As Ive indicated before in this blog, I tend toward estrogen dominance. This is due, in part, to a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS. Women like me with PCOS have the lovely combination of elevated estrogen levels, as well as elevated testosterone. That means that we not only have to contend with excess estrogen levels and its resultant issues of fertility problems and menstrual irregularities, but the excess testosterone can also cause increased growth of hair on the face, abdomen, upper thighs, chest, and back. In fact, Ive often said that if I ever got around to writing a book on PCOS, Id include a free pair of tweezers!
Sadly, female hormone fluctuations in general can cause unwanted hair growth. In the case of decreased estrogen levels (the opposite of estrogen dominance), the I have hair where? syndrome is also one of the common signs of menopause. In this case, the diminished estrogen levels throw off the balance between female hormones and male hormones (androgens/testosterone). As a result, the effect of androgens is unmasked as womens production of estrogen decreases, and the low estrogen/high androgen ratio can affect hair growth rate, placement, and appearance, often taking on a more male-like pattern.
While there are a variety of ways to remove the hair, including shaving, plucking, waxing, depilation, laser, and electrolysis, the primary method Dr. Lark and I recommend is sugaring. Like waxing, sugaring removes hair at the root, but its gentle on the surrounding skin.
My favorite sugaring product is Moom. It is one of the cleanest natural beauty care products on the market. In fact, its ingredients are simply sugar, chamomile, lemon, and tea tree oil. While the sugar works to remove the hair, the tea tree oil acts as a mild anesthetic, and the chamomile and lemon function as natural antiseptics.
If you have unwanted hair growth, regardless of your estrogen level status, give Moom a try.