Most women can relate to the experience of finding a rogue chin hair or two, usually at the worst time possible. For me, there’s something about the sunlight hitting my rear-view mirror while stopped at a red light that usually leads me to spot my own unwanted hairs— of course, when I don’t have tweezers around.
There’s nothing wrong with facial hair, but it can be annoying or even feel embarrassing if it’s unwelcome, especially if you're among the 5-10% of women who experience thicker, male pattern growth that typically shows up on the cheeks, upper lip, and neck. But, beyond being an issue of aesthetic preference, unwanted hair growth can also be a sign that something else might be going on beneath the surface.
What Causes Unwanted Facial Hair in Women?
All women have some level of male sex hormones, but when these hormones (most notably, testosterone) become imbalanced, issues can arise.
“Certain imbalances, such as increased testosterone and insulin-resistance, can cause overall hormone imbalances that result in facial hair,” says Tianna Trinidad, PCOS Hormone Health Coach and the founder of Love Served Warm. In the case of the hormone insulin, Trinidad explains that high-sugar diets or “the typical American diet, if we want to be honest” can cause blood sugar to rise, leading to decreased insulin-resistance (aka more glucose in the blood), which in turn elevates levels of testosterone which can lead to unwanted facial hair.
Basically, all unwanted facial hair is tied in some way to hormone imbalances.