African-American Women with PCOS and Hirsutism

[coco727272]

Hello  everyone, I hope all is well. I was just diagnosed with PCOS although I've had symptoms of it since I was 12 (hirsutism) and I am now 36. My hirsutism was diagnosed as idiopathic because the testing I had did not indicate an elevated testosterone level. I don't know if the testing is more sophisticated now but I had new testing done and it did indicate that my free weak testosterone was elevated.

Anyway, I have a few hairs under my chin, a lot on my neck, chest, stomach, and inner thighs. I know...it's not attractive and very depressing. I pluck (which is not good for you and causes hyperpigmentation) and I shave. I've become very skilled at covering the hyperpigmentation up with concealer but I'm so tired of it. The plucking on my neck has caused so much hyperpigmentation that I have to conceal it or people would look at me and ask me, "What's wrong with your neck?" The skin on my chest also has hyperpigmentation and I only shave this area. I feel like a freak every time I shave my chest because I'm a woman and I'm a woman who loves makeup, clothes, fashion, shoes, etc. It just seems so wrong! If I wear low cut blouses I have to try to conceal the hyperpigmentation but it's difficult because the skin is not completely smooth and it looks like I've shaved so I'm always on the search for really nice big necklaces that would cover this part of my chest. It's difficult being me!!

If anyone can relate to me send me a message and let me know your struggle or what you've done to help this problem. It was difficult for me to share this because although I know it has to do with having PCOS and I did not cause this to happen, it still is embarrassing.

Also, I don't want to seem superficial or extremely vain because I do have other health concerns that are potentially much more damaging than the aesthetic ramifications of hirsutism but I just want to know if other African-American women are experiencing this because our skin is slightly different.

Thanks.

[DeidreBee]

I encourage you all to research Saw Palmetto and Licorice Root. They can help with the symptoms of PCOS and high testosterone levels. Testosterone turns into DHT which cause hair growth in unwanted places and hair loss on the crown of the head. Saw Palmetto helps to stop that. It can help with hormonal acne too.  The licorice root will help fertility if you want to conceive. I recently started the Saw Palmetto and my skin as improved tremendously. Please research it. PS I am of Jamaican decent

[DeidreBee]

I encourage you all to research Saw Palmetto and Licorice Root. They can help with the symptoms of PCOS and high testosterone levels. Testosterone turns into DHT which cause hair growth in unwanted places and hair loss on the crown of the head. Saw Palmetto helps to stop that. It can help with hormonal acne too.  The licorice root will help fertility if you want to conceive. I recently started the Saw Palmetto and my skin as improved tremendously. Please research it. PS I'm of the Jamaican decent.

[Tammy357]

There is hope.  I am now 38 years old.  I was diagnosed with PCOS at 30, but I have had PCOS since I was 12.  I was told that it would be difficult for me to get pregnant, and it was.  But through prayer and faith, I had a beautiful baby girl at 36 years old.  I did not find out I was pregnant until I was at the END of my second trimester.  Know that difficult does not mean impossible.  My baby just turned 2 years old, last month and she is definitely my miracle baby.

[chickenfinger]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one with these problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honeys it is so STRESSFUL and yall understand the pain (literally...pain!) I'm 21 and have been diagnosed with PCOS since age 17. It was around that time that the hirutism started kicking in. It's depressing because it gets in the way of a lot of things. I look at girls with smooth bellies and smooth legs and instantly become jealous. My stomach has a thick patch of hair leading downwards. I stopped taking my birth control for a few months and the hair spread like wildfire. I would shave and it'd grow back completely in 2 - 3 days. I get long hairs around the areola, my leg hairs are thick and so are the hairs on my thighs. I'm also getting some on my chin and chest. It's painful to know that I can't just have sex with my boyfriend whenever I want because I'm ashamed of my hairy body. Always I have to shave my entire body once a week. I've got tons of ugly dark spots from ingrown hairs and they're hideous. My boyfriend accepts me but doesn't understand or have much as much compassion as I had wished. It makes me feel ugly. He will not even kiss my tummy because its so rough, even after shaving.

So glad that I'm not alone with this embarrassing condition.

[Amiricle]

hello i am 27 i suffer from the same problem i started growing hair on my face at 21 bc i shaved before i shaved i had no hair on my face i notice hair on my stomach sometimes a few on my chest its so embarrasing its hard for me to have friendships c i feal they are talking about my facial hair so i with draw from people to hid my symptoms i donnt know why im so hairy but i have like 9 hair bumps under my chin and i have to weare makeup i have beautiful skin but thie makes me so insecure im goin to get laser hair removal next yr bc i cant take this anymore i just cant contine on with a happy life..i recently was diagnosed with bellspalsy idk what made this happen but i may have the same condtions as you all please respond back soon thanks Chrissy

[laneCin]

I have to say that finding this forum feels like a Godsend. For so long I have felt ahsamed, helpless, fed up but overall alone because I had absolutely no one to turn to for understanding or simply just to listen to me vent about my struggles with hirsutism.

I am glad to now be a part of this community and I am eager to begin regular correspondence with anyone who would like to exchange tips, tricks and other helpful information.