Management of Facial Hair in Women

Facial hair in women generally is considered to be unwanted. The presence of facial hair in women and its associated conditions, treatmens options, and management strategies are not commonly discussed in most medical care settings. The United States military, which includes more than 220,000 active-duty female service members, has strict and specific grooming standards, which for many years have been a hot topic focused primarily on male service members. Facial hair in women is not addressed in military grooming standards across the services, but one can postulate that the expectation is for women not to have facial hair and to adhere to grooming standards. Women can be impacted considerably by pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) as well as hirsutism and its many causes. This comprehensive review discusses management options for women with facial hair in the military; however, the treatment options addressed also are applicable to civilians. Given the psychosocial implications and the variety of treatment options available, it is crucial for health care practitioners to be aware of the diagnosis and management of this common medical condition and its social implications.