What Causes Body Hair Growth?
Hair is a keratinous strand of material that grows from follicles in your skin. Hair plays an important role on your body for sensory, protection and temperature regulation. Although most people grow hair on the head, armpits, arms, legs and groin, other areas of body hair stem from other factors. Many of these factors are biological, while others result from substances you place in your body.
Androgens
Hormones known as androgens activate body hair growth. Androgens include common hormones such as testosterone. Although more common in men, androgens are also in women, produced in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands and ovaries. This makes body hair growth more common in men, but possible in women with hormonal imbalance, such as during a pregnancy or menopause.
- Hormones known as androgens activate body hair growth.
- Although more common in men, androgens are also in women, produced in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands and ovaries.
Genetics
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Your genetics can also determine body hair growth, especially the Lhx2 gene, according to research by the Umeå University in Sweden. Genes decide when hair growth will occur, where hair growth will occur, and how sensitive your hair follicles are to the substances that activate hair growth. For example, a son may grow hair in similar quantities and areas as his father. A mother with genes that cause more prominent body hair growth may pass on the trait to her daughter.
- Your genetics can also determine body hair growth, especially the Lhx2 gene, according to research by the Umeå University in Sweden.
- A mother with genes that cause more prominent body hair growth may pass on the trait to her daughter.
Adrenal Diseases
Certain adrenal diseases may also affect the amount of hair that grows on the body. The adrenal glands produce androgens, which in greater quantity can cause an increase in body hair on both men and women. Adrenal diseases such as adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing's syndrome, and adrenal tumors can cause an imbalance in androgen production, leading to body hair growth.
Ovarian Diseases
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Diseases affecting the ovaries can increase body hair growth in women. This is due to the role ovaries play in keeping hormone levels balanced in the body. Common ovarian diseases that can increase body hair include ovarian tumors and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is one of the most common causes of abnormal body hair growth, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine 1.
- Diseases affecting the ovaries can increase body hair growth in women.
Steroid Medications
Steroid medications introduce synthetic hormones into your body that can cause an imbalance in natural hormone levels. An imbalance toward androgens may cause an increase in body hair. Medications that can possibly cause this include danazol, testosterone, corticosteroids, metryrapone and anabolic steroids.
Related Articles
References
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine: Hirsutism and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- Science Daily: Gene That Regulates Hair Growth Identified
- Phillips TG, Slomiany WP, Allison R. Hair Loss: Common Causes and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2017;96(6):371-378.
- Watras MM, Patel JP, Arya R. Traditional anticoagulants and hair loss: a role for direct oral anticoagulants? A review of the literature. Drugs Real World Outcomes. 2016;3(1):1-6. doi:10.1007/s40801-015-0056-z
- Urysiak-czubatka I, Kmieć ML, Broniarczyk-dyła G. Assessment of the usefulness of dihydrotestosterone in the diagnostics of patients with androgenetic alopecia. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2014;31(4):207-15. doi:10.5114/pdia.2014.40925
- Vincent M, Yogiraj K. A descriptive study of alopecia patterns and their relation to thyroid dysfunction. Int J Trichology. 2013;5(1):57-60. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.114701
- Peters EMJ, Müller Y, Snaga W, et al. Hair and stress: A pilot study of hair and cytokine balance alteration in healthy young women under major exam stress. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(4):e0175904. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0175904
- Pratt CH, King LE, Messenger AG, Christiano AM, Sundberg JP. Alopecia areata. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17011. doi:10.1038/nrdp.2017.11
- American Academy of Dermatology. Alopecia Areata: Overview.
Writer Bio
Chris Sherwood is a professional journalist who after years in the health administration field and writing health and wellness articles turned towards organic sustainable gardening and food education. He now owns and operates an organic-method small farm focusing his research and writing on both organic gardening methods and hydroponics.