PCOS Facial Hair

What Is PCOS?

You may have heard of PCOS. Short for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, it’s a condition that affects around 1 in 10 women and can cause varying symptoms. PCOS affects the normal functioning of the ovaries, making it difficult for your ovaries to release an egg. 

This is why many women with PCOS often experience irregular or sometimes absent periods, making it hard to conceive. Other common symptoms include:

• Weight gain

• Thinning hair

• Oily, acne prone skin

Another key symptom of PCOS is excessive hair growth, or hirsutism, which is what we will focus on today.

While an exact cause is unknown, PCOS can run in families, and is also linked to unusual hormone levels, particularly insulin and androgen.

How Does PCOS Affect Hormone Levels?

PCOS affects hormone levels by triggering an overproduction of androgens like testosterone, androstenedione, and DHEA, which can lead to hirsutism, as they stimulate hair follicles and promote coarse hair growth on the face, chest, and back. These imbalances can also cause irregular periods and difficulty with ovulation. 

Tracking your hormone patterns can help to understand any changes and unusual symptoms. If you feel you could benefit from hormone tracking, try using our Hormone Monitor, Mira App, and Wands, which can provide you with accurate, real time data unique to your hormone patterns.

Why Does PCOS Cause Facial Hair Growth (Hirsutism)?

The unusual hair growth can appear on the face as a sort of ‘PCOS beard’, but also the chest, stomach, buttocks, and thighs. High levels of androgen due to PCOS can cause this excessive facial and body hair, or “hirsutism.”

Causes of PCOS-Related Facial Hair

Role of Androgens in Hair Growth

High testosterone levels due to PCOS contribute to hirsutism by stimulating hair follicles and androgens, the male hormones that affect hair growth, leading to thicker, coarser hair.

Excess insulin also stimulates increased androgen production, intensifying this development of unwanted hair even more. 

Insulin Resistance and Its Impact on Hair Growth

Insulin resistance, a common PCOS symptom, associated with elevated insulin levels, stimulating more testosterone production, which goes on to trigger unusual facial hair growth. Reducing insulin resistance can help lower testosterone and reduce hirsutism, which we’ll explore further later in this article.

Genetic Predisposition to Hirsutism

Sometimes, genetic factors may make you more susceptible to hirsutism. PCOS often runs in families, so if a female blood relative has PCOS, you may be more likely to have it too.

Also, women of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and South Asian descent are more likely to have thicker or excessive hair growth on their body, including their face, which may or may not be due to PCOS. This is important to consider if you experience excess facial hair and have ancestry of one of these regions, as it may not be due to PCOS.

How to Manage and Reduce Facial Hair Naturally

Now, it goes without saying that there is no right or wrong way to deal with your facial hair. It is completely natural and harmless, so if you do not feel the need to remove it, please don’t feel pressured to do so.

That being said, many women may choose to manage or reduce their facial hair. If this is your preference, there are many different options available. Let's get into it… 

Lifestyle Changes for Hormonal Balance

As insulin and hormonal levels have a big impact on PCOS manifestation, regulating these imbalances may help improve your symptoms. 

Excess weight, stress, or an unbalanced diet can all affect your PCOS. Incorporating certain lifestyle choices such as weight management, a healthy diet, being active, and stress management can all help bring balance back to your hormones.

Supplements are also an easy and convenient tool to help balance hormone levels. Our PCOS supplements are designed to regulate your hormonal imbalances and help improve any unwanted symptoms.

Natural Remedies for PCOS Facial Hair

There are also some natural remedies that you could try to minimize your PCOS facial hair. Studies have proven that spearmint tea has anti-androgen effects, so you could try incorporating spearmint tea into your evening routine for a gentle, natural way to manage your facial hair.

Inositol is another natural option, a supplement that can help minimize and regulate excessive insulin, and help reduce facial hair. Our Mira Fertility Tea is another hormone balancing supplement, specifically crafted to help regulate and promote female hormonal balance.

Skincare Tips for PCOS-Related Facial Hair

The skin on your face is among the most delicate and sensitive on the body, so if you plan to shave, wax, or laser your PCOS chin hair, try to prioritize proper skincare too. 

Waxing and shaving in particular can cause unwanted irritation and sensitivity, so try using gentle, repairing skincare designed for sensitive skin. Avoiding certain skincare ingredients, such as alcohol or excessive fragrance, can also help minimize and soothe irritation.

Medical Treatments for PCOS Facial Hair

Hormonal Treatments

There are also some medical treatments available if you wish to manage your polycystic ovaries hair growth.

If you would like to begin with an overall review of your hormone levels, our Hormone Health Clinic for Fertility offers you an actionable fertility plan based on your unique hormonal data, providing a personalized insight into what approach may work best for you.

Birth control pills are a popular choice as they contain estrogen and progestin, which help balance out the excess testosterone or androgen linked to PCOS. Anti-androgen medication such as spironolactone or finasteride are another option you may consider if birth control pills aren’t proving effective.

However, these drugs may cause birth defects, so you must use contraception if you are taking anti-androgens. If you are trying to get pregnant, these options may not be the best fit for you. 

Insulin-Reducing Medications

Instead of blocking or regulating androgens through hormonal treatments, you may consider metformin for PCOS, an insulin-sensitizing medication that can help alleviate the symptoms of PCOS, including facial hair growth.

Prescription Creams for Facial Hair

Prescription creams have been formulated specifically to target excess female facial hair and are another good option. 

Known as Eflornithine, or Vaniqa, this cream, while it may not remove existing hair, can help slow the growth of new hair when applied to the affected area twice daily. You can boost these results by pairing the cream with removing pre-existing PCOS facial hair.

Hair Removal Methods for PCOS Facial Hair

Temporary Hair Removal Options

Temporary hair removal options such as shaving, waxing, and threading are all popular, relatively non-invasive methods of facial hair removal, each with its own pros and cons.

While shaving is a quick and affordable option, it can be higher maintenance due to the quicker regrowth time, whereas waxing and threading remove hair from the root, offering longer-lasting results. While both options may sting a bit at the time, waxing may make skin slightly irritated and inflamed.

Depilatory, or hair removal cream can remove unwanted hair by chemically breaking it down, but may be less effective on thicker, coarser hair. While providing quick results, they can cause skin irritation, so a patch test is recommended before use.

At-Home Hair Removal Devices

At-home hair removal devices can be a happy middle ground between simple at-home methods such as shaving, and the more expensive yet long term investments such as professional treatments.

Epilators can offer results of 2-4 weeks per use, and are convenient and affordable. However, they are known to be painful and cause irritation, especially in sensitive areas, and are not ideal for sensitive skin types.

At-home laser hair removal can be a great option for those looking for long-term hair reduction at a slightly reduced cost to professional treatment, but it is not suitable for all skin tones/hair colors, and users should be prepared to commit for best results.

Professional Hair Removal Options

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is popular due to its near permanent results. The procedure is completed with a laser ‘zapping’ your hair follicles, preventing hair regrowth after multiple treatments.

While they can be highly effective, lasers are often better suited to darker hair types and lighter skin. Tanned or darker skin tones may experience limited results and are at a higher risk of inflammation and unwanted skin pigmentation changes due to the laser.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is the only FDA-approved permanent hair removal method, and works for all hair and skin tones. It works by inserting a tiny needle into the hair follicle and destroying it with an electric current.

While highly effective and boasting permanent results, it can be painful. Numbing creams are recommended prior to the procedure to minimize the pain.

Comparing Costs and Effectiveness of Professional Treatments

Although they provide long-term results, both electrolysis and laser hair removal are arguably the most costly methods of facial hair removal for women, compared to at-home solutions such as shaving. Depending on your budget, you may opt for shorter-term solutions, or invest in the longer term.

Laser hair removal is effective and relatively painless compared to electrolysis and may be best for those with suitable hair and skin tones, whereas electrolysis may be better suited to lighter hair types and darker skin which may not respond well to laser. 

Emotional and Psychological Impact of PCOS Facial Hair

How Facial Hair Affects Self-Esteem

While facial hair does not affect everybody’s self-esteem, it can knock your confidence. Women are always under a lot of pressure in society to look a certain way, and social stigma may make women feel like their PCOS hair growth is somehow wrong.

While these feelings can be overwhelming, remember that there is nothing wrong with your facial hair, it is something many women experience! 

However, if you do struggle with these emotions, there are ways you can help manage and work on these feelings.

Coping Strategies and Confidence-Boosting Tips

While not essential by any means, if you personally wish to conceal your facial hair, try out some makeup tricks and grooming hacks that may help minimize its appearance. You could try exploring techniques via YouTube videos, beauty blogs, magazines, and more, and see what works best for you.

Support Groups and Online Communities for PCOS

A big part of insecurity is linked to a feeling of being ‘different’ or the ‘odd one out’. The reality is that there are so many women experiencing similar emotions, many who also deal with PCOS just like you. 

It’s never been easier to find a community that understands how you feel, and can help you feel like you’re not alone, and that PCOS is nothing to be insecure about. 

Whether you find these communities via online forums, social media groups, or local support, you will realize that there are so many like-minded women who can help you feel more confident, seen, and understood.

Conclusion

Facial hair is a common PCOS symptom, affecting countless women worldwide. It is a completely natural and harmless thing to deal with.

We hope this article has helped you better understand why you may have excess facial hair, and feel empowered to make the decision on whether you embrace your facial hair, or find ways to remove or minimize it. Whichever option you choose, always remember to do what is right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have facial hair. Can a PCOS diet reverse it?

If your facial hair is due to PCOS, a ‘PCOS diet’ may help alleviate some symptoms. However, it’s more likely to minimize any future facial hair, compared to reversing the growth of any pre-existing hair.

After PCOS is controlled, do the symptoms reduce, like facial hairs are gone or hair regrowth on the scalp?

When PCOS is managed, symptoms like excess facial hair often improve, but they may not fully disappear for everyone. Finding treatments for your PCOS may help reduce hair growth, but complete resolution varies for everyone.