Women's facial hair is typically sparse, fine and virtually invisible to the naked eye. An abundance of dark, coarse hair on your face is indicative of hirsutism, a condition in which your body produces an excessive amount of androgens, which are male hormones. A number of underlying conditions can cause hirsutism, or it may be the result of heredity, according to the Family Doctor website.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Doctors at Mayo Clinic identify polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as the most common cause of hirsutism. An imbalance of hormone levels can cause balloon-like, fluid-filled cysts to form in your ovaries and promote noticeable facial hair growth. The condition can occur during your teenage or childbearing years. Women who have PCOS usually have irregular menstrual periods or none at all. As a result, they may find it difficult to become pregnant. Problems with obesity and acne may accompany excess facial hair in women who have PCOS. Doctors do not know what causes it, but if you have PCOS, you are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Cushing's Syndrome
One of the primary symptoms of Cushing's syndrome is thicker, more visible facial hair. Cushing's syndrome occurs when your body is subjected to higher-than-normal levels of cortisol, a natural, steroid-like hormone produced by the adrenal glands. A tumor in the pituitary gland can trigger excessive cortisol production by the adrenals, and Cushing's syndrome will result. A more common cause of Cushing's syndrome is oral corticosteroid drugs, such as prednisone, dexamethasone and methylprednisolone. Doctors prescribe these conventional medications for rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other autoimmune diseases. Brief or intermittent courses of treatment do not cause hair growth; continuous, long-term use of corticosteroids causes the problem.
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
According to the National Institutes of Health, congenital adrenal hyperplasia refers to a cluster of hereditary adrenal gland disorders. Affected women lack an enzyme needed by the adrenal glands to produce the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. In the absence of these hormones, the production of male sex hormones increases. With this increase, male features, such as coarse facial hair, develop.
Other Causes
Women of Middle Eastern, South Asian or Mediterranean descent are more likely to have problems with facial hair than some other ethnic groups. Hirsutism is quite common among post-menopausal women of all ethnicities who are not on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), according to the DermNet NZ website.
Idiopathic Hirsutism
Medical professionals at MayoClinic.com state that some women with normal androgen levels and no underlying medical conditions can develop excess facial hair. These women are said to have idiopathic hirsutism, which means there is no known cause for the disorder.
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