Why do I have hairy nipples? Is it normal to grow hair around the nipples? Could it be a predisposition or what are these signs of hair around nipples? Nipples covered with long hair is a concern though harmless. You are not alone. So don’t bite your knuckles. Do not panic.
Before we get to know the circumstances under which unwanted hair grows round nipples, go through the following brief but informative description.
Like any other area of human skin with hair follicles, the nipples, areola (refer to the pictures) and area covered by chest has them (hair follicles). Women and men equally have them. The tendency is a bit higher in men. However, many women have fine hairs – a reason as to why it is even harder to ever notice.
During or after pregnancy period (esp. 40th week of gestation period), hair around nipples can grow longer or thicker at times. Even though, it is considered short-term soon after the release of hormones strike a balance.
What it means to get hairy nipples – in men and women
Growth and distribution of hair around the various parts of a human body are greatly influenced by changes in hormone levels or fluctuations during the various growth periods. Some of the expected changes are normal and should not cause anxiety or fear as long as the changes are still within your timeline.
What causes these changes therefore to occur? Here are the factors are known to contribute to hairy nipples in men or women.
Polycystic ovary syndrome PCOS can cause hairy nipples in women
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS is an endocrine disorder that affects both young and grown-up women whose bodies produce abnormal androgen hormones. Androgen hormones are male hormones but women’s bodies also produce these hormones.
Is ‘extra’ or excess body hair a sign of PCOS? “Higher than normal androgen levels in women can prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation) during each menstrual cycle, and can cause extra hair growth and acne, two signs of PCOS.” [www.womenshealth.gov]
PCOS does not only lead to excessive or increased hair growth. Besides an abnormal behavior in hair growth, PCOS in women is also indicated by the following.
- Insulin resistance
- Irregular menstrual cycles (during menopause)
- Infertility in women
- Sleep apnea
- Diabetes and high blood pressure
- Depression and anxiety
Basically, the highlighted symptoms are considered risk factors for PCOS but are treatable.
Cushing syndrome
Cushing syndrome is another disorder linked with problems in hormones. According to MedGuidance, Cushing syndrome results from high levels of cortisol hormone. Gynecologists have occasionally attributed a high level of cortisol hormone to corticosteroid hormones and brain or adrenal gland tumor growth.
Other causes – hair and growth-stimulating factors
In addition to the causes we have highlighted above, other causes of unwanted hairy chest, breasts, and nipples include. These are probable causes but in rare cases.
Heredity – usually exhibited by members who belong to the same family
Certain conditions such as hyperthecosis
Medicines like Danazol, Phenytoin, Minoxidil, glucocorticoids, etc.
Pictures of hairy nipples or hair on the areola
While many girls and young women detest hairy bodies, some people are of opinion that hairy body is not gross. Guys, is that real? Do you love hairy chests? What if nipples are hairy? Do your pals advise you to do something about it? Then it should be rather a nagging thing in that respect. Here are sample pics we picked for you.
Note the distinctly darker areola area around the breast or nipples (in men).
A section of either sex does not like hair on nipples at all because they have a story of their own experiences. That put aside. What do you do to remove or get rid yourself of hairy nipples?
Are hairy nipples treatable?
Is hair on your nipples a problem in the long-term or short-term? There is a way you can get rid of it. However, removal and treatment options are limited to the individual level and capacity.
Laser therapy to treat hairy nipples
Is laser treatment safe to remove or stop hair growth on the areola area? It is undoubtedly one of the effective and convenient hairs removal methods. According to Raffy Karamanoukian, laser hair removal like (Nd-Yag) can be greatly achievable if the hair has pigment. The laser should be chemical-free in most cases.
How much does laser cost to get rid of hair from the nipple area? Costs may range from 27 – 40 US dollars. But do not gamble on costs for the sake of your healthy being.
In contrast to the laser techniques used to treat hair loss, you do not need to stimulate hair growth. It is the opposite of a hair loss treatment procedure. Due to the sensitivity of the areola area, a form of numbing may be necessary during the procedure.
However, in some cases, the laser can produce side effects like increased pigmentation of the skin. In special cases, a laser cannot be a 100 percent guarantee to treat or remove hair around nipples or breasts.
The bottom line is to ensure you get your treatment from a board-certified dermatologist.
Electrolysis
Common areas where electrolysis is applied include the face (eyebrows), abdomen and thighs. Electrolysis is a treatment procedure that is also suitable for removing and treating hair permanently. Be it from face, breasts, chest, thighs, bikini area et cetera.
In electrolysis, the individual hair follicle is destroyed using heat energy or chemicals.
How many sessions are required for complete treatment? Definitely, you may need more sessions than laser requires. However, the number of sessions might vary depending on the degree of growth or how deep the follicles are.
IMPORTANT: Pregnant women with this concern must in all circumstances talk to a health clinician before going for any treatment involving laser, depilatory creams, (Nair) and injection of hormones.
Secondly, electrolysis is quite slow but complicated. If you are still undergoing an electrolysis treatment stop plucking the unwanted hair off your body. You could be stimulating the hair follicles.
Hormonal therapy
Is this form of treatment suitable for you? One of the issues that need to be sought out is concerning the risks outweighing benefits when it comes to hormone therapy/treatments.
Prior to hormonal therapy, it is highly recommended that every woman goes for hormonal tests and PCOS diagnosis. Diagnosis is very crucial as far as predisposition (knowing whether PCOS is the real cause of nipple hair) and more importantly most effective method to use in the administration of hormonal therapy.
Best way to remove hair from areola and breasts
How can I remove and stop growing hair around my nipples? In most cases, hairy nipples is a long-term and tricky situation when individuals totally don’t understand why it occurs.
The laser is one of the best hair removal methods and works well for many skin complexions after a successful evaluative diagnosis.
Secondly, electrolysis is perfect too! If the laser is not an option for you then substitute it for this treatment. To affirm our assertions, read this piece by one of the clients who had electrolysis to remove hair around her nipples.
“I did electrolysis on my nipple hair and it was the best choice I’ve ever made. I had such thick dark hair around my nipples that it made me self-conscious every time… because I’d think, “Oh wait, did I pluck recently?” Sometimes I shaved the area just because it was quicker, and even got razor burn there. It’s weird because the hair on the rest of my chest and stomach is blond and downy, but right around the nipples, it was coarse and dark. Anyway, I got about 6 sessions of electrolysis. It was worth it.”
Shaving and waxing, especially in women, is not encouraged at all. We will look at the possible problems with these crude methods to get rid of the hair from your nipples or breasts.
If you notice that the hair grows rapidly over time and cannot stop after menopause or puberty, call your doctor urgently. Arrange and schedule an official appointment in order to discuss the issue in detail with your doctor or gynecologist
What you should never do if you have hairy nipples
Some women may be driven crazy by the unbelievable fact that they have developed nipples with hair. Perhaps you are a guy and have hairy nipples too, never try doing these!
Plucking or pulling them out
If you are plucking the hair off your nipples and breasts, definitely someone must have misguided you. This is what you should not give a thought especially if the hair is unusually long. Ouch! It is not only painful doing it. It is vice and hence could potentially be the cause of other serious skin conditions.
Constant shaving or waxing
Shaving or using creams to remove them is fairly good but doing it every now and then becomes pretty annoying. It could trigger irritation especially if the growth is too much or the hair grows out and becomes too long. Waxing (particularly in women) hairy nipples while you still are breastfeeding women can be more challenging. More importantly, it is a risky way of dealing with the problem all the same.
Both plucking and tweezing can cause scarring, swelling, and redness on your breasts.
What about getting rid of hairy nipples naturally?
Home-made remedies that have been tested work but only produce temporary results. Remedies are quite undesirable if not well carried out. Nevertheless, some natural procedures can increase the chances of increasing the sensitivity of the areola area.
If you are breastfeeding and have hairy nipples resist yourself from applying any of the following substances.
Papaya, lemon, apple cider vinegar or any citric acid.
Conclusion
Coping with hair nipples as a sign of PCOS in women is a painful experience but liaise with your community for support and how you can access support programs particularly during pregnancy. This problem is not something to cause stigmatization since it is fairly common.
Temporal removal like tweezing does not give an ultimate solution to hairy chest, breast or nipple hair. Gynecologists recommend you stop removing the few non-pigmented hairs on the nipple area if you have no personal issues arising.