Is ageing a hairy topic for women?

From genetics to hormones, there are many reasons why you might see a little more chin hair on your face as you get older.

When you get to a certain age as a woman, there comes a point where you suddenly find more hair on your chin than usual. While some people are able to laugh it off, some find it a reason for concern. Especially because facial hair is often associated with masculinity. Which can cause you to feel self-conscious or spend large amounts of money to manage the growth.

As a result, understanding why this happens can help women know when it’s part of natural ageing and when it may be time to get medical advice on how to deal with the issue.

What causes chin hair in ageing women

According to Dr Reyna Daya, an endocrinologist at Mediclinic Sandton, these are some of the biggest reasons why women get more chin hair as they get older:

Ageing: For women, hair growth on the chin and jawline can be a normal part of ageing. The hormonal changes that come with menopause.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): PCOS causes a shift in the balance of sex hormones. It usually begins during puberty. Over the years, it may lead to excessive hair growth, irregular periods, obesity, infertility and sometimes multiple small cysts on the ovaries.

Genetic background: For some women, having more facial hair than others is simply hereditary and influenced by family history.

Medication: Several medications result in hair growth as a side effect, including anabolic steroids, certain kinds of chemotherapy and epilepsy treatments.

Weight gain and weight loss: Sudden weight changes can affect hormone levels, sometimes resulting in increased facial hair. In severe cases, such as with eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia, your body develops fine protective hair, usually present before birth, called lanugo.

Metabolic conditions: Doctors have found that there is a connection between insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: This is a hereditary condition that’s present from birth. It affects how the adrenal glands produce steroid hormones, leading to imbalances such as low cortisol levels or excess androgens.

Tumours: Having a tumour in the ovaries or adrenal glands can cause excessive hair growth because it releases extra androgens.