Women who reach menopause sometimes notice an undesirable phenomenon--increased facial hair growth. This is actually normal and not a cause for concern. However, many women view this as a cosmetic problem and seek to remove the unwanted hair. Hormonal changes are responsible for the new mustache- and chin-area hairs.
Time Frame
Women, on average, will reach menopause in the early- to mid-50s. The official point of menopause is the day a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 months in a row, which indicates the permanent cessation of menstruation, according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society.
Function
Some 30 percent of women who have passed menopause report that they have unwanted hair on the face. The cause, according to Dr. Mehmet Oz at the Cardiovascular Institute of New York Presbyterian/Columbia, is too much male hormone. This can be caused by loss of estrogen after menopause, which Oz says accelerates hair growth. Estrogen affects every body organ system, including skin. Estrogen receptors appear to be most abundant around the face, genital area lower limbs. That means these areas are most vulnerable to reduced amounts of circulating estrogen, reports the Dermatological Society. Thus, skin conditions involving these areas, such as unwanted hair, are more common in peri- and post-menopausal women than in their younger counterparts. Having more hair than desired is more common in women who do not use hormone replacement therapy.
Identification
The term to describe increased and unwanted facial hair in post menopausal women is hirsutism. This term refers to a male pattern of hair, such as growing more hair in the moustache and beard areas or growing thicker hair on limbs. Women who experience hirsutism are sensitive to small amounts of hormone, according to the Dermatological Society. These women have hair that grows in thicker and faster than normal in response to hormones.
Solution
There are many ways that post menopausal woman can remove or deal with unwanted facial hair. Bleaching will make the hair less obvious. Depilatory creams can be used, but may irritate skin and cause dermatitis, advises the dermatological society. Shaving can be used, and does not make a woman's hair grow more thickly, but may be needed daily. Waxing pulls hair from the roots and can be done about every six weeks. Electric hair removers can be used to remove the hair with cutting and pulling action. Electrolysis can bring about permanent hair loss but, but does take some time. Small areas are treated every few weeks. Laser therapy is another way to remove body hair, and the jury is still out on how effective these are, advises the society.
Considerations
Oz recommends a natural remedy that can help: losing weight. Weight loss works in women by decreasing male hormone levels, thus slowing down the growth of unwanted hair. The National Institutes of Health also notes that women who are overweight can reduce hair loss via weight loss.
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