Suggest Remedy For Unwanted Hair Growth On Neck And Chin

Posted on Mon, 7 Mar 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 7 Mar 2016 Answered on

Mon, 16 May 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I am a 43 year old woman who started experiencing extremely bad hormonal fluctuations after I tied my tubes 8 years ago. I have hair growing on my neck and chin and whenever I menstruate, I get malasma around my mouth. I also go through crying spells and mood swings. I've consulted doctors, but I have not received any help. They are not familiar with the malasma that is on my face when I menstruate and it clears up after it's over.

Answered by Dr. Shehzad Topiwala (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hormone tests

Detailed Answer:
Sorry to learn about these problems you are having.

When I see someone like you in my practice, I typically order the following blood tests in addition to a detailed physical examination:

CBC (Complete Blood Count, also known as Hemogram; includes Hemoglobin, WBC and Platelet counts)
Electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium in particular)
HbA1c (Glycosylated Hemoglobin = your 3 month glucose average)
Liver function tests (SGOT , SGPT, Albumin, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase)
Kidney function tests (BUN, Creatinine)
TSH
Free T4
Anti Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies
Anti Thyroglobulin antibodies
25 hydroxy Vitamin D
Prolactin
Total Testosterone
SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin)
DHEAS
Androstenedione
17 hydroxy Progesterone at 8 am
IGF1

These tests will give us some idea if there are excess male hormone levels in your body that can cause the hair growth. Some other medical conditions can also lead to these symptoms. The above tests will screen for those too.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar