Every summer, some girls face a different kind of trouble - excessive body hair. Growing a beard and having a lot of body hair are often seen as signs of male development, but in reality, some girls may also experience similar situations.
On social media platforms, many people are troubled by this and come up with all sorts of ways to combat the "hairy" situation: hair removal patches that can make people gasp in shock, and hair removal devices that can make one feel like they're in a welding scene in just one second.
Image Source: Screenshot from a social media platform
Staring at the gradually smooth top of the head due to sparse hair, and then looking at the never-ending leg hair, arm hair, lip hair, and armpit hair that needs constant shaving every summer, many people can't help but sigh deeply: why is there so much hair in places where it shouldn't be?
How does all this body hair come about? Why do some women have more body hair than men? Is excessive body hair a medical condition?
Excessive body hair may be due to the influence of androgens
The growth of hair is actually influenced by various factors, with the main ones being the thyroid hormones, estrogen, and androgens in the body, each with its own role.
Among them, thyroid hormones are responsible for maintaining the growth phase of hair, estrogen can promote the formation of hair keratin, while androgens determine the speed and quantity of body hair growth. In other words, the reason why many women struggle to get rid of armpit hair, lip hair, and hand hair lies in the fact that androgens support them.
Although the name contains "androgen," androgens are not exclusive to male bodies. In addition to secreting estrogen and progesterone, the ovaries of women also produce small amounts of androgens, and the adrenal glands of women also secrete androgens.
Although the amount is not as much as in male bodies, it is crucial for women.
Androgens not only serve as the material for synthesizing estrogen but also promote the recruitment and development of small antral follicles. An experiment once knocked out the androgen receptor gene in female mice, resulting in these mice experiencing difficulties in follicle development, reduced ovulation, decreased fertility, ovarian dysfunction, and other symptoms.
However, if androgens are secreted excessively, they can bring many negative effects to women, such as irregular menstruation, facial acne, and especially excessive body hair growth.
Source of the image: Screenshot from a social media platform
Human body hair can actually be divided into two types: vellus hair and terminal hair. The former, commonly known as "peach fuzz," is mostly fine, soft, and colorless, while terminal hair is relatively longer, thicker, and pigmented.
Regardless of gender, before puberty, the distribution of hair is quite similar: eyebrows and eyelashes are terminal hair, while areas like the pubic region, armpits, and beard growth area have vellus hair, which is soft, small, and colorless, making it difficult to be seen by the naked eye.
Upon entering puberty, androgens come into play, transforming vellus hair into terminal hair. This is when males start growing beards, and body hair becomes more prominent. If a female's endocrine system experiences abnormalities with excessive androgen secretion, vellus hair that wouldn't normally become terminal hair gets nourished, leading to the appearance of male-like secondary sexual characteristics.
Currently, excessive androgen levels may be related to various factors, with one frustrating reason being genetics.
Genes significantly determine the color, density, and shape of body hair. For instance, Caucasian hair tends to be denser than Asian hair, and African hair often has a curly texture. If the previous generation had thick hair, the next generation is likely to experience "hirsutism."
Having a lot of body hair doesn't necessarily mean hirsutism
Some individuals may think they have hirsutism when they notice increased body hair, but in reality, the two are not the same concept.
Excessive hair refers to an increase in body surface hair, while hirsutism specifically involves excessive hair growth in certain areas like above the upper lip in women, showing male-pattern hair growth. Other male characteristics may also appear in different body parts, such as the development of an Adam's apple.
If you are unsure whether you have hirsutism, you can use the Ferriman-Gallwey (F-G) scoring system published by the World Health Organization for evaluation.
The Ferriman-Gallwey Scoring System Image Source: Reference [5]
Scoring over 8 but less than 15 indicates mild hirsutism, while scoring over 15 necessitates testing for testosterone levels in the blood.
Hirsutism develops mainly due to two reasons: an excess of male hormones in the body and high sensitivity of hair follicles to male hormones. The former can be caused by various conditions.
For instance, drug-induced hirsutism from medications containing testosterone and other male hormones, or idiopathic hirsutism caused by endocrine disorders. Additionally, excessive body hair can result from adrenal or ovarian tumors leading to overproduction of male hormones by the adrenal glands or ovaries.
Among these reasons, the most common cause of hirsutism is polycystic ovary syndrome, accounting for 70% to 80% of cases.
The etiology and mechanisms of polycystic ovary syndrome are currently unclear, and research suggests it may not necessarily be related to the ovaries. However, it is associated with abnormal endocrine regulation leading to an excess of male hormones in the body.
Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome include not only hirsutism, acne, and balding but also menstrual irregularities due to continuous anovulation, infertility, and obesity.
In a previous article, we discussed the differences between ovarian cystic changes and polycystic ovary syndrome (irregular menstruation, weight gain, excessive body hair, acne... the undeniable polycystic ovary syndrome). If a woman experiences significant hirsutism, absence of menstruation, and frequent facial acne, it is advisable to visit a hospital to check for polycystic ovary syndrome.
What to do about excessive hair?
The types and causes of excessive hair vary, so treatment should be tailored accordingly.
If hirsutism is caused by adrenal or ovarian tumors, prompt medical attention is necessary to treat the disease and improve hirsutism.
For hirsutism due to polycystic ovary syndrome, a comprehensive approach involving lifestyle adjustments as the primary focus and medication as a supplement is needed to improve the condition. As there is currently no definitive cure, efforts should focus on regulation, such as weight control, improving sleep patterns, and increasing exercise.
If your body is otherwise healthy, you can breathe a sigh of relief: your main enemy is not a significant health condition but simply these unwanted hairs affecting your appearance.
While we advocate "not pursuing mainstream singular aesthetics and boldly being yourself," smooth skin is indeed a goal for many women. Therefore, here are a few hair removal options for those interested.
Some may believe that shaving leads to increased and faster hair growth. However, this is a misconception: newly grown hair may feel coarser initially but remains unchanged.
Although shaving is convenient, it carries risks such as potential cuts leading to folliculitis, contact dermatitis, and other issues.
Depilatory creams mostly use chemical substances to break down hair tissue, temporarily suppressing hair growth for around two weeks. However, many depilatory creams contain thioglycolic acid and calcium thioglycolate as their main chemical components, which can irritate the skin upon direct contact. For individuals with sensitive skin, prolonged use is not advisable.
This is perhaps the most primitive method where wax is applied, allowed to harden, and then pulled off along with the hair. While it may seem satisfying to some, only those who have experienced it know how painful it can be. Despite some believing the pain is worth it for beauty, this harsh hair removal method can cause significant skin irritation. Once hair breaks off and embeds in the follicles, it may lead to folliculitis.
This is a permanent hair removal method where laser energy is used to penetrate the hair follicles and destroy them, preventing hair regrowth. However, it may have some side effects, and the major downside is the cost, which can be burdensome.
References
[1] Moini J (2015). Fundamental Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technicians. Cengage Learning. p. 338.
[2] Gylys BA, Wedding ME (2017). Medical Terminology Systems: A Body Systems Approach. F.A. Davis. p. 82.
[3] Diamanti-Kandarakis E, Kandarakis H, Legro RS (August 2006). "The role of genes and environment in the etiology of PCOS". Endocrine. 30 (1): 19–26.
[4] Hatch R, Rosenfield RL, Kim MH, et al, Hirsutism:implication,etiology and management. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1981,140:815-830
[5] Spritzer PM, Barone CR, Oliveira FB. Hirsutism in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Pathophysiology and Management. Curr Pharm Des. 2016;22(36):5603-5613. doi:10.2174/1381612822666160720151243 [6] Zhen Dong, Lin Mao, Tu Caixia. "Clinical Application of Laser Hair Removal." Practical Dermatology Journal. Vol. 6, Issue 5, October 2013.
[7] Endocrinology Group of the Chinese Medical Association Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch. "Diagnosis and Treatment Consensus of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome." Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2008, 43(7): 553-555
Planning and Production
Author: Li Mi, Science Popularization Creator
Review: Lan Yibing, Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Planning: Wang Mengru
Editor: Wang Mengru
Proofreading: Xu Lai, Lin Lin
