What causes excessive hair growth in women?

Posted on 16 Mar, 2012

The amount of hair growth varies from individual to individual, although women generally do not exhibit the same hair growth patterns found in men. The chest, abdomen, back, shoulders and chin should usually be covered with the fine and light-coloured vellus hair.

Certain women, however, develop terminal hair growth in these areas; terminal hairs are coarser, thicker and darker than vellus hairs.

There are various possible reasons for such hair growth in women: there may be a family tendency, which will increase the risk of the excessive body or facial hair; it is also a possibility that hormones are causing the problem.

Women usually produce fairly low levels of male hormones; some produce increased amounts of these androgens, which can cause the follicles producing vellus hairs to start producing terminal hairs. Hormone conditions, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, are often found to be responsible for unusual hair growth patterns in women.

While excessive hair growth can occasionally indicate an underlying health problem, it is usually problematic from an aesthetic point of view. If it affects rather extensive areas of skin, laser treatment will be the most effective approach. The Laser Treatment Clinic can offer advice on the best laser hair removal London has to offer.