3 Ways Your Health Conditions Can Cause Abnormal Hair Growth

The rate and density in which your hair grows is typically influenced by heredity and genetic factors, and while these factors are the most common causes of excessive hair growth, certain health conditions may be to blame. Here are three health conditions and their treatments that may lead you to consider hair removal treatments:

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a gynecological condition that causes the uterine tissue that normally grows inside the uterine walls to grow outside the uterus. Not only is this condition painful, it can also lead to excessive menstrual bleeding, bleeding in-between your periods, gastrointestinal problems, and infertility. 

While endometriosis may not be directly related to excessive hair growth, its treatment might. Treatment for this condition sometimes includes taking an androgen-based hormone known as danazol, which in addition to slowing the abnormal proliferation of uterine tissue, can also cause oily skin, acne, fatigue, and excessive hair growth. Once your treatment is complete, your hair growth pattern will revert back to normal.

Menopause

During menopause, your levels of circulating estrogen dramatically declines, and in many cases, your levels of the male hormone known as testosterone, goes up. Because of this, you may experience hot flashes, excessive sweating, a deepening of your voice, female pattern baldness, and abnormal hair growth on your face.

Hormone replacement therapy can help normalize your estrogen levels so that your facial hair stops growing, however, it may not be appropriate for women who have a personal or family history of gynecological cancers such as those of the breast, ovaries, uterus, and endometrium. These types of cancers are typically fueled by estrogen, and if you take hormone replacement therapy, you may be placing yourself at a higher risk for one of these conditions. 

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome is a medical condition that causes your ovaries to produce an abnormally high amount of androgens, a hormone that is instrumental in the development of male traits, as well as reproduction.

This condition often causes hirsutism, which leads to excessive hair growth on the facial area, abdomen, chest, back, legs, and arms. While hair removal creams, waxes, laser treatments, and shaving can temporarily eliminate the overgrowth of hair, only treating the underlying cause of polycystic ovary syndrome with hormones or certain anti-diabetes drugs will permantantly curb the abnormal growth pattern of your hair

If you have one of the above conditions and notice that the hair on your body is growing out of control, talk to a dermatologist, like one at Gateway Dermatology PC, about your treatment options. It is important to note, however, that while these treatments are effective in getting rid of excess body hair, you will need to work with your primary physician in order to treat the underlying cause.