r/Hirsutism

It’s about to be summer and I’m struggling so much with new body hair I’ve never had on my underarms, stomach, breasts, and legs.

I first noticed I had some hirsutism back in 2019 when I started having chin and lips hairs. I would pluck them and eventually I treated them with laser in 2022/2024. Laser has worked decently well on that area.

Flash forward to 2025, I decided to laser my bikini area and was offered to laser my underarms for free. I said no at first but then felt pressured. In late 2025, I decided to try the birth control Yaz to help with acne. I got on and off it quickly. But then a few weeks later I started growing tons of underarm hair that I never had! Way more than before laser. Either the laser or birth control triggered it. Since I’ve gotten more hair on my stomach, breast/nipple area, and my legs have thicker hair and lots more of it. I am so not used to it!

I don’t know what has triggered all the new hair growth. It used to just be my face but now I have lots of hair growth all over. The worst area and most embarrassing is my underarms because I used to be virtually hairless there. I have no idea if I should treat it with more laser or what to do.

I took lots of lab test to see if I have PCOS but I don’t.

Does anyone know if trying birth control or other medications can trigger hirsutism?? I’m so sad about how hairy I’ve become everywhere and shaving is so hard because it just comes back instantly.

I need the closest shave possible. Thank you!

"Up to 70% of people with PMOS are undiagnosed, estimates suggest, and part of that diagnostic gap may stem from misconceptions about what the condition actually is. Over the years, surveys have repeatedly suggested that both doctors and patients find the name PCOS confusing and often think abnormal ovarian cysts are a key feature of the condition. In a recent survey, nearly 86% of patients and 76% of health professionals who responded agreed that the name should change.

Because the syndrome has largely been viewed as gynecological, research, funding and medical education has often focused on the reproductive aspects of PMOS. This has left knowledge gaps among doctors in other specialties, despite the condition impacting many bodily systems. The new name could also help to turn that tide, stakeholders think."

Hello. My 15 year old daughter is getting more and more facial hair. A couple years ago it started with upper lip, then it went to side burns, and now she has some chin hairs. It gets waxed or trimmed sometimes. She is hypothyroid and has hashimotos, but with medication her thyroid levels are supposed to be good. In January they did testing and her endo said her testosterone was ok. She went to the regular doctor around that time and she said it was just a normal teen girl thing and gave suggestions how to trim, wax or like bleach it. I'm very concerned something is wrong with her hormones or something. Think she has an endo appointment in July. Should we be doing more? I keep feeling like something is wrong and she needs more help. Oh, endo didn't think she has pcos because her periods are regular and well maybe some other testing.

Has anyone here had electrolysis? If so please share your experience down below. I feel like I’m going into a depression with my excess facial hair. I’ve tried everything, dermaplaning, IPL, plucking, waxing, spearmint tea, nettle root tea, magnesium, zinc, walking after meals, eating balanced meals, lifting weights, stress control, cryptic rotundus oil, eating every few hours so my blood sugar stays stable, giving up coffee for matcha, I drink no alcohol, cutting down on sugar and carbs/processed foods. Nothing is helping and I’m so sick and tired of feeling ugly because of my facial hair and trying to constantly hide my neck in fear of people seeing how hairy I am. I’ve been breaking down praying and crying because it’s effecting me so much. I made an electrolysis appointment to see how much it will cost, I’m just nervous this is another thing I try that doesn’t work or makes my hiritism worse and I end up wasting money I don’t have. Is anyone else going through this or have gone through this? Having pcos and hiritism is so isolating. I hope there’s a light at the end of the tunnel because this pcos girly is tired 😔

Does anyone else have black, coarse hair covering their legs, buttcheeks, back, stomach, butt crack etc.? I have so much hair you literally can’t even see my skin under it. I have a bush going down my abdomen. I have high androgens and polycystic ovaries, my DHEAS is high and my prolactin is very high as well. This started very young when I was like 4 years old, so I’m suspected to have NCAH instead of actual PCOS, but still waiting to see. I’ve also ruled out a prolactinoma but it’s still super high so I may need to check again. Does anyone else have it to this extent? I always see creators on TikTok and ig who will have hirsutism on the face but have super thin or basically non existent hair on the body. I feel confused because I don’t get how I grow it everywhere but some only have it on their face or certain patches on their body. Anybody like me literally covered in black thick hair everywhere? It’s literally impossible for me to remove it properly because it’s SO thick and there’s so much everywhere.

I am 23F and I have excessive facial hair. I stopped my laser treatment 2 years ago and I had to start shaving. Now the hair is very coarse.
How can I reduce this hair? What supplements can I take? Are there any side effects?
I was looking at Nourished AndroEase Plus and Wholesome Story Myo-Inositol & D-Chiro Inositol Supplements.
Please help me as I feel very under confident and ugly

So, I have a pretty dense beard with very thick, dark, coarse hairs due to PCOS. I don’t pluck (it would take me literally hours to pluck it all), so I have to shave every day.

I started electrolysis a few weeks ago. It’s fairly apparent to me it’s going to take some time, which is to be expected. I’ve never tried laser because I have been terrified of it making the hair growth worse. However, I am considering stopping electrolysis, trying laser just to reduce the density, and get electrolysis for what is left over. I have very fair skin and jet black hair so I know I’m a good candidate in that regard, but I also am just worried it’ll make it worse. What would folks suggest based on your experience?