How To Stop Facial Hair Growth Due To PCOS: The Hirsutism and Hormone Connection

When you were first diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a lot of things probably started to click—maybe the irregular periods, acne, fatigue, or stubborn weight gain suddenly made more sense. But some symptoms, like facial hair growth, can feel more confusing, frustrating, or even isolating.

Excess facial or body hair (called hirsutism) is a common but often under-discussed PCOS symptom. It’s linked to higher levels of androgens—aka male hormones—and it can impact your confidence, self-esteem, and how you feel in your body.

If you’re dealing with this, you’re not alone—and there are real, science-backed ways to address it. In this post, we’ll walk through what causes facial hair growth with PCOS, and the simple, sustainable changes you can make to support your hormones and feel more at home in your skin.

How To Stop Facial Hair Growth Due To PCOS: The Hirsutism and Hormone Connection

When we’re unhappy with the way we look, it can deeply affect our confidence and sense of self-worth. It’s more than just a surface-level concern; it can hold us back from showing up fully in our lives, making connections, and embracing new opportunities. In short, we start missing out on the joy and experiences we deserve.

The good news? Unwanted facial hair growth can be reversed. But before we dive into how to naturally reduce it, it’s important to understand what causes it in the first place.

Why Does PCOS Cause Facial Hair Growth?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition. Hormone imbalance is one of the core issues that causes symptoms! But, which exact hormones are causing facial hair growth? Androgens. 

High androgen levels (male sex hormones like testosterone) aren’t natural for a female body. The ovaries are meant to produce it in small amounts, but with PCOS, the ovaries produce way too much! This excessive androgen production is the cause of irregular menstrual cycles, acne, infertility, weight gain, fatigue, skin darkening, head hair loss, and unwanted facial hair growth.

Elevated androgens can also lead to high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance, which prompts the ovaries to produce more testosterone. It’s all a cycle that can be difficult to break if you don’t know what’s going on or where to start! (That’s where I come in.) We’ll get to how you can naturally balance androgens and improve insulin sensitivity below.

What Does PCOS Facial Hair Look Like?

Remember, androgens are male sex hormones, so when they’re elevated, the hair growth that results tends to resemble male-pattern growth. This means thick, coarse, dark hair appearing on areas like the chin, upper lip, jawline, sideburns, neck, and even the cheeks. Unlike the soft, barely visible peach fuzz most women have in these areas, this hair is much more noticeable and defined.

Do All Women With PCOS Have Facial Hair?

Not exactly. Depending on the type of PCOS a person has, androgen levels may not be high enough to trigger hirsutism or other symptoms associated with elevated testosterone. You can get a good idea of what PCOS type you have by taking this quiz! 

How To Stop Facial Hair Growth With PCOS

Take supplements that promote hormone balance and insulin sensitivity. 

One of the best natural treatments for hirsutism is a good supplement routine! High-quality, NSF-certified, research-backed supplements that support hormone balance and insulin sensitivity can give your body the support it needs to ditch the facial hair and heal. 

Here are my recommended supplements to stop hirsutism: 

• Ovasitol – Ovasitol is a combination of myo- and d-chiro-inositol in the ideal 40:1 ratio. It supports healthy insulin levels, which you now know is key since insulin resistance can drive up androgen production.
• Berberine Advanced  – Berberine is a natural compound that activates AMPK, a key enzyme for metabolic health. It improves insulin sensitivity, reduces inflammation, and helps lower testosterone levels—all of which can contribute to less hair growth over time.
• Zinc – Zinc is an essential mineral that helps regulate androgen levels and reduces the activity of 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into its more potent form, DHT. This is one of the many important reasons we had to include it in our PCOS multivitamin, MetaMulti.
• Vitamin D – Vitamin D deficiency is common in women with PCOS and has been linked to higher androgen levels. And just like zinc, it’s found in OvaFit’s MetaMulti multivitamin.

Drink hormone-balancing herbal tea blends like Testosterone Relief Tea. 

You’ll often hear herbal teas recommended to improve high androgens, like spearmint tea. After looking at the latest research, we found that there are multiple herbs that are beneficial for targeting hormonal imbalances in PCOS. So we suggest getting a tea blend that combines as many of them as possible to get even more power in your cup!

Ovafit’s Testosterone Relief Tea is exactly that. It’s curated specifically to help with PCOS hyperandrogenism. It combines spearmint, lemon balm, orange peel, chamomile, rosehip, peppermint, cinnamon, nettle, lavender, and calendula tea, all shown to help improve PCOS hormone balance when you have a consistent routine! I recommend drinking it 2- 3 times a day.

Try a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet. 

The foods we eat have a profound effect on our hormones and blood sugar levels, of course. I recommend trying a gluten- and dairy-free anti-inflammatory diet for 30 days because for many Cysters this has helped them to reduce inflammation, boost insulin sensitivity, and balance hormones, which all had an impact on improving PCOS symptoms

I know the word “diet” can be triggering, but I promise this diet isn’t restrictive. It’s just intentional! You’ll be surprised how easy it is to keep your favorite meals even just by swapping ingredients our that are typically inflammatory. Here’s more on how to reverse PCOS with diet, and don’t forget to download The Cysterhood app to get PCOS-friendly meal plans and recipes!

Do regular slow-weighted and meditative workouts. 

When we constantly push our bodies with high-intensity workouts like HIIT, our cortisol (stress hormone) levels spike, triggering a domino effect that can raise androgen levels even more. That means more breakouts, more hair loss on the scalp… and more unwanted hair in places it shouldn’t be.

That’s why slow-weighted workouts are one of our top recommendations for managing hirsutism with PCOS. These workouts help build lean muscle and improve insulin sensitivity, which are two powerful ways to naturally reduce testosterone levels. They’re low-intensity and don’t trigger that fight-or-flight stress response, making them a hormone-friendly way to support your body and feel more in control of your symptoms.

You can find guided slow-weighted workouts in The Cysterhood app, created specifically to help you reduce symptoms like hirsutism while supporting healthy weight loss and energy levels. Movement shouldn’t make your symptoms worse!

Reduce stress levels and adopt a healthier mindset. 

Lowering stress and adopting a healthier mindset can help reduce high androgens in PCOS by calming cortisol levels, which are linked to spikes in testosterone. Because many of us Cysters already have chronically high cortisol levels, stress management can help supports hormone balance, reduce inflammation, and create a more supportive environment for easing PCOS symptoms. So, practice better self-care to keep you calm and focused! 

Prioritize getting 7-10 hours of great quality sleep. 

We know getting quality sleep with PCOS isn’t always easy—between blood sugar crashes, stress, and hormonal imbalances, restful nights can feel rare. But if you’re struggling with hirsutism, prioritizing sleep might be more important than you think. Poor sleep can increase cortisol (your stress hormone), and chronic high cortisol can throw your other hormones off balance, especially insulin and testosterone. This hormonal storm can make symptoms like facial hair, acne, and scalp hair loss even more intense.

Sleep is one of your body’s best tools for regulating hormones naturally. During deep sleep, your body works to repair cells, reset your stress response, and balance key hormones like melatonin and insulin—all of which impact androgen levels. To support hormone health and reduce hirsutism, aim for 7–9 hours of consistent, quality sleep each night.

Some tips we recommend: get morning sunlight to reset your circadian rhythm, avoid screens an hour before bed, keep your room cool and dark, and try a calming nighttime routine.

Cut out common endocrine disruptors. 

Cutting out common endocrine disruptors like BPA, phthalates, and parabens is a gentle but powerful way to support your hormones, especially if you’re struggling with symptoms like breakouts, irregular cycles, or unwanted facial hair from elevated androgens. These chemicals are found in everyday items like plastic water bottles, non-stick cookware, scented lotions, perfumes, candles, cleaning supplies, and even some makeup and period products.

Over time, these compounds can mimic or interfere with your natural hormones, contributing to the hormonal imbalance behind PCOS and hirsutism. By slowly swapping them out for cleaner, low-tox alternatives, you’re giving your body the chance to rebalance naturally and feel more in sync. Think of it as a small step with big benefits.

If you’re not sure where to start, here’s how to remove endocrine disruptors. 

Try acupuncture, cold exposure, and/or castor oil packs!

Natural healing methods are finally getting the scientific recognition they deserve—and for Cysters struggling with hirsutism, these tools can offer additional support by improving hormone balance and insulin sensitivity:

• Acupuncture – By calming the nervous system and lowering cortisol, acupuncture may indirectly help lower testosterone levels, which can ease symptoms like unwanted facial hair.
• Cold Exposure – Regular cold exposure, like cold showers or short ice baths, may help reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity. Since insulin resistance can trigger higher androgen levels (which leads to hirsutism), anything that helps regulate blood sugar can help minimize facial hair growth over time.
• Castor Oil Packs – Applying castor oil packs to the lower abdomen can improve circulation, support liver detox, and reduce pelvic inflammation. A well-functioning liver is essential for processing excess androgens, which may help reduce symptoms like chin hair and acne.

While these may not be overnight fixes, adding one or two to your weekly routine may help support the deeper healing your body needs to reduce hirsutism from the inside out. Always listen to your body and track what works best for you!

Think twice before getting laser hair removal. 

I tried it in the past, but I don’t recommend trying this method of hair removal if you want something more sustainable or long term. The high androgens make the hair thicker and darker, growing from much deeper hair follicles. Because of this, this method may not remove hair as effectively as you hoped. Plus, if the underlying hormone issue isn’t fixed, the hair will likely grow back. However, if this method is helping you control the appearance on the outside while you continue working on balancing hormones on the inside, continue doing what works best for you!

Know the risks of oral contraceptives and other anti-androgen medications. 

Some women with PCOS may choose to manage hirsutism with birth control or anti-androgen medications, and if that’s working for you, that’s completely okay! We fully support your right to choose what’s best for your body. However, it’s important to know that these treatments often mask the symptoms rather than address the root causes, like hormone imbalances or insulin resistance. They can also come with side effects and aren’t always a long-term solution.

If you’ve been told birth control is your only option, we want you to know there are other ways. Natural healing strategies, like nourishing your body with the right foods, movement, supplements, and stress support, can gently help rebalance hormones and reduce hirsutism at the root. It takes time and consistency, but the results can be longer-lasting and empowering.

For more on the risks of birth control and other PCOS meds, listen to this episode of A Cyster and Her Mister.

Balance high androgens to stop unwanted PCOS facial hair!

In the end, dealing with facial hair from PCOS isn’t about quick fixes, it’s about addressing the root cause: your hormones. By embracing natural methods like the ones above and finding which ones can become a part of your lifestyle as a natural routine, you can start to tackle the issue at its source! 

It’s all about supporting your body in a way that’s gentle, sustainable, and long-term. It might take time, but with the right approach, you can reverse your PCOS, reverse your symptoms, and say goodbye to unwanted hair growth!