What causes excess hair on the face and other parts of the body and what can be done to prevent or remove it?
One of the more frequent cosmetic concerns among women with PCOS is the excess facial and body hair. The hair growth is triggered by either a lack of estrogen or excess androgen production. Normalization of hormone levels may reduce unwanted hair growth, but will not remove what is already there. Birth control pills and insulin-sensitizing medications can help restore hormone balance, and spironolactone (Aldactone), a diuretic, can also be used (though not while trying to conceive as it is a Class C drug). Another option is removing unwanted hair. Various methods are discussed below, and may be used in combination with each other. Tweezing is inexpensive but may be time-consuming. It involves pulling out individual hairs with a pair of tweezers. It is probably best used by someone with a small amount of hair to remove. There is a risk of infection where hair has been removed. Shaving unwanted hair is an inexpensive, quick, temporary solution. The best way to shave is to use water and s
