Some girls have extra hair on their bodies because of genetics — some people have less body hair and others have more, so if your mom or sister also has nipple hair, it may just run in the family. Girls might also have extra hair because their bodies make too much of a hormone called androgen.
First, a small amount of areolar hair is normal. Excessive hair growth on the nipple, lower abdomen, or face can be a sign of hormonal problems like PCOS, so consult a physician if this describes you.
Tweezing nipple hair can be an effective way to get rid of unwanted nipple/areolar/breast hair. However, this can be painful as breast and nipple skin can be particularly sensitive while breastfeeding. Honestly the best thing to do is leave it alone.
However, nipple hair can also be a side effect of a hormonal problem like PCOS, “so if you feel that your hair growth is rapid, abnormal or thicker than it should be,” or if you have other symptoms of PCOS, see your doctor.
Ellen Marmur, most women do indeed have abdominal hair, often due, like most other physical attributes, to normal ethnic variation or hormone levels. “When you're in a high hormone state, not only is your progesterone and estrogen high, but also your testosterone,” says Marmur.
One major factor can be hormonal changes in the body.
Hormones control hair growth and distribution on our bodies. Conditions that affect your hormone balance, like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), can lead to the growth of darker, coarser hair in places where it's typically less common, including the breasts.
The only places where hair doesn't grow are:
Physical Appearance and Changes:
Breasts may appear elongated. Narrow base and high placement on the chest. The areola might be larger and more prominent. Characteristics are consistent with tubular breasts, not specifically altered by PCOS.
Some girls have extra hair on their bodies because of genetics — some people have less body hair and others have more, so if your mom or sister also has nipple hair, it may just run in the family. Girls might also have extra hair because their bodies make too much of a hormone called androgen.
Common symptoms of PCOS include:
Some nipples are round, while others are more elongated or even cone-shaped. You may have noticeable bumps or protrusion on the tip, called Montgomery glands. These glands secrete an oily substance that helps keep the nipple lubricated and protected.
Waxing and plucking can damage the hair follicles, causing new hair growth to be slower and thinner over time. These methods are not considered permanent hair growth, though.
According to Fides, the areas that you should never pluck include your nose, moles, ingrown hairs, nipples, armpits, bikini areas and pimples.
Hirsutism can be seen as coarse, dark hair that may appear on the face, chest, abdomen, back, upper arms, or upper legs. Hirsutism is a symptom of medical disorders associated with the hormones called androgens.
Tweezing isn't the most comfortable hair removal option, but it's a fast way to remove nipple hair at the root. According to the experts, it's better to extract nipple hair from the root rather than simply trimming or shaving, as this may only cause hair to become coarser.
Bumps can be a normal part of your nipples.
Areolas can vary in shape, size, and color depending on the person. “[Areolas] contain small, sensitive bumps called Montgomery's glands, which secrete a fluid that keeps the nipples lubricated,” explains Dr. Aliabadi. So bumps are kinda part of the anatomy.
Breast hair growth is usually nothing to worry about unless it is accompanied by other symptoms. Notably, increased male hormones, especially testosterone, cause hirsutism. Increased testosterone is seen in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones.
Yes — nipple hair is completely normal and more common than you might think. Many women have a few darker hairs growing around the areola (the circle of skin around the nipple), especially during hormonal shifts such as puberty, pregnancy, or perimenopause. A few stray hairs are nothing to worry about.
The only way to permanently change breast size is through cosmetic surgery, which comes with its own risks (and expense). Doctors usually prefer that girls wait until development is complete before getting surgery.
It's a common concern for many women with PCOS. “Having PCOS can lead to what we call an 'apple shape,' where you carry excess weight around your belly even when the rest of your body is lean,” Dr. Thigpen shares.
A key sign of PCOS is irregular periods or missed periods. The effects of PCOS on the ovaries can make a girl stop ovulating. PCOS cannot be diagnosed until 2–3 years after a girl's first menstrual cycle because it can take up to 2 years after a first period for any girl's cycle to become regular.
Across populations
In 1876, Oscar Peschel wrote that North Asiatic Mongols, Native Americans, Malays, Hottentots and Bushmen have little to no body hair, while Semitic peoples, Indo-Europeans, and Southern Europeans (especially the Portuguese and Spanish) have extensive body hair.
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