Facial hair often becomes more noticeable during menopause due to a shifting balance between estrogen and testosterone. While this hormonal change is common, it can be frustrating for many women.
Healthy lifestyle habits can help keep androgen levels in check. Eating a balanced diet, limiting refined carbohydrates, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing stress and taking a quality multivitamin all support healthy hormone balance and may help reduce unwanted hair growth.
Our stance? Taking an inside-out approach by addressing the hormonal imbalances that contribute to unwanted facial hair is the best strategy. Once facial hair develops, permanent removal techniques include laser treatments, IPL or electrolysis. Waxing can help temporarily, but it won’t stop new hairs from growing.
Authored by Dr. Mary James, ND
Growth of facial hair during menopause is typically caused by an increase in the ratio of androgen (testosterone) to estrogen. This does not necessarily point to a problem, but the increase in facial hair can be bothersome.
One of the best ways to prevent androgen excess is by eating a balanced diet rich in quality proteins, complex carbohydrates, and colorful fruits and vegetables. When the body is getting too many refined carbohydrates, such as simple sugars, white bread or pasta, it produces more insulin. And one of the ways the body can respond to high insulin is by increasing androgen production.
Other ways to prevent unwanted facial hair growth during menopause include balancing your hormones, taking a high-quality multivitamin to fill in any nutritional gaps, reducing stress, and keeping your body fat under 30%. Both stress and excess fat can lead to increased androgen production.
Prevention is ideal because once facial hair is present, reduction techniques such as laser hair removal, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), or electrolysis are the only ways of achieving permanent removal. Waxing is also an option, though only temporary.
For more information on androgen dominance and hair growth and loss, read our article on coping with unwanted hair growth.
Return to:
