<p>We have gone to our pediatrician, dermatologist, endocrinologist etc. and there are no answers. All hormone levels are normal but there is a ridiculous increase in hair on belly, back, sides of face, upper lip. Has anyone else had this sudden change happen in a daughter, and what has your solution been. Laser removal? Low-dose birth-control pills? It is a source of great embarrassment :(</p>
<p>Have they definitively ruled out PCOS? </p>
<p>I haven’t personally used laser hair removal but I have friends who have. Good results and there are places with very reasonable prices.</p>
<p>Why not see an ob-gyn? It sounds like a hormonal issue that just needs to get under control. (I am NOT a doctor, BTW, so just suggesting.) I mean, if this was a guy, I’d think he’s just going through a transition. Could it be the same for girls? Have you done any research about this? Could going on the pill help?</p>
<p>This does sound unusual. I have one daughter; she did not experience this (and I don’t remember her friends doing so either). Would an endocrinologist be the right person to also consult with? </p>
<p>Removing the hair is probably going to be easier than finding out why it appeared so suddenly in the first place. I guess we’re ruling out anything like using steroids or steroid cream or anything that would stimulate hair growth.</p>
<p>Do you live with this girl chocoholic (by that I mean, in the same household with the same living environment) so you could readily observe what she eats and how she lives? Because if you are a kind relative trying to help, you may not be getting the full picture of what is going on in her life that might be causing the sudden hair growth. Just wondering.</p>
<p>I know this is the parent section but I’m a high school girl with the same problem. I’ve been to endocrinologists and my hormone levels are fine. I’ve got the increased hair just like you described. The worst is having hair on my face. It’s such thick hair that depilatory creams and waxing don’t work so I have to shave daily which leaves me with scarring on my face. It’s so embarrassing. I’m looking into laser hair removal. It seems like the only option. I DEFINITELY don’t want to be shaving my face in college. I would die of embarrassment. I wish it was hormonal so I could just take a birth control pill and be fixed. If you are thinking of getting laser treatments for your daughter, I recommend looking at places that use the Soprano laser. It works differently than the older, traditional laser. It’s less painful. The traditional laser was very painful for me. It was like being tortured. The woman administering the treatments was very well trained and was so good that she’s won awards so it wasn’t her fault. It got so bad that my mom hated taking me and seeing me in pain so I stopped after 4 treatments.</p>
<p>Tarheel… I wish you the best.</p>
<p>My youngest daughter has unwanted hair and acne. She is being treated by birth control pills. I hope it works.</p>
<p>dstark
May I ask if she has polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)? Because I want to ask my doctor about treatment options but I didn’t know if using birth control pills would do any good if you don’t have PCOS</p>
<p>She does not have pcos.</p>
<p>I would ask the doctor about birth control pills …</p>
<p>Cushings syndrome can also have excess hair as a symptom (among others such as weight gain). This has to do with adrenal hormones. Keep having your doc check - unfortunately getting a correct diagnosis for hormonal problems can require persistence. Hormones fluctuate and so one test can look normal and an hour later it could show a problem. If you take asthma med’s it can affect adrenal hormones. </p>
<p>Also high testosterone can cause hair to grow - If you are around someone taking testosterone it could possibly affect you - is someone putting T cream on that is getting on you? </p>
<p>My H. has a hormonal imbalance (hypothyroid) and the stories out there about ppl feeling poorly for years before they got the correct diagnosis are rampant. Keep pressing your doc to find out what is going on. If you have other symptoms make sure to list them. Don’t let them convince you it’s psychological if you think it’s physical. Getting medical ppl to acknowledge you are rational and have definite tho perhaps subtle symptoms can be challenging. Get an adult in your world to support you and help - this is medical advocacy. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I’m assuming this is unique to her and none of the women on either side of the family have experienced that? My first reaction to your post was familiarity – I don’t know a woman on my mother’s side of the family that doesn’t have the need for facial waxing, plucking, or shaving – the hair is genetic in our case. We also have very thick hair on our heads.</p>
<p>If it is hormonal, I think that birth control pills can help, but if they’ve ruled out the hormonal option, I’m not sure if birth control pills would make a difference since they control hormones. I’ve heard that PCOS is difficult to diagnose, so it may be worth doing more research and/or seeing a different endocrinologist.</p>
<p>Dont mean to scare you, but I assume they’ve ruled out a pituitary tumor.</p>
<p>I first thought PCOS also. I would move up the physician ladder and go to a large medical center that deals with the unusual endocrine disorders. I am not sure where you live, but consider a large university in your area or state, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo.</p>
<p>Something is wrong and you need to find out what it is.</p>
<p>In addition to hirsutism, irregular menses are a hallmark sign of PCOS as is difficulty controlling weight and blood sugar levels (if any of these scenarios apply to you). If an endocrinologist has ruled out an endocrine process such as ovarian tumor, I definitely think you should see an ob/gyn with experience in PCOS. Actually I would start there and as poster above said, not a neighborhood MD but at a major center.</p>
<p>Agree with Snowdog and dentmom, you have to bump this up. The endocrinologist should have been able to help, but many docs deal more with the familiar than the unusual. Look up NIH discussions on PCOS. There are other symptoms and issues than the hair. Good luck.</p>
<p>Obgyn is also a good move, to check the physical condition of the ovaries.</p>
<p>An ob/gyn only deals with minor endocrine disorders. For the big stuff, the ob/gyn will send you to an endocrinologist, which is where you should eventually find answers. If the endo you saw couldn’t help, go to a different one. There is a cause, and you need to be tenacious in finding it.</p>
<p>Did the endo check her testosterone levels?</p>
<p>My daughter is experiencing lots of hair as well. She is not quite 13 yet and has been to the endocrinologist because there were concerns about early puberty. This thread reminded me to make another appointment, so I just left a message.</p>
<p>She has really bad acne as well…</p>
<p>I am curious if PCOS is a diagnosis that is one of inclusion (I think this is the right term, that there is a real way to diagnosis it) or exclusion (where the doctor simply eliminates everything else.) I wonder if a young girl, who has only been menstruating for a year, can be dx with it?</p>
<p>The endocrinologist can interpret blood work. The obgyn will look for physical findings.
Fwiw [Polycystic</a> ovary syndrome: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia](<a href=“http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000369.htm]Polycystic”>Polycystic ovary syndrome: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia)</p>
<p>It is important to note that blood work can not always diagnose PCOS. There are many false negatives with the blood work, though very few false positives.</p>
<p>Could this also be due to hereditary traits? My kids are half Middle Eastern descent and when my second child was born (DD) I noticed that she had considerable more fine hair growth on her arms, back, etc. than my first child (DS). She is 15 now and there is no increase in growth but I am watching those areas closely. I do know that some women from certain ethnic groups have more than average hair growth in exactly those areas.</p>
<p>Edit: We are also trying to stick to drinking organic milk and products as much as possible. Don’t know if that has any link either.</p>