The doctor warned: increased body hair can be a sign of the disease.

The issue of hair loss in women not only implies a certain aesthetic, fashion or beauty reference, but also indicates possible endocrine disorders. First, when it comes to hair, a distinction should be made between pathology and physiology.

The increase in body hair is called hirsutism. These are the growth of thick and pigmented hair in women according to the male type: on the face, chin, upper and / or lower abdomen, inner thighs, chest and back. Hair growth in these areas increases due to overproduction of androgens (male hormones) and / or increased sensitivity of the hair follicle (bulb) to androgens.

Hirsutism is found in 5-15%. women of childbearing age.

Hypertrichosis: Increased hair growth in androgen-independent areas of the body, usually congenital or caused by metabolic disorders such as thyroid, anorexia, or nerve dysfunction, may also be associated with long-term medication.

“Hirsutism can be caused by elevated levels of male hormones, androgens in a woman’s body, or by an excessive sensitivity of hair follicles to androgens. Male hormones, such as testosterone, stimulate hair growth, increase their length, abundance and pigmentation, ”said Julija Bernotaitė-Davydovienė, an endocrinologist at the Klaipėda Republican Hospital Advisory Polyclinic.

There is growing evidence that hirsutism is affected by high insulin levels in women. This theory is consistent with the fact that obese women are at increased risk of hirsutism (obesity is also associated with excess insulin in the blood) and that treatment that lowers insulin levels reduces hirsutism. It is suspected that at certain high insulin concentrations, androgen production in the ovaries is stimulated.

“The number of hair follicles in women and men is almost the same. Due to the higher amount of androgens in women, thin and poorly pigmented hair in the face, chin and chest areas becomes thicker and pigmented, resulting in increased visibility. And the excess androgens on the scalp have the opposite effect: they begin to curve more. It also causes oily skin, acne, menstrual disorders, infertility and increased libido, ”said the doctor. endocrinologist J. Bernotaitė – Davydovienė.

In total, three stages of hair growth are distinguished: anogenic, catagenic growth stage – hair involution and theological stage – resting. Hair grows asynchronously, giving the impression that it is constantly growing.

Unwanted hair removal

If you notice an increase in total body hair, it is recommended to consult an endocrinologist, who will decide whether waxing requires medical treatment or whether waxing is better by other means.

Increased hair or unwanted hair can be removed in a number of ways, but procedures such as laser hair removal or photoepilation are not only extremely expensive, they also do not provide permanent hair removal.

To remove unwanted hair for life, it is recommended to choose an electroepilation procedure. Electroepilation is a permanent and completely depilatory method of hair removal, after which the hair no longer grows. Through electroepilation, the hair is removed one by one by inserting a fine probe into the root of each hair, which triggers an electrical pulse.

“A very fine needle is inserted into the hair follicle. To reduce the pain, a heat wave is started first, and then electricity is started, ”said Jelena Pajeva, a general practice nurse at the Klaipėda Republican Hospital Advisory Polyclinic.

Using probes and electrical impulses, hair follicles and roots are destroyed, causing them to stop growing.

Using conventional hair removal techniques such as shaving, waxing, sugar waxing, waxing, or depilatory creams, unwanted hair is only temporarily removed. Also, these procedures cause skin problems or discomfort: hair begins to grow on the skin, rashes appear, after which dark spots remain for a long time. When such rashes are complicated by a bacterial infection, scars may remain on the skin.

And after the electroepilation procedures, the hair no longer grows, the rashes, the spots disappear, and the appearance and condition of the skin improves significantly. The skin is healthy and smooth again.

Hair has 3 phases of life: growth, regression and rest, so it is necessary to perform repeated procedures to irreversibly affect as much hair as possible during the growth phase.

Hair growth cycles are also important for electroepilation, so the procedures should be performed precisely when most of the hair is in the growth phase.

Compared to other hair removal methods, the advantage of electroepilation is that the effectiveness of the procedure does not depend on the type of skin, color or pigment of the hair; both light and dark hair can be removed. Since the pigment does not affect the effectiveness of the procedure, any color, including gray hair, is removed during electrotherapy, so older women who want to remove unwanted hair can request the procedure. Electroepilation can remove even the lightest hairs on the face, which is not yet possible with laser hair removal or photoepilation.