subject: Hair Growth and Hair Removal Causes [print this page] Hair Growth and Hair Removal Causes Hair Growth and Hair Removal Causes
Millions of men and women suffer from unwanted and excessive hair growth on all parts of their face and body. This is a condition that doctors will often refer to as hirsutism.
An abundance of unwanted hair can cause a great deal of grief and embarrassment, but before exploring hair removal options, someone suffering from excessive hair growth should find out why they are having this condition to begin with.
Even though men can also suffer from excessive hair growth, such as on the back or shoulders, it is most commonly noted in women, perhaps because men are expected to be hairier.
Women from certain ethnic groups - such as Mediterranean or Middle Eastern - are sometimes more likely to have excessive hair growth. This hair is often dark and coarse and usually appears on the face, chest, stomach, back and legs.
Knowing the exact reason behind the excessive growth is important because it can help to treat any underlying condition and thereby reduce the hair growth.
There are many different causes of excessive hair growth and these include heredity (meaning it runs in the family), pregnancy, hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance issues and certain medications.
Excessive hair can also be caused by high male hormones in the body, also called androgens. PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and Cushing's syndrome are two different conditions that can attribute to abnormal hair growth.
Someone who suspects they might have a hormonal condition can see a medical doctor or an endocrinologist to get diagnosed and treated as needed.
Someone suffering from excessive growth has many hair removal options to choose from, but they all have their pros and cons.
Shaving is cheap and easy, but needs to be repeated frequently and often results in nicks and stubble. Waxing leaves skin smooth for several weeks, but is tricky and messy unless it is done at a beauty salon, where it can get pricey. Plucking is safe and straightforward, but very time consuming, especially in larger areas. Out of all different hair removal options, laser hair removal is the only method that promises permanent reduction in hair growth. However, it is important to note that laser hair removal on someone with a hormonal condition may not be effective, because the excess of hormones will continue to trigger new hair growth regardless of outside influences.
Someone with excessive facial or body hair needs to be examined by a doctor before undergoing laser hair removal treatments. The doctor needs to make sure that there is no underlying medical condition causing the excessive hair growth, before starting laser hair removal. This is because the laser can only reduce hair that is currently present; it cannot prevent new hair that is growing out of a hormonal disturbance. Once the condition is under control, laser hair removal can be considered. If there was never a hormonal or medical condition to begin with, laser hair removal can be started at anytime.
