Hirsutism (Female Facial Hair) is a condition occurring in women, characterised by unwanted, male-pattern type hair growth that results in excess amounts of dark, coarse body hair in areas such as the chin and upper lip, around the nipples, abdomen and inner thighs. This condition affects 1 in 10 women.
Typically hirsutism (Female Facial hair) has no underlying concern, however occasionally there can be an underlying medical condition. We recommend seeking professional help from a trained dermatologist to ensure correct diagnosis and treatment.
The most common cause is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS symptoms are irregular periods, hirsutism, acne and mulitple cysts seen on an ultrasound scanning of the ovaries. Sometimes, a tumour can hide male-type hormones and can lead to hirsutism. This is most likely to be the case if the excess hair growth has occurred suddenly.
