appearing in the late teens or early 20s…….Read Full Article
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