Published on: July 4, 2023 | Last updated on: February 25, 2026
Facial hair in women is most commonly caused by hormonal changes, particularly elevated androgen levels. The leading underlying cause is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which accounts for the majority of hirsutism cases. Other possible causes include adrenal gland disorders, Cushing’s syndrome, certain medications, tumors affecting hormone production, and hormonal shifts after menopause.
Hirsutism affects an estimated 5–10% of women and people assigned female at birth. While it can be distressing, it is treatable. Identifying the underlying cause is important, as treatment may involve medication, lifestyle changes, or hair removal methods such as laser treatments.
If you are experiencing new or worsening facial hair growth, a medical evaluation can help determine whether hormone imbalance or another condition is involved. In Seattle, treatment options range from medical management to laser hair removal for long-term reduction.
Whilst the main symptom is coarse, dark hair growth in areas where women typically grow fine hair (or ‘peach fuzz’), another symptom is virilization. This is a condition whereby you develop the secondary sex characteristics of men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB).
Some of the secondary sex characteristics that virilization can cause include: a deeper voice, decreased breast size, increased muscle development, increased sex drive, and acne.
Hirsutism doesn’t have a known cause in many cases, however, there are several factors that could lead someone to develop this condition. Excess facial hair in women and people AFAB could be caused by:
Hirsutism is often linked to high levels of male hormones (or androgens). Whilst everyone’s bodies make androgens, levels are much higher in men and people AMAB. If the amounts are too high in people AFAB or if their hair follicles are more sensitive to androgens, it can cause hirsutism and virilization to occur.
This is a common hormonal condition that actually accounts for around 85% of hirsutism cases. It causes benign cysts to form on the ovaries, which can affect hormone production. Symptoms of PCOS besides hirsutism include: irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, acne, thinning hair, skin tags, and fertility problems.
This is a condition that occurs when your body has too much cortisol (or the ‘stress hormone’) for extended periods of time. It can impact the organs that are responsible for your hair, skin, nails, glands, and nerves (also known as the integumentary system). Other symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome include: rapid weight gain in the face, poorly healing wounds, and diabetes.
Another disorder affecting the adrenal glands, people with congenital adrenal hyperplasia are born without an enzyme that is necessary for hormone production and can cause hirsutism to develop.
Some medications can change your hormone levels and cause hirsutism, including: anabolic steroids, minoxidil (Rogaine), danazol (Danocrine), testosterone, cyclosporine (Sandimmune), and phenytoin (Dilantin).
If a tumor were to occur in your adrenal glands (which produce hormones like cortisol) or your ovaries, this could also lead to hirsutism developing.
The hormonal changes that take place in the body after menopause have also been known to cause women to develop facial hair.
It is important to remember that hirsutism can affect anyone, at any age. There are, however, a few things that can make this condition more likely, including:
If you suspect that you have hirsutism, make an appointment with your healthcare provider and discuss your concerns with them. They will conduct a physical examination and run any necessary tests.
FFacial hair in women and people AFAB that results from hirsutism is treatable. The appropriate treatment depends on the underlying cause and the severity of symptoms. Options may include:
Lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, which can help lower androgen levels and reduce excessive hair growth in some individuals.
Medications, including certain birth control pills, androgen-suppressing therapies, low-dose steroids, or topical eflornithine cream to slow hair growth.
Hair removal treatments, such as laser hair removal in Seattle, electrolysis, shaving, waxing, tweezing, or bleaching.
Depending on the approach selected, visible improvement may take several weeks to months. If the underlying hormonal imbalance cannot be fully corrected, ongoing management may be necessary to maintain results.
The team at Glow Medispa treats hirsutism using laser hair removal. This technique utilizes heat from a laser to damage hair follicles (as damaged follicles cannot produce hair, and the hair that’s present falls out). A number of treatments will be required, but laser hair removal can provide permanent or near-permanent results.
If you are ready to say goodbye to unwanted facial hair, give the team at Glow Medispa a call and book in your laser hair removal treatment today.
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