Women with hirsutism grow hair on their faces, breasts and stomachs. This can cause great distress. The hair grows because they have abnormally high levels of the ‘masculinising’ androgen hormones. Androgens travel around the body in the blood stream, and a key way of treating hirsutism is to reduce the level of these androgens.
Data just published in Phytotherapy Research shows that drinking two cups of spearmint tea a day for five days could reduce the level of androgens in women with hirsutism.
“Current therapies use either oral contraceptives to suppress androgen production, or medications such as spironolactone that prevent the body responding to androgen – but this study shows that spearmint could be a good natural alternative for women who have mild symptoms,” says researcher Mehmet Numan Tamer who acts as spokesperson for the research team. The research was carried out at the Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
In the trials the herbal tea was made by pouring a cup (250ml) of boiling water over 1 heaped teaspoon (5g) of dried leaves, and leaving it for 5 to 10 mins.
The team decided to study the effects of spearmint on hirsutism because of previous reports that extracts of the spearmint plant (Mentha spicata Labiatae) could reduce libido in men. A possible reason for this reduced libido could have been that spearmint was reducing their androgen level. Other research had shown that these extracts reduced androgen levels in rats.
“We now need to do further studies to test the reliability of this finding, and to see the extent to which the reduced androgens do help women with mild hirsutism,” says Professor Tamer.
From John Wiley & Sons
hi I am 13yrs old & I understand how u feel. i try 2 shave but it takes tooo long can u e mail me because I have sum questions about the hairy situation plz contact me. my e maiil is [email protected]
hi I have the same problem u have but I’m 13 yrs old & it sucks… I was wondering if we could e- mail each other 2 tlk about it. my e- mail is [email protected]
u can e-mail me if u want it would really help me out
Hi , girls
who drank spearmint tea?
does it effective?
I definitely know how you all feel. I’m going to be 35 next month and I have dealt with unwanted hair since I was in my early teens. I use to have the hairiest arms (plus the tops of my hands and fingers). I got made fun of all the time when I was younger so I started going and getting my full arms waxed. This was great, plus over time the hair grew back finer and there was less of it (I went once every 5 weeks). In recent years I’ve started using Veet on my arms as it is quicker and MUCH cheaper. I use the Veet once every 3-4 weeks and it works just as well.
Additionally, when I was 28 my hormones started getting all crazy. I broke out with cystic acne all over my face and started noticing fine hair all over my face (like the full beard area on a guy) with some dark black hairs mixed in. I was horrified. I went to the dermatologist and was put on Acutane for the acne and after 7 months my face was finally clear. However, the hair still remained PLUS the hair on my head started falling out. I also got dark, course hair around my nipples and a small trail of hair on my belly. AGAIN, I was horrified. I went to several doctors and they all kept telling me it was genetic (however, none of the women in my family had ever had these problems before me). After 3 years of going through this I finally found a doctor that listened to what I was saying and she sent me for an abdominal CAT scan to look at my ovaries. From this they saw that I had cysts covering my ovaries and they were constantly rupturing and reforming. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This syndrome causes cystic acne, patterned baldness, unwanted hair growth, etc. I’ve never been so happy to be diagnosed with a problem before because there’s way to deal with this problem!!! One way is to take oral contraceptives. This works for a lot of people unfortunately I was not one of them. I’ve been on oral contraceptives since I was 15 years old due to painful and frequent periods. It worked great for that but wasn’t strong enough to take on the PCOS. My doctor then suggested Spironolactone (Aldactone). Spironolactone is actually a blood pressure medicine but has also been found to treat PCOS in women. It works pretty well but it is not without side effects though and you definitely do not want it in your system if you are trying to conceive.
Since I would like to try to get pregnant in the next couple of years (I’ve also had a hard time getting and staying pregnant over the years due to the PCOS.) I’m going to have to put the Spironolactone on the back burner. I’m excited to try the spearmint tea for the unwanted hair growth though I don’t know what I’ll do about the patterned baldness and cystic acne. If anyone has any natural remedies for these I would love to hear them!!!
I truly know how you ladies feel,and im with you!Im 15 years old right now,and im VERY hairy.My dad is hairy also and his mom,my mom no .It started when i was about 12 and it got worse throughtout the years.I started shaving when i was 13 and now my hands have cuts and marks all over them.I wear some dress and short sleaves,but i feel so insecure and ugly.I have a nice face and body[so i’ve been told:],but these hair are so depressing and annoying.
I hope this tea helps.I told my mother men have it soo easy!
Why couldnt women be born with hair on there heads,eyebrowns,and eyelashes only?:D
Becca
@ Becca. I’m 21 and it’s gotten worse it feels. So You’re in the same boat, trust me. :(
I hate this!! I want my man to have the mustache NOT ME!!!! Only men should have mustaches! MUSTACHES ARE CUTE, AND ONLY CUTE ON MEN!!!!:( i think it’s weird that my friend who really likes me can’t grow one, and I can! And it sorely depresses me. (there are some men out there who actually don’t have ANY TYPE OF FACIAL HAIR ON THEM! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT???) (It’s a hereditary disorder, I’ve heard, but how sad for a guy, I’d love to give him mine!) XDD
*sigh* I use Nair and I tweeze with the horrifying thought of this crap coming back darker. And I have this paranaoia about hair on my face that shouldn’t belong there. Even if it’s small and unnoticeable, I’m like “OMFG!! KILL IT!!! KILL IT!! I DONOT WANT TO FEEL IT ON MY FAAAAACE!!!! F@#$ING KIIIIILLLLL IIIIITT!!!”
I NEVER shave my face. I see only men shave their face. It seems wiith women who are darker haired like me, suffer from this s*it than their stupid lucky dumb blonde counterparts. I hav it on my arms (but not too conspicuous God was merciful THERE) in between my breasts and below my stomach. I don’t feel feminine at all. :( I have such a low self-esteem and this adds to it. God, if I had the money I’d get this crap taken off PERMANENTYLY!! LASER the F*%@ING S*** OFF!!!
Seriously, God gave the animal (man) an easier life to live. He dies before the wife. (ususally) HE can be hairy like the animal he is. He can keep on populating, WE have periods and THEN Oh joy, MENOPAUSE for the rest of our godforsaken life until the day WE DIE. Sooo looking forward to that S*#T!!
men don’t have to worry about getting pregnant, hell, if he was really unfaithful, he go right onto the next young hott thing. Ugh.
God, this pisses me off. My sister has a hairy upperlip and she’s
fine with it. JEEZ, I wish I had her type of self-esteem! I remember at the ripe old age of 7 and finding out that I was growing effing facial hair, MY GOD THAT DEPRESSED ME!!! All my life since i was young, I had a thing for mustached men, and here I was starting to grow one!!! F*&#ing NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
But yes, I always wished that to God our creator, “Why couldn’t us women be born with hair on just our heads, eyebrows, and eyelashes only?” Let the man look like a beast, not us! WE want to be dainty, delicate, beautiful and pleasing to the eye to look at.”
I hate my voice as well. At times I feel so manly, it makes me so uncomfortable to think about how masculine I feel. :( I hate the hair I hate my voice and I hate my godawful manly nose!!!
For hair removal, DONT USE NAIR, it works, but it’s crap sometimes. I liked Sally HAnsen Hair Removal. She is so much better than Nair. And… I wouldn’t shave.
D@MN THESE HORMONE LEVELS!! I hope this tea works for me….. (D:)
Please get yourself to a doctor. My daughter was just diagnosed with PCOS and it sounds like most of the girls here may have this same hormonal disorder. She is having a really difficult time as well with the excess hair and acne. The doctor can prescribe birth control pills or a medication called Metformin to help reduce the symptoms. Also, eating a low carb diet and exercising is supposed to help as well. Good luck to you all. I’m curious about the tea as well and will keep researching trying to find something to help her.
Very useful review! Can’t wait to try this out. Anyway, I’ve also experienced Laser hair removal and it was really good. You might want to try it.
I’m 15 years old and i started to noticed that i have hair on my face, stomach and other places this year. It very hairy ! i hate it,i have to wear long sleeve/cardigan when i go out and it sucks. I’ve always wanted to wear dresses and skirts, shorts and all. I can’t because of this stupid hair -___-
I’m scared that guys won’t like me if they knew i’m hairy, and its really depressing if they do so. I don’t think they have Spearmint tea here in my country. I was planning on waxing, does it reduce hair growth?
Im 16 years old, and ive been dealing with “hairy problems” since i was 13 or 14! =/i absolutely hate it!!!! Its soo annoying.. i have hair everywhere.. i have sideburns, moustache, chin hair.. then i got hair on my butt, tummy and arms.=/. I tried waxing it, its alright.. but i havent been there in a while i also tried shaving but it comes back thicker and i also use nair for the face..Hopefully this spearmint tea hig will work.. Im like ready to give up!?! ;p
Hello i am 16 male as far as i can see most of you have got a hair problems i am certain all of that got a hair problem your skin is a softer than normal that is causes hair to grow up esier than a tougher skin so there is some trainings that makes your skin come to normal then hairs will grow up harder i think this is makes you a little bit hairless than before because my legs are a little bit hairy than a normal and i do not know how ladies figure this out,i am doing those trainings and i feel better i hope all of get rid of hair problems god bless
Not to discourage you, but I would be VERY cautious of the medications, topicals (creams, etc) and stuff. I work in the medical field and see too many side effects causing additional problems such as liver and kidney damage.. Try “Googling” these meds and you will see what I am saying. Be VERY careful of this stuff ladies. If someone picks on you about hair they are a sad creature.
BTW, dude you are clueless. Hair results from hair follicles in the skin. Many things cause “hairiness.” Pcos and hormones are some causes. Shaving, waxing or whatever will not lessen the number of hair follicles. They may or may not result in the hair growing back finer.
i am 14 and its so depressing to have hair on my face, butt, chest, stomach, back, legs and arms ! I am sick and tired of it, i use to shave my whole body spending god knows 2 – 3 hours daily, i was fine with it first, but then i couldnt do it anymore, it was very tiring, my friends think i am hairless, which is good, but I AM NOT, i cant keep up with shaving daily, and i hate those black spots which i get, i bleach my face and its all peach fuzz, even my chin hair because i dint pluck it, no one has said anything except this gay guy in my class, i hated it, i am too young for laser but unitl then i need some way to say hair free most of the time, PLEASE HELP, Thank You so much !
omg i have this problem about facial hair but im scared to use like that bleaching stuff on my face because i have really sensative skin but i dnt wanna start high school with that ughh what should i do?
Sam trust me, first Just try a patch on your arm, it will itch a bit but thats normal, and if you dont face any allergic reaction, you can use it on your face :) I am telling you, if you pluck it it will become thicker and the chin hair will come back rather quickly, My mom has it and she has to pluck it EVERYDAY, so just Bleach it till You are 18, and then you can go and Laser it so that its gone FOREVER ;)
Hi Kim I have Facial Hair problems too! I started getting Facial Hair when I was in 4th grade but it wasn’t really that noticebly till now (I’m 14 now)! My mom has Facial Hair too. I was wondering if you bleach your Facial Hair how long does it last till it returns to its normal color in the first place? I’ve thought of doing something about it, but I’m afraid if I bleach or wax it, it’ll get darker and longer! Have you ever tried waxing before?? Its really bothering me now, help please :]
Well My chin hair is longer and I have 3-4 thick hair strands now :( But bleaching dosent cause it, waxing/shaving or tweezing might, well I bleach every other day, I wont recommend it to you, because it can harm your skin but I would say after 2 weeks I bleach, but for some it lasts 2 Months ! And maybe your facial hair is lesser than me, but TRUST ME, bleaching wont increase ur hair, it will just make it blonde ;) Which means less visible, take a close look at your Blonde friends, they have more hair on their hands and all but just because its blonde, people thinks its “okay” -.- But oh well, till we get it lasered we are stuck with it, I am on my way to depression..I guess this hair problem aint as little as it seems for hairless people :(
I started shaving like you when I was fourteen too and tryst ms it’s a BAD idea , don’t shave because even though studies say that shaving does not make your hair coarser but it just causes them to have a flat top-end instead of a pointy one, constant shaving causes your skin to peel off around the pores making it hard for the hair to come out. It ends up curling in your skin causing ingrowns , especially if u have thick hair. I’ve tried all methods of hair removing since I was 12 up till now, I’m seventeen. Electrolysis is too slow, waxing shaving and threading cause ingrowns but laser is good. Even though it ddnt permanently remove my hair, it helps me get rid of them for two months and they come out weaker than before. I hope this helps.
hey i havve the same problems as all you ladies …
i have went through about 80% of these cmnts so im seriouse …
ass many as i read there was not one tht i seen tht said they had hair on the niple… yea i have tht problmm.. lip , back, tummy, butt, arms, and legs…. this spermit sounds legit but who knows….
well i want to knoe if the spearmint has to be the leaf or if i can just use the speermint tea bags?? email me pls …[email protected]
Please answer this- can you shave while drinking the tea? Or should you just leave everything alone?
Please PLease PLEase PLEAse PLEASe PLEASE ANSWER THIS!!!
thanks, and God Bless<3
hey wow it’s nice to know i’m not alone with this problem although it’s not nice at all to have it!!!!!!!!!!!!i have been suffering from depression and i know that most of it is from this problem and i am far too embarassed to ever tell anyone. i’ve had help for my depression but this hair problem is still here and i really don’t feel able to tell my parents (i’m 23). I finally told the doctor which was very hard to do but I did and all my hormone tests were normal so I haven’t got PCOS. But he just said there was nothing he could do to stop the hair and I left crying. I keep waxing all the time but I’m sick of it and it keeps making me depressed! I’ve changed doctors now and hopefully they will help as I know there are creams and tablets that can help. I realllly want laser hair removal but my parents won’t pay it’s so expensive and I don’t have the money for it. I don’t know what to do as I reallllly need it done but I just can’t tell my parents or even my friends as I’m so embarassed! I know a few of my friends have had hair problems but I’m even too embarassed to tell them as I like to give off a perfect image. Also there are no shops here (in the UK) that sell pure spearmint tea. Does anyone know of any? Or any other suggestions? I can’t help but feel depressed about it as I personally hate body hair on anyone, especially on myself! :(
HI, i would just like to let people know i have been on spironolactone for the last 18months, it is absolutely fantastic. i had acne (cyst like under my skin) – it cleared up my skin in a few months – rarely get a spot now and i used getl oads. Spironolactone reduces the testosterone hoemones in your body whcih causes acne and hair.. for me spironolactone wokrked very well on my dark hairs but not on my blond hairs – i have a lot of blond hairs on my face, which is quite annoying as they cannot be treated by laser apparently.. i bought spearmint tea today, hopefully that will help… i get electrolysis done, have been for about 10 years, cant say i think it works but i have to do something each month to make it not look too bad.. i get electrolysis done about every 3 weeks.. i am age 34.. and my aunties have the same condition.. i got my blood tested but hormones level normal.. although i really do believe it has got to do with your hormones, as i said spironolactone (testosterone reducer) has worked a treat on my skin (100mg) – started off on 25mg, which worked then also.. have increased it as apparently you need higher levels to work on hirsituism.. i hope this post helps someone.. if youve got acne- it will defo help you, if youve got dark hairs, it will also help you, not sure about blond – think it slightly helps but not enough..
Very interesting topic. Laser hair removal is one of the most effective hair removal treatments available today. I would recommend this to my friends.
im 13 goin on 14 in the matter of days. i have body hair and i hate it. i have low self esteem because of it. i dont like people to see my body. and thats not fair. i should be able to go out in a bikinii in the summer time and go swimming without worrying if someone saw my body hair. to me is gross and i hate it. and it can damage your self esteem. i ask myself why me ? why did i have to have it ? i hide it from boys. i hide my body , infront of them when i go swimming i should have to. im supposed to feel pretty and i dont i feel gross and disgusting. ive told my mom how i feel . she says it COULD go away but thats the thing could . i want it gone. i shouldnt have to worry about this. i guess its different when you have it. its like it eventually definse you and takes over. i have it on my back . my stomach. my chest. and my arms. my arms i dont mind . but the rest i do. i wanna be able to where those tank tops that show off your back . but i cant . and i have dark dark brown hair. so all the hair on my body is dark as well. i am gunna try this tea. im praying it will work. im glad theres people out there who try and find ways to get rid of hair on the body. gives me hope. i just really want it gone, and for my self esteem to come back. and so that i can go out and not have it define me.
i have a hairy stomach and arms and i dont mind my arms but my stomach annoys me because i have a boyfriend and im embarrased about it. Does the tea work ?
Hey,
I also got hair on my Belly.. Im sooo Hairy!!! i hate it.. but im glad im not the only girl here who does.=)
well to start off im 13 years old and turning 14 very very soon. ive read almost every one of these comments and it has alot to do with me. i have hair on my whole back, i really dont care about my arms but i do care about my upper arms, not under.. upper, i really wanna wear a tantop out in public. my stomach… i use NAIR lotion, but its not shaving. legs, doesnt matter. and chest hair, bleach it and its better than shaving it. i have a boyfriend, weve been together for 7 months now. he wants me to use a bikini, i guess hes a perv(x but yeah anyways he wants me to but i really dont wanna cusz i dont want him to know… i think he’ll break up with me and i dont want that to happen. im always thinking why am i hairy and i get stressed. mom says i shouldnt shave and its tru, gets way worse. waxing is good? but im scared to tell her, ive read about the tea thingy, i wanna try it.. but does it get u fat? cusz i have a good body and i dont wanna mess it up. lazer.. im too young and its very expensive. will tea be good? well yeahh i dont know, im tired of bleaching my chest and upper arms. and removing my tummy hair with the nair lotion. im soo stressed ughh. im tired of this and i just wanna give in and shave, is this a hormone problem? i think so since my mom is hairless and my dad is kinda hairy, mayb my dad? well anyways i think ill waste my time at the doctor. ohh! and my period is irregular. ): i dont like this, im tired of it. but id like to know whos like me, becusz i know im not the only one with this problem. thank you for reading this(:
i have the same problem :( currrently on the pill,, cant explain to my fiance ccz im too embarassedd :'(… by the sounds of it yu hav polysistic ovaries which is a medical condition… you are likely to get medical treatment for it on the nhs.. xx
I agree, Laser hair removal is a vey must for every woman.
I am 14 years old & have hair on my legs, back of my legs, arms, back(mostly the lower half), & butt. I am fine with the arm hair honestly..but the rest, I am not. I am African American but my mom told me once that I am Cherokee Indian. My whole family on my dad’s side thinks otherwise, though :P I live with my dad & he is practically hairy all over, I always think he’s the reason why I have so much body hair. I’ve seen my mom’s lower half & she has hairy legs but that’s all I’ve seen.
I’ve told my dad about the problem & he tends to do nothing about it :l The only thing I have tried is shaving, it has done me no good deed because the hair grows back in 3 three days. I get so emotional over this & I always tend to lose a lot of self-esteem over this problem. I didn’t notice the hair until I was 13. I have no problem being around boys because I’m barely romantically involved :P I’ve wore jeans throughout most of my 9th grade yr. I am very willing to try anything to get rid of this disgusting body hair.
I’ve been diagnosed with PCOS when I was 15. I’m almost 18 now, been under treatment since, and still not even the slightest improvement. I have black hair from my upper lip, to my chest, to my stomach area, back…practically everywhere. Also my periods are not regular, but I’m really skinny. It’s tough, but I deal with it as well as I can and mostly by hiding my body. I haven’t worn a swimsuit or a blouse with cleavage for years now. I don’t have any hope left and I’m scared that if ppl find out about my condition, they’ll laugh at me and reject me. So I decided to wax this week: chest, stomach area, back, arms…I’ll see how that turns out. Best of luck to all of you!
I’m 17 yr old female, who questions herself about her sex , since I’m sorta flat and hairy, and I have dealt with this accessive hair problem for as long as i can remember , it started to increase when I bagan puberty at the age of 11 . I really hate it , becuase I’m a good looking girl in and out , but having this hair hides the beauty . I do try to shave , wax, and bleach at times , but its just too much .I have so much going on in life and this fact makes my life harder on the way.I dress like a tomboy all the time , not that I hate it , but I just want my friends and family to see me as a girl for once, and I would like to try it myself too. I hate hiding in clothes all the time. I hate how I miss out on social events that need little less conservative clothing.I hate how I have to lie to my friends and family that I have my period , so I dont have to swim wearing a suim suit. I hate how I have a hard time talking to people and especially guys for them not to see. I dont want this to restrict me from activites in life , but I’m too scared and embarrassed to tell anyone . Since I live with my step mom , and I have’nt seen my mom these past 3 years ,I dont know who to go to.My step is nice and all , but she is a really busy women , and I’m too shy to tell her my problem I feel like a burden on her , and as a matter of fact I’m too shy to tell anyone my problem ,well as long as your not seeing my face. I just dont want people , especially my family to see me as an isolated and depressed girl, I can really be a fun person to hang out with.I just dont know to do ? and who to tell , and how to tell ??? I’m so scared and I dont have anyone to go to!!!!, I feel like I’m alone with a growing problem in me and it makes me cry every day, I want to be there for my family and friends in any occasion, I need someone to help me out on this or just to atleast guide me through the way and not freak out .
I totally understand how you feel! I’m also 17, but I’ve been dealing with this ever since I started puberty. It’s really unfair because I’m Asian and NO ONE in my family is as hairy as me… not even my dad! My mom has some hair on her upper lip, chin, and a tiny bit on her back, and I think I’ve inherited the hairy genes from her — except I’m like 10x worse than hers since hers isn’t that noticeable. But you’re lucky that you don’t have hyperhydrosis (excessive sweatiness, gross!) along with being hairy. I’m 100% positive that I got the hyperhydrosis problem from my dad. It sucks to be me because I’m hairy and I get sweaty all over my body! A lot of you girls are lucky that you don’t have to deal with both of these problems because they cause so much embarrassment for me… and it just keeps getting worse every single day! A lot of times, I think that it would’ve been better if I was just born as a boy; at least then, it wouldn’t be as big of a deal.
It sucks that I can’t wear the clothes that I like or go hang out with my friends because it has caused me to have such a low self-esteem. And lord knows, when it comes to guys, I just want to go hide in a corner ‘cos I don’t want them to see me. It also doesn’t help since I’m painfully shy. The chances of me ever finding a boyfriend is probably at -75% anyways. Some of my classmates, who barely even know me, have even told me that I was somewhat pretty, but I still feel really ugly no matter what they say.
I’ve tried talking to my parents about my problems but they simply don’t care. How is any girl supposed to deal with this if her parents are completely apathetic? All this crap has gotten me really depressed over the years and I just can’t stand it! Seriously, why did I have to inherit these things? Did the gene pool just hate me or something? If only scientists could find a solution to this problems already!
Hi L I have the same problem as you! I’m asian too. My mom has dark black upper lip hair but it only shows on the ends. My sister has it too but hers is not that noticeable unless your staring right at her face. But I hate my upper lip hair so much! I have more then my mom or my sister! I was wondering have you ever tried waxing before? Cause I wanna try it but I’m afraid my facial hair will grow back darker and longer! I really hate it so much!