“I’d like to discuss a sensitive topic… your moustache.” Such a statement would embarrass any girl. Even if you have a very beautiful face, if you have hair like Salvador Dali, this becomes an aesthetic problem. Yet no amount of Conchita Wurst will convince the majority that this is the norm, at least from a health perspective. Let’s find out where the hair on girls’ upper lips comes from.
Is it normal for girls to have moustaches?
In fact, our entire body is covered with tiny hairs. Evolution has provided this mechanism for regulating body temperature. When we get cold, the muscles attached to the hair follicles contract, causing them to rise up. In this way, the hair retains heat above the epidermis. In addition, small hairs protect against skin-to-skin friction, as well as the entry of dangerous viruses and bacteria through sweat glands and genitals.
The question arises: If hair has so many benefits, then why did Mother Nature get rid of it? Scientists believe sexual selection plays a role here. Apparently even our distant primate ancestors didn’t like women who looked like the furry Wookiee from Star Wars.
Everything is clear about the hair on the head: it warms us in cold weather and protects us from overheating in hot weather. Eyebrows and eyelashes create a protective barrier for the eyes, preventing sweat from entering the eyes. They also protect the microflora in the armpits and groin from infections. But what about the mustache above the upper lip? How are they useful? So we come to another reason: the influence of sex hormones.
Androgens stimulate the expression of masculine characteristics, including facial hair. The paradox is that in some the hormone causes excessive hair growth, in others, on the contrary, it causes baldness. With androgenetic alopecia, men may even grow a beard and mustache.
When should the alarm be sounded?
During puberty, women’s bodies also produce androgens, but in much smaller amounts. However, in light-skinned, dark-haired young women, as a rule, the hairs above the lips and near the ears become more prominent. Because a large number of sex hormones change the hair follicle, making it darker and more visible.
If hair is actively growing both above the lip and, for example, on the chin, cheeks and even on the back, this is a sign of hormonal imbalance in the body. In this case, the girl should urgently contact an endocrinologist. Since severe hirsutism (from Latin hirsutus – “hairy”) can lead to hair loss, acne, menstrual irregularities and infertility. It is the doctor who will help balance the testosterone and estrogen ratio. There is also the possibility of detecting accompanying diseases such as ovarian tumor, prolactinoma, acromegaly, virilized adrenal carcinoma and Cushing’s syndrome. Heredity also plays an important role, because male-pattern hair growth in women may indicate congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Should you be worried if you have a moustache?
As we said, hair grows all over the body. Excessive hair may be a sign that you’re checking your health, but don’t panic if you have dark but not very noticeable hair above your lip. In many cases ethnicity plays a role. 40 percent of women in the world, especially 40 percent of women living in the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Latin America, face this problem to some degree.
Also, sometimes hairiness in women is a temporary phenomenon caused by taking certain medications. For example, medications containing minoxidil taken to treat high blood pressure.
Source: People Talk
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
