Toes, tummies, upper lips, gorilla hands, chins and everywhere in-between...hair! It’s everywhere. And some of it, for good reason. Others, not so much.
Charlotte Cook Photo: RNZ
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In this episode I talk about hormones, treatments and the journey for transwomen, and once again, it might be a confronting listen for some of you.
We know that most bodies have hair. It comes in varying degrees, but for the most part, it's normal - even if we are told it isn't! So how do we rule out if it's a red flag for something more serious like a health condition?
Endocrinologist Dr Stella Milsom said, "There are a few tell-tale signs, but most of it has to do with hormones."
She says what's considered a 'normal' amount of hair tends to depend on your family history and ethnicity.
But unfortunately, there's no real test to determine how much you should have.
Instead, there is a test called the Ferriman-Gallwey scale which scores the face, chest, abdomen, legs and back.
But concerns for people vary and some people with modest body hair are really troubled by it, she said.
The next step is to work out what's causing it. Often it's because of the male type hormone, Androgen, which can trigger "male pattern hair growth" - the parts you would typically expect a man to grow hair.
the Ferriman-Gallwey scale Photo: Supplied
There is also a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. The condition affects about 10 percent of women in New Zealand who usually have an increased level of testosterone and insulin. The symptoms range from mild to severe and can include irregular or heavy periods, acne, excess facial or body hair, scalp hair loss and weight gain.
Andrea was diagnosed with PCOS in 2018, and knows the psychological impacts of body hair all too well.
"I have excessive hair on my arms, stomach, feet, toes, moustache, I've got a monobrow as well. I've just always been quite a hairy person."
"When I was diagnosed with PCOS it kinda made sense as to why I was such a hairy person."
This knowledge helped her move past her youth where she compared herself to others, and realised that hair is nothing to be ashamed about.
Though for some women, their journey with body hair is a little different.
One of those people who’s had a tougher job of navigating body hair is Tris. She’s been taking male-to-female hormone replacement therapy for 2 years.
For trans women, like Tris, it’s about finding that ‘feminine’ bench mark.
“Feminising myself is quite validating. To a certain extent I just want to shave my hair because that is the accepted beauty standard for women."
“It’s not that cis women don’t have leg hair... it just makes me [fit] the ideal beauty standard.”
This series might not change your mind on what you choose to do with your body hair, but I hope that whether those hairs are there (or not), that they feel a bit less prickly without the feeling of shame.
