Men vary greatly in the amount of body hair, but it rarely occurs to them to see a doctor for hairiness.
For women, much depends on cultural and ethnic characteristics. Some of the classics described how before Mexican women did not shave their hair under their arms, because it distinguished them from Indian women.
In any case, in women, excess hair can be a sign of hormonal imbalance.
Male hormones stimulate the growth of dark and coarse hair. Female hormones slow down hair growth, make it thin and light.
All women have some male hormones, and all men have some female hormones.
Hirsutism
This is when a woman begins to grow dark male-pattern hair. Beard, mustache, everything ...
Hirsutism is hormone dependent. Sometimes a woman has a lot of male hormones, and sometimes (as it happens in one family), the hair follicles are simply too sensitive even to normal hormone levels.
Sometimes, together with hirsutism, they recall virilization. Virilization is the appearance in a woman not only of male-pattern hair, but also of other male characteristics:
- rough voice;
- developed muscles;
- baldness on the head.
Hypertrichosis
This is excess body hair for both men and women. Sometimes a person becomes like a bear. Or hair just grows peacefully in a small island.
Hypertrichosis does not depend on hormones. It happens with some tumors, under the influence of drugs. Sometimes hair grows from skin irritation. For example, under plaster. Sometimes a child is already born that way.
Bad signs
Excess hair does not always indicate something bad. But if a woman noticed something from the list below, then it is better for her to see a doctor as soon as possible:
- In addition to hirsutism, there are signs of virilization;
- The excess hair has grown very quickly;
- Hair has grown in the abdomen or pelvis.
Whenever you suspect something, consult your doctor.
