Ever wondered why we have body hair? Well, it all starts even before we’re born. Around 16 weeks into development in the womb, our bodies get covered in what’s called lanugo – these super fine, soft hairs that act like a protective shield for our skin. Once we’re close to being born or just after birth, these lanugo hairs are replaced by vellus hair. These hairs are short, fine, and usually blend in so well you hardly notice them. They cover almost our entire body except for a few spots like the lips, behind the ears, palms, feet, and certain intimate areas.

As we hit puberty and our androgen hormone levels surge, some of that vellus hair gets swapped out for terminal hair – you know, the thicker, longer, darker kind. This is when we start seeing the signs of secondary sex characteristics, like hair growth in the pubic area and armpits. Guys tend to get more terminal hair in places like the face, chest, and limbs, while girls usually keep more of the vellus hair around. But it’s totally normal for some women to have longer, darker hair in places like the forearms, lower legs, and abdomen.

So, when does it become a problem? Well, when women start getting excessive hair growth in areas where you’d typically expect less hair or none at all, that’s called hirsutism. It’s like having a male pattern of hair growth due to increased androgen production. This can happen because of conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or other hormonal imbalances.

Now, how do we know if it’s hirsutism or just normal hair growth? There’s something called the Ferriman Gallwey scale that helps measure it. If you score 8 or more on that scale, it’s considered hirsutism. Score over 15, and it’s moderate to severe. Plus, if you’ve got other signs like acne, oily skin, or male-type hair loss, it’s likely related to high androgen levels.

But here’s the kicker – hirsutism isn’t always a standalone issue. It could be a symptom of something else going on in your body, like PCOS or even something more serious like tumors. That’s why it’s essential to get it checked out if you notice sudden or excessive hair growth.