While many of us were growing up, we were told that women are not supposed to have body hair. Only men can grow hair on their chests, legs, and hands, not females. With this upbringing, it’s not surprising if you become unsettled seeing a few strands on your breasts. I’m sure you’d wonder whether you’re gradually metamorphosing into a man. Lol. OK, that’s just a joke. A few strands of hair around the nipples or even your chest are actually nothing to worry about. They don’t mean that you’re sick or that something significant is wrong with your body.
But while I’m trying to establish that you don’t have to worry about chest hair, I must also be totally transparent and tell you that certain volume and length of breast hair may call that you visit a dermatologist for a check-up. How do you then know when hairs around your nipples are normal and you don’t have to worry from when you need to take an active step? We will treat this in the next section. There, we will look at the various causes of female breast hair, and you can decipher whether you need a visit to the doctor or everything is alright.
5 Reasons Some Females Have Breast Hair
1. Fluctuations in Hormones
We are beings dominated and controlled by many things, one of which is hormones. The hormones in our system are like regulators that determine how much we grow and the features we exude. Men generally have androgens while women have estrogens as their hormones, and these are the determinants of the puberty signs that each sex displays.
When women undergo life’s processes like menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, or even childbirth, their estrogen level is affected in the sense that it either becomes low or slightly elevated. If it becomes low, it means the small male hormones that were previously curtailed will now start manifesting, causing our dear sisters to start showcasing male features.
Apart from pregnancy and the other physiological processes I mentioned earlier as the triggers for hormonal fluctuations, stress is another risk factor that makes women experience this disequilibrium. Therefore, we can conclude that women of childbearing age are the most susceptible to having breast hair.
2. Inheritance
None of us came from oblivion. To a large extent, we are who we are based on the genes we inherited from our ancestors. And, do you know that body hair is a heritable trait? Yes, it is. If you have parents with this feature, one can say that you will most likely have it too. Since the genes that are recessive in us can readily become dominant in the next generation, our parents can even not show a certain trait but we – the children – do. I guess the point I’m making is clear. Female breast hair can be inherited.
3. Body Hair Because of PCOS
Our ovaries are our pride but things can happen that may make them dysfunctional. Those of us who are a bit on the big side can be more disposed to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome than others. Scientists have also said that the syndrome can be inherited genetically from parents. But all these are suppositions; no one has been able to put their fingers on what actually causes PCOS. We just know that it exists and affects women in some ways.
Those of us struggling with this condition experience inconsistent menstrual cycles, and that’s because we have an increased amount of androgens (male hormones) in our bodies. These hormones prevent our ovaries from releasing eggs, and can also cause us to start growing hairs in unusual places like around our nipples or on our faces. While there may be no outright cure, doctors can help manage this condition to minimize symptoms.
4. Body Hair Due to Certain Medications
Almost all medications we take have side effects. What doctors do most times before they write medications for patients is to weigh the pros and cons. They try to see if the advantages of the drugs surpass the disadvantages OR if the risks of not taking the medications outweigh the side effects. Research has established the fact that some antidepressants and steroids can cause our androgen levels to rise, causing us to grow hairs on our chests and around our nipples. Assuming you start growing hair after you start taking some medications, I can assume you now know the cause.
5. Where We Come From
Depending on the part of the globe we come from, we can manifest certain traits not common to the wild population. Some of these traits may be because of the weather of our locations or the food we eat. So people from the Middle East, Mediterranean, and South Asia, generally tend to have more body hairs than others.
What if You Want to Remove Your Breast Hair?
One thing about us women is that we prioritize our convenience, which is fine. Life already has a lot for us, and accommodating things that will kill our self-esteem or cause us worries is the last thing that should be on our minds. Yes, breast hair is not harmful but it’s your choice a good one for that matter- if you choose to get rid of it.
My only advice is that you should be very careful with the approach to use. I’m saying this because the skin around the breast is tender and beyond making us feel like women, our breasts have functions. Based on experience, convenience, effectiveness, and pain management, I will only be recommending three methods to get rid of your breast hair. You will find others on the internet but I consider them too risky or impracticable for that body part.
1. Breast Hair Removal Through Shaving
People have been removing unwanted body hair for hundreds of years with razors. If we say it’s the oldest method, we hardly can be wrong. Also, while other methods may fade or become obsolete, shaving can hardly go out of favor with humans. Apart from being fast, it is cheap and relatively harmless if you do it gently and with the right tools. Why many people are scared of this method is because it can cause skin reactions like bumps, pimples, and cuts. Also, we all know that shaving does not provide a lasting removal result. You will always have to shave every other day.
2. Breast Hair Removal Through IPL
We haven’t had it so well in the hair removal sector as we’ve been in the last decade, thanks to IPL. One does not have to fear cuts, bumps, or wounds with this method because it is light-based. And for some of us who do not have the time to visit a clinic or repeat shavings, we are relieved to know that with it, we can stay hairless for life. I found out that if you use a premium IPL device like the much-revered Ulike Air 10 IPL machine, you will hardly feel any pain or discomfort.
The manufacturers of Ulike IPL removal have worked so hard on this tool to make it a one-in-all gadget that anyone can use on any part. That means that beyond your chest, you can use this gadget on your face, legs, armpits, and other body parts compatible with IPL. Please, don’t forget that you cannot use an IPL device on your balls (for men) or any opening into your body.
Maybe you’re even asking, “How does Ulike IPL work?” We find the answer in the operational principle of this technology. Your part is just to follow the instructions and wait for at least a week before you start seeing a significant reduction in your hair volume.
3. Breast Hair Removal Through Electrolysis
Let’s say you’ve tried methods 1 and 2 above and are not satisfied. Electrolysis is another method I can confidently recommend to eliminate your objectionable breast hair. The US FDA approves it as a safe and permanent way to stop hair follicles from functioning, and if you are lucky to have a professional electrologist near your home, the process can be smooth.
However, I will not deceive you; electrolysis will challenge your pocket and take your time a bit. But if it’s just one or two strands, it’s perfect to go for it. Your electrologist will insert a very tiny pin into your skin to reach the follicles and subsequently deliver some electric shocks to them. With multiple sessions, those follicles will be permanently inactivated.
Conclusion
If you ask for my candid advice on your breast hair, I will say you should just let it be. It’s not in a place where every eye can see it and it most likely doesn’t cause you any pain. But situations differ and there are genuine reasons anyone may want to eliminate those furs. In that case, choose a reliable and easy method like the Ulike Air 10 hair removal tool. You would be glad you did.