Sami with a mustache: fast food makes schoolgirls grow facial hair
Information has been circulating on the Internet that teenage girls are more likely to turn to specialists with complaints of increased facial hair. Aesthetic problems of this kind are sometimes associated with excess weight, sometimes with a passion for fast food, but this is not the only possible reason. How true it is to attribute problems with appearance to excess weight, whether burgers and fries contribute to the growth of a mustache and how to get rid of unnecessary vegetation — in the Izvestia article.
How are overweight, testosterone, and facial hair related?
With obesity, the level of female sex hormones estrogens in the body most often increases, explains Lyubov Yerofeyeva, WHO expert on reproductive health and rights, gynecologist, senior lecturer at the Medical Faculty of the University of Synergy.
However, sometimes due to malfunctions of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system in women, the level of free testosterone, which is produced by the adrenal glands, also increases. Normally, free testosterone is necessary for the fair sex to regulate sexual desire, normal hair growth, follicle maturation and other processes, explains the gynecologist.
But when the level of the male hormone goes through the roof, problems such as increased hair loss also appear.
— Free testosterone irritates the hair follicles, which promotes their active growth. And this happens, as they say, in the wrong places. For example, on the face, on the chest or on the back — where women should not have hair, since this is peculiar only to men, explains Lyubov Yerofeyeva.
The activation of hair growth, which is unusual for the female sex, also occurs with such an unpleasant disease as Itsenko-Cushing's disease. Women with this diagnosis can be recognized by being overweight, loose, and have a characteristic moon-shaped face with excessive hair.
However, the gynecologist believes that it is unlikely that such a serious problem concerns teenagers.
— I think that teenagers focus too much on their appearance, find fault with it and generally treat it critically. They don't like the reflection in the mirror, even if everything is fine," says Yerofeyeva. — This is understandable: growing up and stretching, teenagers are just getting to know themselves, as they say, in a new body.
The period of doubt and anxiety does not last very long, but it causes a lot of anxiety to the girls themselves and upsets their mothers. In addition, many schoolgirls use the unnaturally smooth faces of bloggers and media personalities as role models. Of course, with age, angular and awkward teenagers change for the better and forget about their pretensions to appearance. However, the consequences of some rash actions may remain.
— As for whiskers, all mammals have them. It's just that when the hairs are fluffy, they are invisible. But if you look at it from a certain angle, in a certain light, say, in a magnifying mirror, then the hairs will be clearly visible. In such cases, some girls begin to either pluck them out or shave them off, which, of course, leads to more intense growth," Lyubov Yerofeyeva continues.
The gynecologist emphasizes that dark-haired and dark-skinned women have more pronounced hair loss, and sometimes this is even a national feature of oriental beauties. But if excessive vegetation bothers a person a lot, then discoloration is the best option, not removal or epilation. In any case, you should consult with a specialist, rather than make a decision on your own.
Anna Matveeva, a trichologist at the Scandinavian Health Center, noted that teenagers were indeed more likely to turn to specialists with complaints of pronounced dark hair on the upper lip, on the chin and along the white line of the abdomen.
— We are not talking about a light cannon, but about dense dark hairs that are clearly visible and cause pronounced discomfort. This dynamic of appeals reflects two processes: if some girls develop hormonal and metabolic disorders, then others have a rather far-fetched problem. Their increased sensitivity to appearance is superimposed on comparing themselves with bloggers and media content," comments Anna Matveeva.
If a girl looks at her face as if under a microscope, comparing herself with media personalities, it's half the trouble, and the problem is solved by going to a psychologist. But hormonal and metabolic disorders really deserve more attention.
Why do facial hair grow?
Lyubov Yerofeyeva debunks the myth of the connection between nutrition and excessive vegetation and emphasizes that sweet soda, sauces or French fries alone do not cause increased hair loss. Such food only contributes to the appearance of excess weight and acts as a springboard for further problems.
— There is an imbalance, the manifestations of the metabolic syndrome begin, which is associated with excess weight. And these processes can go far. For example, glucose tolerance may change and type 2 diabetes may develop over time," the expert concludes.
And this problem is much more serious than the barely discernible antennae.
Overweight and obese adolescents are more likely to have menstrual irregularities and signs of an excess of androgens (male sex hormones). Against the background of excessive nutrition and low physical activity, insulin resistance is formed," adds Anna Matveeva.
According to the trichologist, in this condition, a person's level of a protein that binds sex hormones decreases (SHBG is a protein that keeps hormones bound). The proportion of free androgens in the blood increases, and as a result, male-type hair growth increases, including above the upper lip and on the chin. According to the trichologist, the increase in the number of such patients reflects the general deterioration of the metabolic health of adolescents.
— A diet with an excess of fast food, sugary drinks and foods with a high glycemic index (that is, rapidly increasing blood sugar levels) contributes to weight gain and increased insulin resistance. On the skin, this is manifested not only by the more active growth of coarse hair, but also by the appearance of acne and increased fat content," continues Anna Matveeva.
The trichologist advises to adjust the diet towards a more stable glycemic profile with a sufficient amount of protein, vegetables and healthy fats. Regular physical activity also reduces the severity of hyperandrogenic manifestations. All this is a basic part of the treatment.
How to remove facial hair
Minor patients are in the area of special attention of specialists. You can't do without a detailed study here.
"When treating a teenager with a pronounced growth of coarse facial hair, the doctor first evaluates possible hormonal causes," the trichologist comments. — Cycle disorders, acne, weight gain, and complaints of increased skin oiliness are taken into account. If there are such signs, the patient is referred to an endocrinologist and gynecologist to rule out polycystic ovaries and other endocrine disorders.
And only after assessing the hormonal background, specialists select methods of hair removal. First of all, according to the trichologist, gentle depilation methods are used: thread, wax, sugar paste, depilatory cream (in the absence of allergies). Laser hair removal is considered after an examination if the teenager complains about the hair himself and it becomes clear that the procedure removes the symptom rather than eliminates the cause, the expert emphasizes.
Unwanted hair may remain noticeable or become thinner over time and grow less frequently — it depends on why they began to grow so intensively, says Anna Matveeva. If they appear due to excess weight, insulin resistance, or temporary hormonal failure, then hair usually grows less actively during treatment and normalization of metabolism.
— With a genetic predisposition or severe forms of hyperandrogenism (excess of male sex hormones), this feature cannot be completely eliminated, but it can be controlled with the help of therapy for the underlying condition and properly selected hair removal methods, — says Anna Matveeva.
Who grows a mustache
Facial hair most often annoys women when they cross a certain age and physiological threshold — in menopause and postmenopause, the gynecologist notes. This happens because the body needs energy, which is not enough for the elderly: the hormones, estrogens, are no longer fully working - their levels are low or ultra—low. And the female body actually draws this energy from the testosterone of the adrenal glands, which contributes to the growth of a mustache.
— In adult women, pronounced facial hair is more often associated with polycystic ovaries, obesity with insulin resistance, or idiopathic hirsutism (increased hair growth without identified hormonal disorders). Women with excess weight, a hereditary family history of similar vegetation, cycle disorders, acne and male—type hair loss are at risk, warns Matveeva.
Preventive advice boils down to a healthy lifestyle. To reduce the excess of male hormones, the trichologist recommends keeping your weight normal, getting enough sleep, eating regularly and getting enough exercise. This lifestyle helps to reduce insulin resistance, even out the cycle and weaken the growth of unwanted hair.
"Even with modern hair removal methods, the medical task remains the same: to identify and correct possible hormonal and metabolic disorders, and not to limit oneself to cosmetic solutions," the trichologist emphasizes.
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