Androgens are hormones that trigger the development of male sexual characteristics. The most well-known androgen is testosterone. The growth of hair is linked to testosterone levels, as the hair follicle is androgen-dependent.
Arriving through the bloodstream, testosterone attaches itself to androgen receptors, which are present in the hair and sebaceous follicles. Once bound to its receptor, it transforms under the action of the 5-alpha reductase into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a new active androgen.
Androgens lead to an increase in hair growth, particularly on the faces of post-menopausal women. They transform the downy hair into coarse and thick hair.
Scientifically speaking, the increase in hair growth in unusual places in women, particularly on the face, is referred to as hirsutism. Indeed, hirsutism is the appearance of hair in so-called masculine areas, which are normally hairless (devoid of hair) in women (face, chest, back, buttocks, etc). In menopausal women, hirsutism is a consequence of the hyper-androgenic state related to the changes in the balance of androgens/estrogens.
A study conducted on post-menopausal women aged 45 revealed that 49% of them noticed the appearance of new facial hair. Of these women, 39% noticed unwanted hair on their chin, 22% on their upper lips, and 39% in both areas.
Note : In menopausal women, there is an appearance of unwanted hair, especially on the face. This is due to the high sensitivity of the pilosebaceous follicles to androgens in this area.
The appearance of unwanted hair, particularly on the face, is very common during menopause. This is due to the hyperactivity of 5-alpha-reductase and the disappearance of the anti-androgenic activity of progesterone. Generally, this impacts the quality of life of women and leads to a decrease in their self-esteem.