Excessive hair growth

[BippityBoppity87]

Not sure if this is the right place to post, just need some advice and wonder if anyone else is going through a similar thing.

This is a little bit embarrassing for me and it’s gotten worse over the past couple of years.

I already have quite fair skin and naturally dark hair, so it might seem more obvious to me than other people, but I have a lot of hair growth on my chin, neck, under my belly button and thigh area. I pluck everyday and sometimes use wax strips. About ten years ago it was really bad on my lower legs and belly button and I got laser hair removal, but it’s come back.

I’ve looked into maybe PCOS, but I don’t think it’s that as I have regular periods and haven’t had any problems with fertility. One thing I have noticed though is that it’s got significantly worse since I’ve put on weight. It’s really affecting my self esteem. I break out in spots and ingrowing hairs particulary on my neck, which I’m assuming is caused my excessive hair. I’m mid 30’s, I thought this would be a thing of the past.

Anyone else had something similar and what you did to combat it?

I would go to the docs and ask for a blood test. You don’t need to have irregular periods to have PCOS and weight gain does increase the other symptoms. Hope you get sorted.

Meant to add above my lip, which I have to shave everyday

Phillips Lumea might help in the meantime.

Some pills also reduce symptoms. Def speak to your GP - you could go to the well woman clinic if they have one.

Sorry to hear that. What tests have you had? Blood tests for hormones, scans etc? Just because you have regular periods doesnt mean you dont have PCOS. Excessive weight also plays hovoc with hormones and exacerbates issues. I'd suggest seeing your GP for a start, then look at either home IPL or professional lasering if you want permanent hair removal.

Thank you @OnlyToWin for your response. I already have regular blood tests for a medication I’m on and have had numerous tests for my knee problem in the past. Would that have shown potential PCOS? Or is there a specific testing I need to ask for?

I have the same issue, I’ve always been hairy, since I was 10/11, but as the years have gone on it’s got worse and worse, especially during my 20’s. I have to pluck my chin every night because the hairs are thick and dark and I’m so fair. I have endometriosis and I’ve had laparoscopies, ultrasound scans, the full works basically and I definitely do not have PCOS. So I have no idea what the cause is, I’m thinking of discussing it with my GP as it’s got particularly bad over the past few years and it’s really making me self conscious now and paranoid people can tell.

Have a look at IPL machines op, expensive initial investment but worth every penny, works best with dark hair and pale skin.

I can’t afford a Phillips lumea, or laser hair removal for that matter. My only options at the moment are shaving and waxing myself, which has only ended up in in growing hair and spots, some which have been pretty bad and been like that for weeks at a time before I could remove the hair and had to cover a lot with make up. It’s really getting me down.

Sometimes you can get hair removal on the NHS if you meet their criteria. You could ask about that.
The bloods taken would be more specific for PCOS and they usually take them across a cycle as I recall - was a long time ago!

@Elsiebear90 I’ve had a similar experience. I developed hair at quite a young age, probably about 9 I think. I’ve never asked the gp about it, but I’m already under the gp for a couple of things already. I don’t want them thinking I’m being a hypochondriac, even though I’m really suffering

Threading seems to remove hair more thoroughly and lasts longer if that is something you could afford.

Plus it was for the most part under control, even though it was there, it’s only since I’ve gotten a bit older and put on weight it’s been more noticeable

It probably is pcos - regular periods don’t mean you are ovulating each month unfortunately

@OnlyToWin I’ve tried threading before for my eyebrows. Didn’t really work, I would have to do it every few days. I also have thick hair between my eyes on my eyebrow that I have to pluck everyday

@GrumpyHoonMain Is there a certain blood test that they can do if I ask? I’m on lithium, which I get regular blood tests for anyway and I’ve had blood tests for arthiris and gout for my knee which came back negative. Would it have come up then do you know?

Only thing that worked for me was electrolysis- laser , sometimes stimulates hair growth which previously wasn’t there. I tried laser & after I had more hair.
Although - painful you see results after a few sessions & no regrowth. £22.00 for 15 minute session . If you google the British electrolysis society they list all there accredited practitioners

As well as bloods they also give you an internal scan to check for the “pearl necklace” look of cysts on the ovaries. You could ask about this too.

My sister has been having laser hair removal on her face for years. It grows along her jawline and on and under her chin. I have seen how down she gets regarding this because the laser hair removal lasts for around 5 weeks before the hair comes back through. If she does not get it done within a certain amount of time then she gets ingrowing hairs and spots. Before laser hair when we were teenagers she would pluck every day and would go crazy if she ever lost her tweezers. Back then she even used things like hair removal creams because nobody knew much about it and pre internet days. So all these products and years of plucking and laser has caused pigmentations on her face which she easily covers with makeup. She has been tested for PCOS twice in her life and everything has come back negative. She is regular with periods and has two children. Our grandmother suffers with hair on her chin and has plucked for years (she enjoys plucking, says it is therapeutic)so I assume this condition in my sisters case is hereditary.

Now my sister has recently come across a product called VANIQA which is prescription FDA approved creme which is supposed to reduce the growth and she is hoping that she will see longer results with this and having laser hair treatment.

Also my sisters last pregnancy caused her hairs to grow crazy so it is definitely a hormonal thing.

My sister is so insecure and Is not enjoying life how she should be because her face and this condition is always on her mind, little things like preferring winter over summer, always looking in the mirror, lack of confidence, when I am talking with her face to face she will make excuses for the state of her skin or ask me can I see any hairs. It is constant

I understand how you feel and hope you and my sister find a cure for this

My sister is also overweight but when she has had her slimmer moments the hairs stay at bay for longer so I am unsure if their is a link but it appears so.

Sister had an ultrasound scan for PCOS. They offered her that after they could not detect PCOS by a normal blood test.

One last thing. If you get a diagnosis for PCOS then depending where you live you might be able to get laser hair removal on the NHS but failing that most reputable clinics will offer you a big discount if you have the diagnosis.

No PCOS blood tests are seperate and in the UK usually only gone by a gaenocologist - you would need to be referred. It is usually diagnosed by facial hair and either the blood test /cysts on ovaries / insulin resistance / irregular periods.

I haven’t seen anyone else mention this, but this could also be due to a thyroid dysfunction, so it might be worth considering TFT bloods.

@GrumpyHoonMain you are giving out false info.
You do not have to be referred to a gynaecologist to have a blood test for this condition and it is not diagnosed by having facial hair. PCOS blood tests are NOT separate.
I am amazed at the total inaccuracies here.

I don’t know if this is always the case now, but I did have all my bloods taken at hospital via gynaecology outpatients Department. I had my bloods there, my insulin resistance checked and my scan. My GP started the ball rolling after an appointment describing my symptoms but I did not have any tests done until at the hospital. I am going back over 20 years now so things might have changed.

UK GPs are not qualified to give PCOS tests/advice. A good GP will refer this to the local hospital’s gaenocology department. And yes you can be diagnosed by non-bloods as PCOS doesn’t always produce cysts. I was!