The love-hate relationship between PCOS and hair is real. This disorder makes you lose hair on the scalp while increasing its growth on your face! PCOS facial hair is a real nuisance.
It is time to embrace it. The first step of acceptance comes with knowledge. This article is here to explain PCOS and its relationship with facial hair.
We’ll start with the hair types and later discuss the effect of PCOS on hair growth, i.e., hirsutism.
Normal Hair Types
Hair grows from the follicles embedded deeply into the skin. The hair will continue to grow even if the outer part, referred to as the shaft, is plucked out. Unless the follicle is destroyed, hair growth cannot stop.
Every part of our body is covered in hair, except for the sole and palm. It has two types
1. Vellus
It is fine, soft, and short colorless hair, covers the face, body, and back giving women a hairless impression.
2. Terminal
Terminal is coarse, long, and dark hair that grows on the scalp of both men and women. Men have terminal hair all over their bodies.
Why does PCOS Increase Facial Hair?
Hirsutism
Hirsutism is the scientific term used to address excess hair at places where it should not be (in women).
Generally, women who have coarse hair (terminal) on their face are said to have hirsutism. It is a symptom that mostly appears in PCOS patients, and they are most likely to develop chin hair similar to males.
Androgen and Its Effect on Facial Hair in PCOS
Excessive hair growth is one of the most common and visible symptoms of PCOS. This is because of the high levels of androgen present in the female body. Androgen is a male hormone, and its level should be lower in women.
Ovaries and adrenal glands are responsible for androgen production. Some of the hair follicles may be hormone-sensitive.
Androgens affect these follicles to convert vellus hair to terminal, which is longer, darker, and has much visibility.
Reasons For Increase of Androgen in PCOS
There is more than one type of PCOS driven by different factors, the most common is insulin resistance.
Insulin Resistance
Some women develop or are born with insulin resistance, which impairs blood sugar control mechanisms. Higher blood sugar triggers the pancreas to produce more insulin. Ovaries detect insulin, and as a result, they overproduce androgens.
Methods to Manage/ Treat Hirsutism
One way is to get proper medical treatment to get relief from symptoms of PCOS. The use of OCP (oral contraceptive pill) is known to regulate hormone imbalance. Balanced hormones would ultimately help in the reduction of facial hair.
Cosmetic Approach
There are various cosmetic methods for hair removal
- Waxing
- Laser
- Electrolysis
- Bleaching
- Plucking
There are various options available to treat PCOS facial hair. Internal Medicine Diagnostic Center in Texas offers multiple treatment plans that would help manage the disorder on the whole rather than providing relief for one symptom. Call for further details at 281-252-8600.