<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" Question I have coarse, dark, thick hair growing particularly around my bikini line, front and back of my thighs and around my stomach.  I&amp;#039;m really embarassed by this problem and it has got worse over the last few years. I remove the hair by shaving, but it grows back even quicker and I get a terrible rash from the shaving. Is there any reason why I have all this excess hair?  I am about two stone overweight, but even when I was slimmer I still had the problem, but probably not as bad as it is now.  I have very dark brown hair (I am of Italian parentage) so the hair on my arms, legs and upper and lower thighs is very dark.  I also have noticed dark hair growing on my chin, which I do pluck at occasionally.  My monthly periods are normal and I do not have any problems there. I have no children.  I am too embarrassed to see my doctor, as it would mean I would have to strip &amp;amp;#8211; I feel really abnormal!  Any advice you can give would be appreciated.   Answer  You have been very helpful in telling me your history, and the information about your periods being normal is particularly important.  This is because there is a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is associated with excess body hair.  Also in these cases the periods are scanty, irregular, and sometimes absent altogether, so I don&amp;#039;t think this is the explanation in your case.  Heredity plays a large part in hirsutism (that mean hairiness) in women, and you mention your dark hair and Italian parentage.  It would be of interest to know if your mother or other female relatives have had similar problems.  Although this would not help with a solution, it does give an explanation.  Unfortunately there is no guaranteed way to get rid of this excess hair. Shaving does often irritate the skin and some women find that the hair seems to grow thicker and faster after shaving.  Depilatory creams can sometimes be better than shaving, although they require more patience to use and like shaving, it has to be constantly repeated, as the hair will regrow.  There is a process called electrolysis that can destroy the hair roots, so they do not regrow, but this is a painstaking and expensive process.  Each hair has to be dealt with individually and it is not available on the NHS. If you do decide to have electrolysis, make sure that you go to a recognised and reputable practitioner.  To reassure you that nothing else is wrong you should go and discuss it with your doctor.  You are certainly not abnormal and the doctor will have been asked similar questions by women many times before.  Don&amp;#039;t be embarrassed. This will be a routine matter for your GP. Yours sincerely The NetDoctor Medical Team   Other Qs &amp;amp; As A dramatic increase in body hair Can facial hair be permanently removed? Can laser treatment be used for hair around the areola? Dealing with unwanted hair on my breasts Excess hair Excess hair on face and body Excessive body hair Hair around the nipples Hair between my buttocks Hair follicle removal in abscess treatment Hair growth below the belly button and around the nipples Hair on the abdomen Hair removal for men Hair removal query Hair removing cream allergy Hairy and spotty back Hirsutism How can I get rid of the hair on my back? I am too hairy I feel like the bearded woman Is it wrong to shave the vagina? I&amp;amp;#8217;m getting dark hair I&amp;#039;ve got excess body hair Laser hair removal Laser treatment for hirsutism My eight-year-old has underarm hair PCOS &amp;amp;#8211; dealing with extraneous hair Removing hair from the chest Terrible body and facial hair Thicker and darker hair on my torso What can I do about excess body hair?   Last updated 12.03.2014 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ask-the-expert/skin-and-hair/a3534/coarse-dark-thick-hair-on-my-body/>