Overview
Finding strange hair on your chin is completely normal and usually nothing to worry about.
Hormonal changes, aging, and even genetics can be behind a few chin hairs. For that, if you don’t want them, there are simple and effective ways to remove them.
If you’re an adult and have thicker hair than others, or if you’ve noticed a sudden increase in facial hair, it’s time to see your doctor. Excessive facial hair in women can be a sign of a medical condition that requires treatment.
Why does chin hair develop?
Everyone has hair on their chin and it is completely normal. We all have vellus follicles that produce very fine, light-colored hair, commonly known as “peach hair.” Vellus hair is designed to help regulate our body temperature.
As androgen production increases during puberty, these follicles become larger and the terminal hairs become longer, thicker, and darker. Everyone’s body produces androgens, but because men are taller, men have more terminal hair than women.
Your hormone levels change periodically and throughout your life due to aging, weight gain, and other factors such as pregnancy and menopause.
A slight increase in androgens or an imbalance of male and female sex hormones, which is common in everyone, can lead to more terminal hair in unexpected places, like your chin.
A number of factors contribute to facial hair problems. Some facial hair is normal and harmless, while others can be a sign of a medical problem. In most cases, chin hair is normal.
Get rid of unwanted chin hair
There’s nothing you can do to prevent chin hair from growing—it’s just part of being human. But if random chin hair is bothering you, there are plenty of options to get rid of it.
Chin hair removal options include:
oysters
to shave
waxing at home or by a professional
make professional phone
professional sugar making
laser hair removal
electrolysis
A few stray hairs on the chin can be easily pulled out with tweezers. Shaving is another quick and easy way to get rid of chin hair. The downside to shaving is that you’ll have to do it more often, and the regrowth will look rougher.
Contrary to popular belief, your hair doesn’t grow back thicker – it appears that way because the ends of your hair are dull rather than tapered after shaving.
When chin hair is a flag of health
There are times when chin hair is a red flag that something may be wrong with your health. Excessive hair on the chin or face, or a sudden increase in hair anywhere on the face, can be a symptom of a condition called hypertrichosis. A type of hypertrichosis specific to women is called hirsutism.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, hirsutism is common and affects 5 to 10 percent of women of reproductive age. This causes dark and coarse hair to grow on the chin, upper lip, chest, abdomen, and back.
The exact cause of hirsutism is not always known, but it can be caused by a number of medical conditions.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a major cause of hirsutism. This common condition affects 12 percent of reproductive-age women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is characterized by several symptoms that affect the ovaries, including:
small ovarian cysts
high levels of androgens and other male hormones
Irregular or missed periods