Normal Causes

• According to Dr. Laurie Green at CNN, a woman's hormonal changes throughout her life will determine changes in how hair is produced and even the type. Facial hair before puberty is fine and thin (the scientific term is "vellus") and after puberty some hair becomes coarse (called "terminal). Green goes on to state that pubic and underarm hair becomes terminal due to male hormones that are produced during puberty and for some women, terminal hair may replace vellus hair on the face. During menopause, the ratio of male hormones (androgens) to female hormones (estrogen) may change, producing more hormones. Also, heredity determines how much and how thick facial hair will be on a woman.
  
  

Serious Causes

• Hirsutism is the disorder in which excessive hair growth is stimulated by androgens. Excessive hair growth is usually not the only symptom of a true medical disorder and is not a disease. Green states that "most hirsutism is caused by overproduction of androgens from one of the two natural sources of androgens in women: the ovary or the adrenal gland." Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common cause of hirsutism in women.
  
  

Diagnosis

• It is hard to diagnose excessive hair growth in women, as what is normal for some women is abnormal for others. If you are experiencing other symptoms of hormonal disorders such as a lower voice, balding or lack of mensuration, there may be a more serious issue occurring. If a woman believes that her excessive hair growth is not normal, she should see her doctor to determine the cause. Showing before and after photos, if available, to your doctor will help her to see changes in your hair growth and identify the problem.
  
  

Medical Treatment

• Dr. Green says that birth control pills can limit hair growth by "rendering some of the circulating androgen inactive." There are also other medications that help to inhibit production of the androgen hormone. According to Dr. Green, these include spironolactone (which also inhibits androgen production) and ketoconazole (which blocks the creation of male hormones).
  
  

Other Treatment

• The most obvious way to get rid of unwanted facial hair is to shave, wax, thread or use depilatories at home or by going to a professional. There are downsides to all of these options such as ingrown hairs, cost, skin irritation and even the hassle of having to repeat processes multiple times per month. Other professional options include electrolysis or laser therapy. These procedures offer more permanence, but are not ideal for darker skin tones and are more expensive than shaving, waxing, threading or using depilatories.