Video
Dr Pixie:
There were lots of queries and questions and comments about body hair—excessive body hair, in fact, what we call hirsutism. A lot of you asked, ‘well, how much body hair is normal, and does everybody get it?’ The answer is yes, and it varies hugely. Some of you wondered, ‘well, why do people have excessive body hair?’ The reasons can be hormonal, they can be racial, they can be due to illnesses or medications…there are numerous reasons.
There’ve been some questions about polycystic ovaries and its link with excess hair growth. Polycystic ovaries is one of the causes of excessive hair in females, and if you feel you have symptoms of irregular periods, acne or you’ve gained weight, it’s worth seeing your doctor to discuss the possibility of polycystic ovaries.
You’ve also asked lots of questions about shaving: what’s going to happen if you shave your body hair? Will it grow back faster, will it grow back thicker, will it grow back darker? The answer is, no, it won’t. It simply looks coarser because of the way the hair is actually cut.
I think laser has come up an awful lot on the site, you’ve been curious about: ‘Is it painful? Does it scar? Can I get it on the NHS?’ Laser itself is slightly painful during the procedure, but afterwards you shouldn’t have any pain. Does it scar—in some skin types, very very rarely you will produce a scar after laser treatment. And as regards its availability on the NHS, by and large laser treatment is available through private clinics only. But it’s always worth talking to your GP if you’re concerned about excessive hair growth that you believe is due to a hormonal imbalance.
Doctor Responses: Excessive Hair
Dr Pixie answers your most frequently asked questions about excessive hair (hirsutism) such as: How much body hair is normal? What are the treatment options? Does laser treatment hurt or scar?
With thanks to the Baker Street Medical Centre
Yes
NoComments and Questions
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i'm 20 yrs old and i have excessive hair on and around my testis and i suffer from fungal infections regularly due to sweating at the thigh close to testis...i've been the creams since 5 years ,but it repeats every time when it sweats excessively.pls tell me any permanent cure for this ..
i av the same problem because i feel tired waxing bleaching. I feel suicidal. Dont know why. I was pretty close in doing it. Iv been wid my boyfriend for four years . Scared that im going to lose him. I take it on him when i feel upset. Its the media that made people paranoid about being hair free. i stay hme beacuse i dont feel like it. And i go out at night so its less noticable.
Hi, i'm 18 years old, and i have fairly thick hair growing at the back of my legs and my bum, it's really bad, and i don't go swimming anymore. Anyone know any treatments that might work? i really don't want to see my doctor about it.
If your really embarrassed by it there is a treatment called laser hair removal which diminishes the amount of hair and thickness of it because it is directed to the roots. In many cases the hair becomes much more managable and shaving/waxing is needed less often. What's more you can have laser hair removal on any part of the body.
Hi im 15 and have excess hair on my stomach, back and bum and acne on my face and back. Its really embarrassing and im worried something is wrong. Should i go to my doctor and would going on the pill make any difference? thanks.
hello I would suggest investing in a no no permenant hair removal system, look it up on ebay cost about £100 really works!!helps reduce hair grow back and density.
I have PCOS, but also have achalasia causing Acid reflux, which means i am on PPI tablets which means for my excessive hair, i cannot have laser treatment, to get rid of the hair permenantly, Is there any other way of changing treatment to reduce hair growth or any reducing acid tablets i can be on for Achalasia so i can have laser treatment
Hi, Im a 16 year old girl and i have an excessive hair problem, i have hair almost all over my body and it just brings my confidence down. I feel very conscious when getting changed in school for p.e and i feel very embarrassed. I have to think about what to wear, and it's worse because I have a boyfriend, he loves me alot and for me, but I'm afraid of what he'll think. As most guys are less attractived to girls with hair in wrong places. I can deal with the facial hair, and hair on my arms and legs, but I really don't know what to do about the hair on my tummy, back and pubic places, has anyone got any solutions that could help me out?
I'm 14 and I have the same problem. I don't know what I can do! I really want help.
im exactly the same, my boyfriend hasn't seemed to notice yet but i just cover it up all the time, i just constantly wax and sometimes it helps, it makes the hairs thinner... but i need help too :/
look up no no hair removal system(on ebay) could seriously help you.
Yesss i to have the same problem im 14 and i tend to shave it off or some times pluck it out, i wish there was a quick way to stop it or at least knew what it was.
im a 20 year old girl and i hav the same problem. the worst mistake iv ever made was to shave. go to ur local beauty place and get it waxed. the first time u go its embarrassing and then u start talking to the girls who r doing it and u find thers people just like u and its not so bad. im now saving up for lazer so hopefully itll be better after that
Hello, I found the best way to deal with this is bleaching, But I get the bleach from a friendly hairdresser as stronger bleach works much faster that cosmetic preparations. It works on arms back and face. Please don't worry about your boyfriend,if he loves you he will love you because along with our problem the plus factor is that we tend to be great in bed, all that testosterone!
I am 39 and fastly approaching my 40th. Came of the pill Dec 08 due to breakthorugh bleeding and have noticed/suffered since the start of the year Jan 10 from Acne and downy facial hair that seems to be getting worse and longer. Have had loads of blood tests that came back fine and am now awaiting the pelvic scan results I had last week to rule out PCOS. Like the other comments constanstly feel as though people are looking at your face and noticing the excess hair. It is really getting me down. I have read on various web sites that the coming of the pill can encourage excess facial hair growth is that true?
Has any on got any solutions to essessive hair growth on facial and other areas that would help black people? I have had this growth on my upper lip chin... everywhere a man has it.. only problem is I'm a woman.. so it's embarrassing.
hey i have a simaliar problem and cnt stand it any longer... have u tryed laser? im thinking of havin it done but want it tgo work!!!
Hi I've been Reading all the comments and I'm surprised about how many people have suffered the same embarrassing problem as myself I thought I was alone , Im finding it really depressing and it's stopping me from having a healthy happy life. My excess body hair is so embarrassing I havnt undressed in front of my partner in 12 years since we first met . I can't go on holiday with friends as I don't want to reveal my naked body because it's to embarrasing. Even the thought of having a baby scares me, as a scan will reveal my hairy stomach , I have blonde hair covering most of my body I have even tried burning my hair to removed and caused damage but the hair still came back I'm desperate to have it removed perminatly as creams, shaving etc does no good . This is always on my mind constantly when I have company round , out or even sat watching tele with my partner. I just need help and answers. Please help annomous 28 year old :(
Hi, I suffer with PCOS & Endometriosis. I suffer with facial hair on my neck and face and some on my stomach and I find it a real problem and very embarrassing. I've had waxing, electrolosis, I've shaved and more recently, I had a course of laser treatment. Whilst I had the laser treatment, my face was hair free and looked great, but now I have stopped because I had it done through the NHS, it is back. It was advised that I have it done twice a year to keep it under control, but a 10 minute session costs around £200, more than I can afford. Because my condition is hormonal, the hair will keep coming back. I find the summer months the worst, because I can't hide my face as well as in the winter with a scarf or jumper and it's more noticable when the sun shines on my face. All I use at the moment is a beauty shaver. It's a small shaver from Boots and specifically for facial hair removal. I find myself using this almost daily. I absolutely hate this condition and would love to be normal had not suffer this horrible condition. If you have a medical condition such as I have, nothing will work permanently, as I have been told by many doctors. Laser is definitely the best solution. It can be painful, but the results are very good. Definitely go and have a chat with your doctor. A lot of people with PCOS are not even aware they have it. I have suffered infertility, which is how I became aware of my problem. I completely understand how embarrassed you feel, because I do too. I don't feel confident and always feel as though people are looking at the hair on my face, even though I try and remove as much as possible. Let me know how you get on, but definitely get it checked. Good luck xx
invest in a no no hair removal system, helping me get rid of my hair, slowly but is helping. look it up on ebay.cost £100 ish
You have blonde hair that is very lucky becasue it automatically becomes less noticable than brown (trust me) if you feel you can't even let a doctor see it, it's getting you down so much I syggest you suck it up and let a laser hair removal specialist remove it for life, you can have it anywhere and once its gone its gone. You can choose to hide away, embrace it or let one person sort you out who I guarantee will have seen much worse
I have really dark, thick hair along the whole of my jaw bone, my lip, my chin and down my neck. I use bleaching products and waxing which helps most of it. However along my jaw bone my skin gets very saw, irritated and spotty - this happens even when i use products for sensitive skin. Furthermore, the hair in this area always grows back thick regardless of waxing and the bleaching only lasts 5 days before it needs redoing. Dark hair on my body i can deal with but on my face and neck which i cant exactly cover up. I end up pulling my hair across my face looking like something out of The Grudge just to hide my problem. This is getting me so down I hate standing near people for too long incase someone notices. I don't feel like a 'real' woman!! Any help out there??? judging by previous comments laser doesn't work well and I'm a student so expensive solutions are not an option.