Facial Hair and the Menopause – Why Am I Growing Facial Hair?

Menopause and perimenopause can cause a whole bunch of different symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep disturbance, anxiety, weight gain and so much more. Included in these symptoms is the clear link between facial hair and the menopause.

Strangely, hair thinning and hair loss is really common in perimenopause and menopause. So, it’s a cruel irony that we see an influx of facial hair in menopause. ‘Cause why not.

Whether you’ve seen it on your upper lip, peach fuzz or hairy chin menopause can cause mayhem when it comes to growing hair in places we don’t want it.

So, let’s take a look at facial hair and perimenopause (and menopause). From why it happens to where it happens and, of course, what you can do about it.

How is facial hair and the menopause linked?

As you transition to menopause through the perimenopause stage, your hormones start to change. In particular, your oestrogen and progesterone levels start to dip, and dip quickly.

In fact, your oestrogen and progesterone levels will decline at a faster rate than your progesterone levels.

This causes something called androgen dominance, which is responsible for that unwanted facial hair growth.

So, all of those hormonal changes and the rate in which they do so is the prime reason why facial hair and the menopause are linked.

In terms of other hair, you might see less hair under your arms and a slower rate of growth for your pubic hair.

This is because this hair started to grow when you hit puberty and beyond and is mainly driven by oestrogen.

However, when you reach perimenopause and menopause, your oestrogen levels are far lower. Not only does this cause hair thinning on your head but also under your arms and your pubic hair.

Facial hair and perimenopause

Facial hair and perimenopause are commonly experienced together. You don’t start growing facial hair in menopause alone. It tends to begin in perimenopause.

Changes to your hormones begin in perimenopause, after all.

So, if you’re in perimenopause and seeing facial hair growth, know that you’re not alone.

Post menopausal facial hair – why am I still seeing growth after menopause?

If you’re searching for factors causing your post menopausal facial hair know that it’s fairly common and not to worry. Though it can be frustrating.

While the amount of facial hair in menopause and perimenopause will be more drastic, it’s pretty standard to still see post menopausal facial hair.

After you have reached menopause, your oestrogen levels remain balanced but low. Your testosterone levels, though, remain the same as they always have. Testosterone is known as the “male” hormone. Naturally, if your testosterone levels are higher than your oestrogen levels, one of the side effects of this will be the growth of facial hair.

The best ways to remove facial hair in menopause

There is no single right way to remove facial hair in menopause. There’s a few different ways, and the method you choose should depend on the type of facial hair you’re trying to remove. Let’s take a look.

If your facial hair consists of the odd stray hair…

Odd stray hairs are far less frustrating and easy to deal with. The best way to remove stray facial hairs is simply to tweeze them. It’s quick, easy and relatively effective.

Don’t shave it, though, as you want to remove these stray hairs from the root.

If you’re seeing peach fuzz during menopause…

Often, you’ll see facial hair in menopause in the form of peach fuzz. The proper term for peach fuzz is vellus hair and it can actually grow all over your body rather than just your face. The function of peach fuzz is to protect your skin and help to regulate your body temperature, so it’s not entirely useless. That said, it’s not exactly wanted on our face.

Experts believe that the best way to remove peach fuzz in menopause from the face is through threading. Threading is a well-known facial hair removal technique that works well for all skin tones and types. On the other hand, laser hair removal isn’t recommended on fine, light hair or darker skin tones. So, threading is a universal winner.

I highly recommend that you do not try threading yourself at home, especially if you have never had it done before. Instead, book a threading appointment with a professional. It’s crucial that the angle is accurate so that the hairs can be removed at the root without snapping off.

Threading is great for all over your face, jawline and helps tackle the hairy chin menopause so often creates.

For the hairy chin menopause creates…

As mentioned above, the best method for removing hairs on the chin is threading. However, if you find a single stray hair growing from your chin, you can tweeze it away.

You also have the option of waxing chin hairs. Again, I’d recommend doing this professionally if you can as they can ensure the wax temperature is efficient. Plus, professionals understand the right angle to remove the hairs from to avoid the follicle snapping and growing back quickly.

For ingrown hairs in menopause…

Ingrown hairs suck, whether that’s in menopause or not.

Ingrown hairs happen when your hair, while growing back, curls into the skin and becomes trapped. The result is a raised, red bump.

If they aren’t dealt with, an ingrown hair can be painful and even grow into a boil.

While it’s tempting, don’t squeeze them or use tweezers to pierce the skin and pull it out. It’s almost a gut reaction to do so, but you could cause an infection which is a lot more painful than your original ingrown hair!

Instead, you should ask your pharmacist for an antibiotic skin cream if it doesn’t go away by itself.

Remember, though, that if you have seen an ingrown hair alongside having a fever or other symptoms of feeling unwell, book an appointment with your doctor as this could be signs pointing towards an infection known as cellulitis.

To prevent ingrown hairs in the first place…

Prevention is always better than cure. Ingrown hairs are no different.

So, to prevent ingrown hairs you should exfoliate your skin regularly. Even using a towel to rub your skin before getting into a bath or shower will help.

Make sure you’re moisturising, too. This will help prevent ingrown hairs and be extremely helpful to itchy and dry skin, which is commonly associated with perimenopause and menopause.

If you shave, too, make sure your razors are not blunt. Blunt blades can lead to skin irritation, ingrown hairs and razor burn.

You can tell whether your razor is blunt if you can feel it pulling at your hair or if it feels rough against your skin.

Removing upper lip facial hair in menopause

Upper lip facial hair in menopause can be, for some women, about as frustrating as it comes. However, you do have options available to remove it.

Again, threading is a great solution for upper lip hair removal. Threading encourages the hair to grow back finer than before. If you are getting your upper lip threaded by a professional who knows what they’re doing, it will be relatively quick and not too painful.

You also have the option of hair removal cream. Many women have been using hair removal cream to get rid of upper lip hair for decades. The advantages of using hair removal cream is that it’s quick (10 minutes or less), painless (other than the tingly sensation) and gets rid of every single hair.

However, there are also disadvantages with choosing this route. Hair removal cream uses alkaline chemicals. Even though these alkaline chemicals are safe for the skin, if you are usually sensitive to products, you may see skin irritation.

On top of this, if you leave it on too long, it can burn you.

When to see your doctor about facial hair and the menopause

Remember that your doctor is here to help you. So, if you’re seeing a lot of facial hair in menopause and it becomes a problem you’re struggling to handle by yourself, it might be time to book an appointment.

Even though facial hair and the menopause are closely tied together, large amounts of hair growth around the face can suggest a hormonal problem. If you’re seeing more than the odd stray hair, it’s well worth speaking to your doctor to test for certain conditions and provide a treatment plan.

Facial hair and the menopause – in a nutshell

As you enter perimenopause and beyond, it is common to see the growth of facial hair. However, while facial hair and the menopause can come hand-in-hand, there are ways to deal with it.

Threading, waxing, shaving and hair removal creams are good options for many of us. It’s just about knowing the right method for you, your skin type and the type of facial hair you want to remove.

If facial hair in perimenopause, menopause and beyond is excessive, you should seek help from a healthcare professional. Extortionate facial hair growth in women – whether they are in perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause – can be signs of an underlying hormonal problem. This will need testing and treatment.