Excessive body and facial hair in women is known as hirsutism. It does not refer to the normal female hair growth patterns in areas such as the legs, underarms and groin, but, rather, to patterns of male hair growth. In someone affected by hirsutism, you could expect to find excessive hair growth in the following areas:
• Moustache and beard
• Chest
• Arms and legs
• Stomach, groin and thighs
The type of hair is also important in establishing whether someone is suffering from excessive hair growth. Hair grows all over our bodies, apart from on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands, as well as the lips.
The number of hair follicles you will have is determined before you are born, but the type of hair can change.
The soft, light-coloured down is known as vellus hair, and is not highly visible, whereas the hairs like those found on the scalp and eyebrows, which are thicker and darker, are known as terminal hairs.
Women suffering from hirsutism would expect to find an excessive growth of terminal hairs in areas not typical to female hair growth patterns. The psychological impact of excessive hair growth can be devastating, although it can be controlled with the use of laser hair removal in London.
