First, hot flashes, next the dreaded dry vagina, then weight gain…what else can happen to my body during menopause?  Surely the worst is over.  Then one day I wake up to discover a two-inch black hair has sprouted from the bottom of my chin.  Maybe it is just a hair from my makeup brush.  Maybe I rolled over onto my husband’s pillow and one of his hairs stuck to my chin.  Or maybe the dog slept on my face during the night.  I tug at it, and it is attached.  Will other uninvited stray hairs follow?  Oh no, what’s a menopausal girl to do?

Over 40 million women in the United States have unwanted facial hair. Women in the USA do not like having facial hair.  We are a “hairless” society.  As opposed to European women who have the choice to shave or not to shave because it is socially acceptable to have hair on other parts of the body.

Why do we get unwanted facial hair during menopause?

Unwanted facial hair may be caused as part of the normal aging process, menopause, hereditary factors, obesity, medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome or androgen excess disorder. ??Some women may only experience a few stray hairs on the chin.  Some may grow visible hair on the upper lip.  And some may develop a heavy beard like growth. Whether your growth is slight or extremely obvious, excessive facial hair can produce low self-esteem and embarrassment. 

Common causes of unwanted facial hair

Genetic: Many different cultures are more likely to have facial hair than others.  Women from Mediterranean areas may be more prone to facial hair. Women from Poland are less prone to facial hair.

Hormonal: Many women experiencing hormonal changes from menopause, pregnancy or illness start noticing abnormal amounts of unwanted facial hair. Women have both estrogens (female hormones) and androgens (male hormones). As we age and enter the menopause transition, the levels of both hormones naturally decline. These fluctuations can cause a few stray hairs to full growth. 

Aging: As women age, the body produces more androgens which may cause an increase in hair growth on the chin, upper cheeks or neck area.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Abnormal ovarian function results from a hormone imbalance that can cause irregular periods, weight gain, and excess facial and/or body hair.

Obesity: Unwanted facial hair can also be caused by obesity due to an increase in androgen production. Fat retains androgen, so the more overweight a person is, the more androgen is kept in the body, potentially causing unwanted facial hair growth.

Medications: There are some medications that can stimulate the growth of stray, darker, coarser hair such as anabolic steroids, phenytoin, cyclosporine, combination medications with testosterone such as estratest, and minoxidil (used for high blood pressure as well as baldness in men).

So how do you manage or treat unwanted facial hair?

Women have been looking for ways to permanently remove hair for years. There are three different strategies to manage unwanted facial hair.

Temporary Removal
Plucking with tweezers is a good solution for a few strands of unwanted hair.  If you have a large area of unwanted hair plucking can be time consuming.  But physically plucking the hair out of its follicle is inexpensive. The hair also takes longer to grow back because it must grow to the skin’s surface before noticing the hair again.  If you pluck the same hair out over and over again you may damage the follicle and keep it from producing hair.
Bleaching is not actually a hair removal process. Instead the bleach actually removes the pigment from the hair.  After applying the chemical to the area of unwanted hair for a period of time, it is rinsed off leaving the dark unwanted hair bleached. This method is good for larger areas over the lip, sides of the face, neck and between the eyebrows. Jolene is a popular bleaching cream product you can purchase over-the-counter. If you have extremely black, coarse hair you may wish to consider other options. 
Chemical Depilatories are available in lotion, gels, creams, powders and aerosol forms. The chemical substance is applied for 3 to 15 minutes and dissolves the hair above the skin’s surface not at the root.  After you wipe or wash off the substance the results last about 3 to 5 days. You can purchase depilatories over-the-counter.  The most common side effect is skin irritation because the chemical actually melts away the skin cells.  It is best to test the product on a small area first 48 hours before using it on large areas of unwanted hair. 
Shaving is an easy but temporary option. The hair is only removed at skin’s surface.  You must shave move often to achieve optimum benefits.  If shaving is your preferred choice, shave downward to prevent ingrown hairs. And shave after applying a moisturizer like shaving cream, hair conditioner or body wash to help the razor glide over the skin, not nick or cut it.  It is a myth that shaving will make your hair thicker, darker or grow faster.
Waxing is a popular method of hair removal.  Many women use this technique for hair over the lip, eyebrows, and large areas on the body.  A warm wax is applied over the area of unwanted hair in the direction of the hair growth.  The hair becomes embedded in the warm wax. When it cools and hardens it holds onto the hair.  Then the wax is quickly pulled off in the opposite direction of the hair growth.  This process pulls the hairs out of the follicles.  You can purchase products at your local drug store or have a professional do it at a salon or spa.  Waxing usually last 6 weeks because the hair is removed at the root.

Medications, such as, Vaniqua is a common prescription-only topical cream that has been FDA-approved for reducing the growth of unwanted hair.  Vaniqua works by inhibiting an enzyme that is needed for cell reproduction needed for hair growth.  You apply it two times a day and the application must be continuous to inhibit the hair growth.  It takes 4 to 8 weeks to see results and last up to 8 weeks after you stop using the product.

Permanent Removal
Laser and IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) uses pulsed light at various wavelengths, energy output and pulse widths to target melanin then break down and destroy the dark pigment in hair.  There are three phases to hair growth: growing, resting and shedding. Lasers and pulsed lights targets hair in the growth phase. A typical laser hair removal session on both legs usually takes under two hours. It takes 4-6 laser hair removal sessions spaced 4 weeks apart to see about an 80 percent reduction in hair growth. Not everyone is a good candidate for laser hair removal and it can be expensive. 

Electrolysis is a process that uses a fine needle inserted into the hair follicle.  An electrical current is applied to the follicle root.  This process actually burns the hair root preventing it from producing new hair.  Because each hair follicle must to treated separately it usually takes several treatments, up to 12 months, to permanently destroy the hair follicle. Some people experience pain during the procedure and you must be cautious to prevent infection.  Find a technician which good credentials. 
 

Preventive
Hormones (estrogen and progesterone) or the birth control pill can prevent the growth of facial and alleviate other menopausal symptoms.  Because hormone imbalance is a common cause of unwanted hair, balancing your hormones may actually prevent the problem to begin with.  Your doctor can prescribe hormones for you.

Unwanted hair can be managed once you find a solution that works for you.  Some women have great success with plucking a few strays or bleaching their upper lip, others must resort to more aggressive and expensive methods to conquer their unwanted hair. 

Always discuss new conditions or concerns with your doctor or health care provider.
 

Staness Jonekos
The Menopausal Bride, Inc.
Champion for “The Change”
www.TheMenopausalBride.com
4000-D West Magnolia Blvd.
Suite 105
Burbank, CA 91505