Why Am I Suddenly Growing More Hair on My Face?

Photo credit Victoria Alexandrova via Unsplash

Ah, menopause. Just when you think you've taken all the surprises it can throw at you, a new curveball comes hurtling your way. 

In my case, that would be more facial hair. Not enough, thankfully, that I could play the Wolfman (Wolfwoman?) in a horror flick. But just enough that when I peeled off a favorite facial mask a few months ago I found myself whimpering in pain. 

That's when I discovered it: a lot more peach fuzz than I was accustomed to seeing. It's almost as if it popped up overnight. 

I've always had a "mustache" per say that started in my 20s and that has always been easily controlled by waxing and/or plucking with tweezers. 

But now? I have a lot more facial hair all over the place, it seems. It's very light and downy, and probably not noticeable by other people, but it's there. I'm too scared to examine the extent of it with my magnifying mirror. 

Why Does Menopause Cause Increased Facial Hair?

Like a lot of other menopause symptoms, increased facial hair is usually associated with a dip in estrogen as women age. And without enough estrogen to balance out the testosterone, we can suddenly sprout more facial hair. 

Sometime genetics play a role. Given my Eastern European ethnicity, this doesn't surprise me. 

So, how can you stop facial hair growth during menopause? 

I personally have been tweezing out any hairs that look longer than the others, but I also plan on getting a battery-operated Finishing Touch Flawless Facial Hair Remover soon. Actually, I did have one of these (my mother ordered one for herself and it was a two-for-one TV special) but I never used it at the time as I didn't have the need for it yet. After I moved, I don't know what happened to it. 

There are also manual straight shavers (like razors) I've seen for sale in Marshalls and T.J. Maxx designed specifically for removing delicate facial hair. You can also try waxing or visiting a dermatologist to have the hair lasered off, or obtain a prescription for a cream that will help inhibit growth. 

Just Tell Excess Facial Hair to Pluck Off!

Now you know why your poor grandma had noticeable chin hair. And what you can do to control yours. 

Happy hair removal, my friends!