Hair Growth Around Nipples: Don't Ignore It

Breast hair growth is quite common, it is rarely a sign of an underlying health problem. However, if hair growth is combined with other unusual symptoms, get checked out to find the cause and treat it early.

Breast hair growth is generally not unusual. Initially, the hair is usually thin and smooth. Then, with age and hormonal changes in the body, hair can grow thicker and coarser.
Thickness of breast hair varies depending on race and skin type. For example, people with darker skin tend to have thicker breast hair than white people.

Breast hair growth can change over time as people go through different ages. For example, during puberty, the hair around the breasts isn't particularly noticeable, but as you get older, the darker coat color may start to interest you.
Breast hair color changes over time which may be due to hormonal fluctuations such as pregnancy or menopause. For example, during pregnancy, estrogen spikes promote hair growth on the scalp, areola, and other sites. This hair growth phenomenon is called anagen.

Breast hair growth is almost nothing to worry about unless it is accompanied by some other symptom. Among them, it is worth noting that elevated male hormones, especially testosterone, cause hirsutism. Elevated testosterone is seen in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. PCOS affects 1 in 10 women of childbearing age. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is not only characterized by hair growth in the breasts, but can also be accompanied by other symptoms such as:
Change or absence of menstrual periods Increased oily skin or acne Loss of hair on the head Infertility Hair growth in other areas such as the face Difficulty losing weight In addition to PCOS, hair growth in the breasts can also be a sign of Cushing's syndrome with other accompanying symptoms such as:
High blood pressure Red or round face Ease bruises stretch marks Emotional weakness Muscles accumulation of fat on the chest, upper back, neck and abdomen Medications such as oral steroids, testosterone, immunotherapy drugs can also stimulate hair growth in the breasts. If you are concerned about hair on your chest or experience any of the symptoms above, see your doctor for further advice.

The best and risk-free way to remove breast hair is to pluck with tweezers. You can also wax at salon facilities that offer nipple hair removal treatments. This treatment can be painful, so be prepared before waxing.
Attempting to shave breast hairs may cause cuts or irritation of the delicate skin on the breasts. You also run the risk of further hair growth and infection. Therefore, you should weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether to wax your breasts or not.

Do not use Nair or other depilatory products on the chest as they can cause swelling, infection, rash and other side effects on the skin of the chest area.
If the hair around the breast grows too much, talk to a dermatologist about more permanent solutions, such as laser hair removal. This is a procedure where a needle is inserted into the hair follicle and uses an electric current to destroy the hair root.

Reference source: healthline.com