Curious About That Stray Hair on Your Chin? Here's the Cause, and Why It Keeps Growing Back

As it turns out, the “random” hairs you find in places like your chin actually aren’t so random. If you ever find a stray hair on your body in a place you’ve never seen one before, it’s likely due to a hormonal change. “Stray hairs occur in different age groups for different reasons,” dermatologist Orit Markowitz, MD, told POPSUGAR. “As women become perimenopausal or menopausal, unwanted facial hair is common due to hormonal changes.”

During menopause, your body will start producing less estrogen while still producing the the same amounts of testosterone (this also happens when you ovulate). That testosterone can, in turn, cause you to grow unwanted facial hair in places like your chin, neck, or upper lip.

Outside of things like ovulation and menopause, though, women can also begin to see facial hair growth as a result of hair growth medications. Another big reason: stress, which can cause the amount of testosterone your body produces to fluctuate.

Not always, but according to Dr. Markowitz, sometimes unwanted hair growth in younger women can be a sign of something more serious.

“In younger age groups, this can be associated with certain diseases like polycystic ovary syndrome or syndrome X where women stop menstruating regularly and gain weight,” she said. “These diseases are due to insulin resistance that causes hormonal imbalances that lead to hair in unwanted areas like the face and other unwanted side effects, like increased weight gain.”

Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a disease common among women. As we’ve previously reported, it affects six to 12 percent of people with female sex organs and is caused by ovaries that are enlarged by cysts. PCOS can also cause irregular or infrequent periods, excessive acne, and weight gain, so if you notice any of these symptoms accompanying your unwanted facial hair, it’s best to reach out to a doctor.

PCOS can be treated with medication, so you should see a doctor for help if you think the disease is the underlying cause of your hair growth. If not, there are a ton of hair removal methods – like tweezing or waxing – you can turn to to help get rid of your hair temporarily. For a more permanent solution, Dr. Markowitz recommends laser hair removal if the hair on your face is darker and you’re looking for a treatment that’s more long-lasting.

“To treat unwanted dark hairs I like to use the diode or YAG lasers for hair removal,” she said. “Lasers are best for dark hair because they are designed to remove target brown colors, therefore the lighter the skin and the darker and thicker the hair, the better the result.” For lighter hair, she recommends topical creams or electrolysis.

The only method Dr. Markowitz wouldn’t recommend is shaving, as “this can cause damage to the skin, acne, and even folliculitis or inflammation or acne-like scarring of the hair follicles.”