When women reach a certain age, many reluctantly (and involuntarily) notice that they have less hair on their head and more on their face. If you too woke up one morning and spotted a pair of dark, coarse upper lip friends in the mirror, you are not alone.
Meet the experts: Somi Javaid, MD, board-certified gynecologist and founder of HerMD; Donna Hart, MD, dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Cedar Park, Texas.
Facial hair growth during menopause is a real and widespread phenomenon, says Dr. Somi Javaid, board-certified gynecologist and founder of HerMD.
What is facial hair during menopause?
“Many women experience coarse facial hair growth during menopause,” says Dr. Javaid. It’s normal to have downy or vellus hair in adulthood, she adds, but terminal hair — coarse, dark and beard-like — tends to appear or become thicker with age, especially on the chin, upper lip and sides of the face, adds Dr. Donna Hart, a dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Cedar Park, Texas. “This is often accompanied by difficulty growing scalp hair or even hair loss, both of which are normal phenomena during menopause,” she says.
Causes of facial hair during menopause
Menopause is characterized by major hormonal fluctuations – primarily the steady decline in estrogen levels. “As the amount of estrogen in the body decreases, the relative amount of testosterone increases and stimulates the growth of facial hair,” explains Dr. Hart – particularly the growth of those dark terminal hairs.
How to get rid of facial hair during menopause
Dr. Javaid and Dr. Hart say there are a few different ways to declutter:
Physical hair removal at home: Any method you use to remove other body hair can be used on the face, including waxing, plucking, hair removal creams and threading, says Dr. Hart. There’s also a technique specifically for the face called dermaplaning, which involves shaving hair with a medical scalpel. “This can be done by a doctor or at home,” adds Dr. Javaid.
If you want to try it at home, you can purchase special dermaplaning tools that are made with safety in mind. “Be sure to keep the skin taut, use short strokes, and hold it at a 45-degree angle in the direction of hair growth,” Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York, previously told prevention.
Laser hair removal: If the hair has not turned white and therefore does not respond to laser treatments, this is an option, according to Dr. Javaid.
Prescription drugs: Dr. Hart says there are prescription medications, both topical and oral, that can slow facial hair growth. These include spironolactone, a drug typically prescribed to treat acne, and eflornithine cream, which slows hair growth using a topical enzyme.
When to see a doctor about excessive facial hair
Menopausal symptoms – including facial hair – are perfectly normal, and fortunately, stray strands are harmless and easy to remove if they bother you. However, if you feel that your facial hairs are ever increasing to a level that worries you, you should let your doctor know, because excessive facial hair can be linked to adrenal disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome and hormonal fluctuations associated with a tumor, says Dr. Javaid. “Please see a doctor for the proper diagnosis before making a health plan,” she stresses.
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