Conditions
Hirsutism
In ancient Greece, the young brides of Argos would fix false beards to their chins on their wedding night, so as to be in no way inferior to the men with whom they shared a bed. However, when the fun and games of the consummation were over, these Argive women knew they could remove the beard and embrace femininity again. But for modern women suffering from hirsutism – when females grow too much body or facial hair in a pattern seen normally occurring only in men – facial hair can be embarrassing and a cause of great distress. Furthermore, removing such facial and bodily hair requires treatment, such as physically removing the hairs; taking a course of anti-androgen drugs; or having courses of electrolysis or laser treatment. Excessive hairiness in women can be caused by abnormally high androgen levels (male hormones), which is sometimes due to an underlying medical condition, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Comments and Questions
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I am 16 years old, and i have extra hair on the back of my legs, stomach and lower back, it is quite dark hair and i've tried shaving it but it grew back alot thicker and darker, in the summer i am very concious of my body, i cover my self up a lot, it has lowered my confidence quite abit. I have a boyfriend but he said he doesnt mind it, i get down when i look at it, i have had a scan to see it i have (PCOS) but nothing came up on the scan, i just want to be a normal and do everything a 16 year old can do, but its nice to know that im not alone.
hi im 24 an ive had hair around nipples for a about 10 years an its getting worse and affecting my relationship, how can i get it perminately removed? and will it cost? or will the nhs do it?
Hi, I'm Kate and i'm 14. i have a hairy belly and a hairy back and it makes me very selfconsious indeed i don't go swimming becasue of it, i have a boyfriend aswell he said it doesn't bother him but it makes me so uncomfortable. My mam says its to do with my hormones and as soon as my body settles it will start to dissapear is she right or os there some other cause behind it? please help its depressing :(
I have just turned 20 and just finished the end of my first year at a new uni. I have suffered with excess hair all over the body, starting from excess facial hair to hairy arms, hairs around the belly button, more than normal hairs around the vaginal area, and also excess hairs on my feet. I hate it and have tried so many times to rid of them, however no matter what I try I just cant get rid of them. I'm too worried about going to a doctor because I feel like they will just laugh at me, and I cant tell any of my friends as its to embarrising, as my mum has laughed at me before when I have shown her. I recently went to Greece with one other friend and hated it when I couldnt even wear a bikini around the pool because I'm too ashamed of my body. What else can I do? I cant carry on living like this as it depresses me more and more each day that I think about it, and Im just not comfortable with my own body, I just want to live a normal student life and enjoy what I have, but I just cant. Please help me.
Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/
I urge you to go to the docs. I went and just had my scans done today, although it didn't pick anything up, it's a feeling of getting somewhere. It's embarassing, it's emotional painfully, but the minute you try to get help, it WILL get better. There is atleast one thing the doctor can do that will help you, wether it be pills, scans, or best of all, laser/electrolysis(really hope to have this). It's not better to suffer in silence; I didn't want to show the doctor anything or even talk about it. But it took two minutes and it was over and done with and onto the next stage. PLEASE see a doctor!
I am getting married in a months time and my anti-androgens haven't kicked in yet. I shave every day, as I can't bear laser & waxing only lasts a few days (so I have shaving bumps too) Any tips on covering it up (it's my chin & jaw that's bad)? I want to be confident on my wedding day, not hiding!! But I also want to look natural :( Any tips!? XxxX
where can i get laser treatmean for facial hair i am 40 year old and i dont want it no more
My daughter is 12 years old and has been suffering lots of problems (I believe it is hormonal, however recent tests came back ok). She has lots of dark hair growing on her tummy, mostly the backs of her legs, lower back and now on her chest too. (Scan showed no sign of PCOS) Her periods have been coming erratically, painfully and very heavy for nearly a year (recent scan said she was about to start menstruation - she had just finished her period!). She suffers bad period and gynae pain for most of the month, sore breasts and bad muscle pain. She began puberty before she was 8 and is very tall for her age. She is devasted by all these changes and has spent the last 2 nights crying. We are about to go on holiday and she just wants to cover up the whole time. She also has severe stretch marks on her tummy, back, arms and legs. I am getting worried about her emotional state, but Dr's only want to re-test in a couple of years - any help appreciated. She suffers from being overweight, excessively sweats and suffers severe classic migraine. She also suffers bad dandruff and has eczema on her scalp. Thank you
Hey i have the same problem with hair, im 21 now and have had the problem since i was about thirteen, and as u may well have guessed, its got a hell of alot worse since then. i dont go out in the summer and dont wear t shirts or shorts ever, never mind a bikini. its so depressing as im quite fit, i eat well and exercise but have started feeling like wots the point, im never goin to be attractive if i cant get rid of the hair which is pretty much over my entire body. ive tried wax, creams, shaving all have made it worse. if there is something the doctor can subscribe or a type of contraceptive pill that can help can someone let me kno. thank you....
Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/
i have hair around my belly button i have had it for a while i shaved it but it just made it worse but now i just cant take much more of it when we get changed for pe all the girls take there tops of quite hapillay but me i either go to the toilet or use my top to cover my tummy and quicky put my pe top on. in the summer it kills me seeing all these girls alking about in bikinis i want to burst into tears because i wish i culd wear them. i dont now if i should tell my mum bcause i dont really like talking about things like this. please help me give me any advise at all im desparate.
Hey Lucy, its nothing to be ashamed of. There are many of us out there who suffer from unwanted hair. Don't feel ashamed about talking to your ma about this, but if you feel you can't, perhaps ask your GP or a nurse about treatments. Each of us had things we worried about at school - I personally was always taller, larger, and had bigger boobs than my schoolfriends - and that was before I was 10! I suffer from unwanted facial har which is a lot harder to cover up. Perhaps try dyeing the hair in the first instance, but make sure you use the right stuff, or use a hair removal cream until you can find an alternative. Keep smiling.
thanks for your advice i reolised that i can hide it a lot easier than other people and feel lucky but also sorry for you and others becuase of it i have ended up shaving it i no it will come back darker but on of my friends noticed it and i went to the toilet and i noticed she has it like me but its a lot lighter. i will try and talk to my mum im just not good with this sort of stuf keep smiling to and thanks a lot again EVEYONE ELSEO KEEP SMILING TO!!
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