Dealing with Hirsutism

Synopsis: If your extra hair due to PCOS bothers you, here are some things you can try.

Women with PCOS often have excess hair growth (hirsutism) due to an overproduction of androgens. This results in sometimes dark, coarse hair growth, most commonly on the upper lip, chin/beard area, breasts, lower abdomen, inner thighs, and lower back, and less commonly on the chest, upper abdomen, and upper back. I know from personal experience that this hair growth can negatively impact one's self-confidence and body image! It can be challenging to look and feel feminine.

If your hirsutism bothers you, there are various solutions you might like to try.

Accept Your Body

While hirsutism can be annoying, it is not harmful in itself. It is certainly possible to love and accept your body and its appearance! Your hair growth may make you look different than some people's standards of beauty; however, the natural variance of human bodies lends to beauty! Do not be afraid to be different. Social pressure is not necessarily a reason to alter your appearance, and if you like the way you look, you will be confident, which is always an attractive feature. Hold your head high, be generous with your smile, and you will look and feel great!

Treat The Cause

Birth control pills can alter the hormonal balance in your body, slowing the growth of unwanted hair. Obviously this is not a good solution if you are trying to conceive.

Spironolactone is an anti-adrogenic prescription drug that can help treat hirsutism. It can take several months to see a noticeable difference in hair growth. It should not be used in pregnancy or breastfeeding. See the ASRM guide on Hirsutism and PCOS for other drugs that serve a similar purpose. 

Remove The Hair

Plucking unwanted hair is an option; however, in my experience, it often results in infection, causing acne. Waxing is a similar option with the same downside. 

Depilatories, which dissolve hair, may also be an option; however, they may irritate sensitive skin. 

You can bleach hair; this is most effective for small areas, such as the upper lip. The hair is not actually removed, but is less visible as a lighter color.

Shaving is another option; it may cause stubble, but is "probably the simplest and safest way to temporarily remove hair," according to the ASRM guide.  

Electrolysis permanently destroys hair follicles; however, this is done one hair follicle at a time, so may not be practical, and is fairly expensive.  

Laser hair removal is another option. I was told by a doctor that it was not a good option, because it is expensive and not permanent; however, the ASRM guide claims that it is effective (but not necessarily over the long-term). 

Ultimately, the best remedy for hirsutism is a combination of the three methods above: accepting your body, treating the cause, and removing unwanted hair. It may take some experimenting to figure out the right combination for you, but if you do not want to be a "bearded lady," you have options!