Common mistakes in treating PCOS and unwanted hair Common mistakes in treating PCOS and unwanted hair

Are you suffering from hirsutism? If so, you may be worried about your appearance and have issues with your self-image. Women with hirsutism have more facial and body hair than other women, which can be very distressing. The amount of hair a woman ‘should have’ is subjective, but when it comes to hirsutism women often grow excessive hair in patterns that are seen more often in men.

What is Hirsutism?

Hirsutism is a condition that causes women to grow thick, dark hair in places like the face, neck, chest, and back. Because this hair tends to be coarse, thick, and dark they are often more noticeable. Other places this type of hair growth may appear include the stomach, back, and inner thighs.

What Causes Hirsutism?

The most common cause of hirsutism is a disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that causes an imbalance of sex hormones. It usually begins around puberty and lasts throughout the childbearing years. Its main symptoms are high levels of male hormones, irregular or skipped periods, and cysts in the ovaries. The condition actually gets its name from the multiple ovarian cysts women may develop as polycystic means ‘many cysts.’

The cysts are small, fluid filled sacs containing eggs that never mature enough to start ovulation. This is why it is not uncommon to have fewer or missed periods when you have PCOS. However, when your body can’t ovulate, your hormone levels shift causing you to produce lower amounts of female sex hormones and more male sex hormones.

Women with PCOS produce higher amounts of male hormones than they should which can cause several side effects, one of them being hirsutism. In addition to excessive hair growth, PCOS can cause you to lose the hair you actually want, making the hair on your head thinner or fall out in a way similar to male-pattern baldness.

Other side effects of PCOS include:

  • Irregular periods
  • Heavy periods
  • Acne
  • Infertility or difficulty in becoming pregnant
  • Cysts growing in the ovaries
  • Weight gain or obesity
  • Dark patches of skin, especially in folds like those under the breast or in the groin
  • PCOS can also exacerbate long-term conditions like heart disease and diabetes

Treating PCOS and Hirsutism

Some lifestyle changes can make the symptoms of PCOS less severe. Studies have shown that losing a bit of weight and exercising moderately can have a noticeable impact on PCOS and ovulation.

Many women with PCOS take hormonal birth control pills, ring, and patch as these can help balance your hormones. Taking hormonal birth control regularly can also regulate ovulation, reduce acne and excessive hair growth, and protect against endometrial cancer.

If you have tried these suggestions and still find yourself sprouting unwanted hair on your face and chin, you’ve probably tried various methods of hair removal like shaving, waxing, tweezing, and depilatory creams. While effective, these forms of hair removal are only temporary and require a lot of upkeep. A more permanent solution is professional laser hair removal, but this can be extremely expensive and may not work for PCOS hirsutism.

Vaniqa cream is a proven topical medication that can help with excessive facial hair in women. It works by slowing down hair growth on the face and chin and can even make the hair finer and lighter in colour. It doesn’t remove hair or make it stop growing, but instead makes the hair growth cycle shorter and easier to manage in as soon as 4-8 weeks.

Reclaim your self-confidence and explore effective hirsutism treatment with Vaniqa cream, available online in the UK today through our website.