Excess Hair Growth

This is a common condition affecting around one in 10 women in the UK. PCOS affects the way a woman’s ovaries work, with the hormonal imbalance resulting in high levels of androgens. The condition can also cause symptoms such as acne and irregular periods and can also cause infertility. 

It is not known exactly what causes PCOS, but often the condition runs in families.

Certain types of medications are known to cause hirsutism, including some prescribed to treat endometriosis and certain menopause symptoms. 

Anabolic steroids contain natural androgens, which can cause excessive hair growth in women who take these particular drugs.

This is an uncommon condition caused by high levels of the hormone cortisol. Cushing’s syndrome can develop as a result of the adrenal glands making too much cortisol or from taking steroid medicine, especially steroid tablets, over a long period of time.

A rare condition triggered by an overproduction of growth hormone.

Rarely, tumours affecting hormone levels may be responsible for excessive hair growth. Such tumours occur in the ovaries or adrenal glands.

Sometimes there's no obvious cause for hirsutism. However there are certain risk factors that may make a woman more at risk of excessive hair growth.

• Ethnicity: Women from Middle Eastern, South Asian and Mediterranean backgrounds are more likely to experience unexplained excessive hair growth.
• Family history: Certain conditions that cause hirsutism, such as PCOS, run in families.
• Obesity: This group of women is at a higher risk of excessive hair growth as being obese causes increased androgen production.

It is worth noting that the dark and thick hair that appears as a result of hirsutism is different to the extra finer and lighter hair which appears on a woman’s face and body as a result of menopause.

If your excessive hair growth is caused by obesity, then losing weight by following a sensible diet can help to control hormone levels.

If you have not yet been through the menopause, then the contraceptive pill can be an effective treatment for hirsutism. Oral contraceptives will control and balance hormone levels.

A special prescription-only cream (eflornithine cream) can help to slow hair growth on the face. However it will not get rid of hair that has already grown.

This hair removal treatment is highly effective and produces long-lasting results.

This particular treatment works by passing a beam of highly concentrated light (the laser) over the surface of the skin. This damages the hair follicles to prevent the hair from growing.

Laser hair removal is particularly good for people with dark brown or black hair.

You may need more than one treatment. This varies from person to person.

Just like laser hair removal, electrolysis is an effective hair removal method that produces long-lasting results.

In this treatment, a tiny needle is inserted into each hair follicle before an electric current is emitted with the aim of destroying the follicle, preventing any further hair growth. Electrolysis is more effective when used on women with blonde or white hair.

Just like laser therapy, more than one treatment is often required, with the number varying from person to person.