10 Medical Reasons You Have Excessive Hair Growth

Excessive hair growth (hirsutism) is a common issue that primarily concerns women. This problem usually indicates that something is going wrong inside your body and thus requires medical attention. If you're plucking, waxing, and shaving, but your hair is still growing keep reading to find out what might be causing your hirsutism: 

1. You Have Problems With Your Adrenal Gland 

If you notice a sudden growth of extra hair, visit your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Though it’s rare, it might be due to an adrenal gland disorder. In Cushing’s syndrome, a hormone produced by your adrenal gland, called cortisol, is increased, but along with it, the gland produces excess androgens as well. 

People with adrenal hyperplasia have a deficiency in one of the enzymes that’s responsible for cortisol production. These people can’t produce cortisol, and their bodies produce more androgens instead, which results in excessive hair growth.

Adrenal tumors, which are typically benign (non-cancerous), can also contribute to the production of excess androgens. Regulation of these health issues through medication or surgery (in the case of a tumor) can restore hormone levels and reduce hair growth.

2. You Have Sensitive Hair Follicles 

If your doctor has ruled out hormone imbalances and adrenal issues, you might simply have sensitive hair follicles. The androgen receptors in your hair follicles can be extremely sensitive to any normal androgen circulating in the blood. 

Even though your testosterone levels can be normal, your hair follicles overreact to these hormones. In this case, you can get rid of body hair through temporary options such as shaving, waxing, threading, or depilatories. You can also try permanent methods such as laser hair removal or electrolysis. 

3. You Tweeze Too Much 

The good news is that shaving doesn’t affect the underlying follicle since it only cuts off the hair that’s above your skin. However, when you pull the hair out from the follicle, like with tweezing or waxing, it can actually grow back heavier. 

When you’re using these temporary methods, you stimulate the hair. You’re creating an injury to the hair, and its response is to become a little bit thicker.

4. Your Hormones Are Imbalanced 

Nearly 10 percent of women suffer from hirsutism. This means you can get hair where you don’t expect, like your face, belly, thighs, or butt. Around half of the cases are provoked by high levels of testosterone or DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). 

A common culprit of this issue is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS typically have excessive growth of facial or body hair since the condition makes the body produce excessive amounts of androgens. 

How to get rid of body hair? This commonly improves with hormone balancing treatment options such as medications to help regulate the function of the ovaries and lower the number of androgens they release. 

The first line of treatment is typically the birth control pill, but if that doesn’t work, your doctor may prescribe other anti-androgen medications. However, you shouldn’t take them if you want to get pregnant, as they can provoke birth defects.

5. You Recently Gained Extra Weight 

Another common reason for high testosterone levels that contributes to excessive hair growth is extra weight. Obesity affects the way your body produces and processes hormones. When insulin levels are too high, they stimulate the production of androgen hormones.

Obesity is also related to PCOS and diabetes. But the good news is that lifestyle changes can help you avoid these problems and reduce hair growth. Weight loss will help lower the number of male hormones, which can reduce hair growth and regulate blood sugar levels. 

6. You’re On Certain Medications 

If you’re on steroids such as prednisone, or danazol, which are used to treat endometriosis, you might have excessive hair growth. These medications are derived from androgens. 

Other medications that could lead to hirsutism include Rogaine (minoxidil), which is used to stop or slow down hair loss, may actually enhance hair growth in unexpected areas. Cyclosporine, a drug that’s used to treat immune diseases, and certain anti-seizure meds, can also trigger excess hair. Once you stop taking these meds the hair growth will stop.

7. Your Family Members Also Have Excessive Hair 

Some ethnic groups are just hairier than others. It’s common for Mediterranean or darker-skinned individuals to have excessive hair, particularly in the upper lip and jawline areas. 

Since you can’t change your genetics, you can try removing the hair by either temporary or permanent methods.

8. You’re Entering Menopause 

Even if you don’t have a hormonal imbalance, this doesn’t mean you will never get it. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), when estrogen levels drop in menopause, androgens can rise and lead to unwanted side effects, including excess hair. 

Nearly half of the women during menopause experience changes in hair growth, with scalp hair loss and unwanted body hair. Estrogen replacement might help women with facial hair during menopause, but you need to discuss with your doctor whether it’s right for you.

9. You’re Pregnant 

Like other normal hormonal changes in a woman’s life, pregnancy can contribute to unwanted hair growth. During pregnancy, the extra hormones can make hair grow thicker, faster, and darker. This can occur not only on the scalp but on the body as well, which is typically covered with fine hairs that now appear more prominent. 

The belly, the face, breast, and thighs are common areas. Since most hair removal methods haven’t been confirmed as safe for pregnancy, shaving is your best option. 

10. You Suffer From Thyroid Problems 

Thyroid issues are often related to hair loss, but they can also provoke excessive hair growth. Women may end up growing thicker hair in places that are not normal for men or women. But thyroid dysfunction can sometimes coincide with other hormone issues, like elevated prolactin levels.