Occasional chin hair can be caused by changing hormones, aging, and genetics. But if it’s more than just a few hairs that are coarser than others, or there’s a sudden increase in facial hair, it’s time to see a doctor.
The discovery of the odd hair on your chin is perfectly normal and usually not a cause for concern. There are simple and efficient ways to remove them if you don’t want them.
Thar said sudden, excessive growth can have an underlying medical cause. Excess coarse facial hair in women, in particular, could be a sign of a medical condition that requires treatments.
Whatchin hairs
Everyone has hair on their chin and this is perfectly normal. We all have vellus follicles that produce very fine, tiny light-colored hair that is often referred to as “peach fuzz”. Vellus hair serves a purpose, which is to help regulate our body temperature.
During puberty, increased production of the hormone androgen causes these follicles to become bigger and begins making terminal hair, which is longer, coarser, and darker. Everyone’s body produces androgen, but males have higher levels, which is why men usually have more terminal hairs than women.
Your hormone levels shift periodically and throughout your lifetime because of aging, weight gain, and other factors, including pregnancy and menopause.
Even a slight increase in androgen or imbalance between your male and female sex hormones — which everyone has — can result in more terminal hairs in places you may not expect, like your chin.
See Also
Does having hair on your chin mean you have PCOS? | Skin Perfection
There are a number of factors at play when it comes to facial hair. Some facial hair is normal and harmless, while some can be a sign of an underlying medical issue. In most cases, chin hairs are normal.
Getting rid of an unwanted chin hair
There’s not much you can do to stop chin hairs from growing — they’re just a part of being human. You do, however, have many options for removing random chin hairs if they bother you.
Options for getting rid of chin hair include:
- tweezing
- shaving
- waxing at home or by a professional
- professional threading
- professional sugaring
- laser hair removal
- electrolysis
A couple of stray chin hairs can be easily plucked out with tweezers. Shaving is another fast and easy way to remove chin hairs. The downside to shaving is that you’ll likely have to do it more often and regrowth appears coarser.
Contrary to popular belief, your hair doesn’t actually grow in thicker — it just appears that way because the tips of the hairs are blunt rather than tapered after shaving.
When a chin hair is a health flag
There are times when chin hair is a red flag that something may be going on with your health. Excessive chin or facial hair, or suddenly increased growth in hair on any part of the face, may be a sign of a condition called hypertrichosis. The type of hypertrichosis specific to women is called hirsutism.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, hirsutism is common and affects 5 to 10 percent of women of childbearing age. It can cause dark, coarse hair growth on the chin, upper lip, chest, abdomen, and back.
Though the exact cause of hirsutism is not always known, it can also be caused by several medical conditions.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is the leading cause of hirsutism. This common condition affects as many as 12 percent of U.S. women of childbearing age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s characterized by a group of symptoms that affect the ovaries, including:
- tiny cysts in the ovaries
- high levels of androgen and other male hormones
- irregular or missed periods
Along with excessive or unwanted hair, people with PCOS often also experience:
- weight gain
- heavy periods
- acne
- headaches
- skin tags
- dark patches in skin creases
Cushing syndrome
Cushing syndrome results from your body being exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol for a prolonged period. It can happen if you take corticosteroids for a long time or if your body produces too much cortisol.
Females with Cushing syndrome often grow excess facial hair and have irregular periods. A fatty hump between the shoulders, purple stretch marks, and a rounded face are other common signs of the condition.
Non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCAH)
NCAH is a milder form of a genetic condition known as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) that occurs later in life. The condition is very rare and doesn’t always cause symptoms. Women who do have symptoms experience those related to excess androgen, such as:
- excess facial hair
- frontal baldness
- menstrual irregularity
- infertility
Androgen-secreting tumor
Androgen-secreting tumors of the ovaries or adrenal glands are rare and account for just 0.2 percent of cases of hirsutism in women. The excess hair caused by these types of tumors usually grows suddenly and continues to grow even with medical treatment.
The excess hair may be accompanied by other signs and symptoms, such as:
- high testosterone levels
- increased muscle mass
- enlarged cl*tor*s
- deepening of voice
- increased sex drive
- male pattern baldness
- abdominal or pelvic mass
When to see a doctor
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should see your doctor if you experience an increased growth of facial or body hair over a short period of time.
Hair growth that is accompanied by other symptoms, such as severe acne, a change in your voice, or irregular periods should also be evaluated by a doctor.
A dermatologist can look at your chin hair and determine if you should be screened for PCOS or other medical conditions based on your appearance and other symptoms.
The takeaway
Having some hair on your chin is perfectly normal and usually a cosmetic concern more than a medical one. Chin hair can be removed safely using a number of at-home and professional methods, if you choose to do so.
If you have a lot of hair on your chin or experience increased hair growth suddenly, it could be a sign of a hormonal imbalance. Excess body hair in unusual places or chin hair that’s accompanied by other symptoms should prompt a visit to your doctor to find the cause.
FAQs
Chin Hair: Causes, Meaning, and Removal? ›
Occasional chin hairfacial hair
Learn More Now ›
What causes hair on the chin in females? ›
Hirsutism is excess hair growth on the body or face. For women, the hair may grow in areas where men often have a lot of hair, but women often don't. This includes the upper lip, chin, chest, and back. It's caused by an excess of male hormones called androgens.
Know More ›
How can I stop hair from growing on my chin as a woman? ›
Tips for getting rid of chin hairs
laser hair removal. eflornithine (Vaniqa) prescription cream hair remover. waxing. shaving (it's a myth your facial hair will grow back thicker)
Explore More ›
What vitamins stop facial hair growth? ›
Dietary supplements that contain vitamins B6 and E are also believed to help get rid of unwanted hair growth in the facial areas. For one, vitamin B6 is thought to help lower testosterone in women and inhibit prolactin hormone production.
Keep Reading ›
How do you get rid of chin hair permanently? ›
Option No.
Your other option — and the only truly permanent type of hair removal — is electrolysis, a procedure that involves inserting a tiny wire into the follicle to deliver an electrical current that destroys it.
Tell Me More ›
How to get rid of old lady facial hair? ›
No surprise there are many methods to get rid of it: you can epilate, tweeze, wax, sugar, thread, burn, shave or bleach; use creams, lasers, IPL, electrolysis or make-up. Surface removal methods like shaving are quick and easy, but stubble grows back fast.
Learn More Now ›
Does plucking chin hair make it worse? ›
There is an old wives' tale about avoid shaving your face because the hairs will grow back more quickly. According to Dr. Lertzman, tweezing or shaving certain areas of your face does not change how quickly the hairs grow back or how long the hairs remain on the face.
Read On ›
How do I balance my hormones to stop chin hair? ›
Doctors can also prescribe treatments to reduce chin hair in females. For example, birth control pills can help balance hormone levels by reducing androgen production. For those unable to take these medications or with hair growth that persists, a doctor may prescribe stronger medications.
Keep Reading ›
How can a woman get rid of chin hair naturally? ›
If you're bothered by the hair that grows on your face, follow these tips:
- Shaving. Shaving is one of the fastest and easiest ways to remove hair and continue your day. ...
- Tweezing. ...
- Epilation. ...
- At-home waxing. ...
- Laser hair removal. ...
- Depilatory creams. ...
- Threading. ...
- Sugaring.
More items...
View More ›
How to stop plucking chin hair? ›
Here are some tips from people with trich that may help when you feel the urge to pull your hair:
- squeeze a stress ball or something similar.
- form a ball with your fist and tighten the muscles in that arm.
- use a fidget toy.
- wear a bandana or a tight-fitting hat, such as a beanie.
More items...
Read On ›
What foods reduce facial hair? ›
Few foods might help you to get rid of facial hair: Sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, garlic, peaches, oats, dried fruits, barley, mung beans, lentils, and rice bran may help increase the estrogen (hormone) levels in the body and reduce unwanted facial hair naturally.
See More ›
Does vitamin D increase facial hair? ›
Vitamin D stimulates hair follicles, which promotes beard growth and thickness and is essential for hair's overall health. Low vitamin D levels are often associated with hair loss2 or thinning hair. Maintain optimal vitamin D levels by ensuring sufficient exposure to natural sunlight.
Find Out More ›
What pills stop chin hair growth? ›
Eflornithine is used to slow the growth of unwanted hair on the face in women, usually around the lips or under the chin. Eflornithine works by blocking a natural substance that is needed for hair to grow and is located in your hair follicle (the sac where each hair grows).
Learn More Now ›
Why do I suddenly have so much chin hair? ›
“Chin hair is more common in women with higher levels of androgens (including testosterone), certain medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and women with a family history of excessive hair growth (hirsutism),” says Azza Halim, MD, a physician at Azza MD Beauty.
Discover More Details ›
Why wont my chin hair stop growing? ›
If you have a lot of hair on your chin or experience increased hair growth suddenly, it could be a sign of a hormonal imbalance. Excess body hair in unusual places or chin hair that's accompanied by other symptoms should prompt a visit to your doctor to find the cause.
Continue Reading ›
Does chin hair ever go away? ›
If you want to eliminate chin hairs permanently, you might consider laser hair removal or electrolysis, Dr. Lamb said, which both work by damaging the hair follicle so it stops producing hair.
Read The Full Story ›
Does hair on my chin mean I have PCOS? ›
Not necessarily. Excessive hair growth, including hair on the chin, can have various underlying causes, such as genetics, hormonal imbalances, and certain medical conditions. PCOS is one of the possible contributors, but it is not the only factor.
View More ›
How do you prevent PCOS chin hair? ›
Home remedies
- Shaving: This is the most common method of hair removal. It's simple and safe, but you must shave regularly to prevent stubble. ...
- Bleaching: Bleaching products lighten unwanted hair. ...
- Waxing and plucking (tweezing): Waxing or using tweezers to remove hair from the root is effective but painful.
Why do I get black hairs on my chin? ›
Genetics. People assigned male at birth often have more dark, coarse hair on their chins, armpits, and chests than people assigned female. Everyone produces androgens, but the males produce more than the females. The overall balance of sex hormones, including androgen, is partially determined by your genes.
