Hirsutism means coarse, dark hair on the upper lip, chin, chest, belly, back or thighs, usually from high androgens. Medicines reduce new hair, and laser or electrolysis removes existing hair. Treatment takes 3 to 6 months to show.
Finding a coarse dark hair on your chin, or a line of it on your belly, can feel like a very private worry. Many women with PCOD have this, and nearly all of them spend years hiding it. It has a name, a cause and a plan.
What hirsutism is
Hirsutism means coarse, dark hair on the upper lip, chin, chest, belly, back or thighs. It is different from the light, fine facial fuzz that most women have.
Doctors score these areas, and the back too, when they assess how much hair there is. The point is a clear measure, so that treatment can be tracked and your progress can be seen over time.
Why it happens
Androgens are hormones that every woman makes in small amounts. They make some hair follicles grow thick, dark hair, and they make oil glands more active. In PCOD androgens are higher.
Insulin plays a part as well. High insulin tells the ovaries to make more androgens. So the same pattern that affects periods and skin can affect hair.
The same androgens make follicles on the scalp shrink, which is why some women have extra hair on the face and thinner hair on the head at the same time.
When it needs a hormone check
New dark hair on the chin or chest is a reason to see a doctor, who may advise hormone tests. These can include free testosterone, SHBG, FAI, DHEA-S and androstenedione. A skin and hair analysis is often part of it. Thyroid and prolactin problems can look like PCOD, so they are tested too.
PCOD, PCOS and now PMOS, the new official name for PCOS, are diagnosed using any two of three signs: irregular or no ovulation, high androgens, and polycystic ovaries on a scan. Extra dark hair is one way high androgens show up on the body.
What helps
Treatment takes 3 to 6 months to show. Hair grows slowly, so the first changes are easy to miss. Take a photo once a month in the same light.
- Medicines reduce new hair. Your doctor chooses which one suits you.
- Laser or electrolysis removes existing hair.
- A targeted diet and activity help insulin, and insulin drives androgens.
Some of the medicines used for this are not safe in pregnancy. If you are planning a baby, tell your doctor before you start. All medicines and supplements are taken only on your doctor's advice.
What does not help
Shaving or threading does not make hair thicker. Hair only looks blunt when it regrows, which is why the stubble feels coarse. So there is no need to feel guilty about a razor, a thread or a wax if it makes you more comfortable. They deal with the hair you can see. They do not treat the cause, and they do not make it worse.
Looking after how you feel
Excess hair can wear on you quietly. Anxiety, low mood and worry about body image are 2 to 3 times more common in PCOD. It is not weakness, and hormones and insulin play a role. Talking helps, and you can ask the team about counselling.
If you are in a low place for more than 2 weeks, tell someone. Tele-MANAS 14416 is a free helpline and it is open 24 hours a day.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you notice two or more PCOD signs, or if one is bothering you. For hair, that means new dark hair on the chin or chest, hair that is spreading to the belly, back or thighs, or hair that comes with irregular periods, acne or thinning at the parting.
Come as you are. You do not need to wax, thread or shave first, and nobody will judge. Bring your period dates and a note of what you already use on your skin.
A doctor decides
This article is education, not a diagnosis. Extra hair can have more than one cause, and only a doctor who has seen you and your tests can say which applies. It is common in PCOD, it is manageable, and it is not your fault.
When to get help urgently
Do not wait for an appointment if you have any of these. Get medical help the same day.
- severe lower tummy pain
- fainting
- very heavy bleeding
- chest pain or breathlessness
- a sudden deepening of the voice with rapid hair growth
That last one is different from the slow hair growth of PCOD. It can point to something other than PCOD that needs quick attention.
Common questions
What is the difference between hirsutism and normal facial fuzz?
Does shaving or threading make hair thicker?
How long before treatment shows results?
Which tests are done for new dark hair?
Not a diagnosis
This guide is for education. Only a doctor who has examined you and seen your tests can tell you what is going on. If you have symptoms that worry you, book a visit or message us on WhatsApp.