If you’ve been noticing more peach fuzz or coarse, wiry hairs popping up on your face as the years go by, you are far from alone. From your 30s through perimenopause and into menopause, shifts in your hormones—as well as changes in your skin’s surface—can cause facial hair to look more noticeable. Here’s why it’s happening, plus dermatologists’ preferred solution for removing facial hair at home.
How facial hair changes with age
Everyone has facial hair, and you might not have given it a second thought in the past. But as we age, facial fuzz can often become more noticeable. Here’s what you may see in the mirror:
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Increased peach fuzz: Technically known as vellus hair, peach fuzz is the fine, fluffy, downy hair that covers most of your body. With age, peach fuzz that was once virtually undetectable may grow a little bit thicker or darker, making it stand out more.
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New coarse hairs: In perimenopause and menopause, thicker and more coarse hairs may start to develop around your chin, jawline, or upper lip.
- Darker hair color: Just like facial hair starts becoming thicker in certain areas, previously light hairs may become more pigmented. As a commenter on a Reddit thread dedicated to menopause put it, “Sooo what are we doing about the mustache situation?”
Why does facial hair change as you age?
The biggest driver behind these changes is hormonal fluctuation, particularly during perimenopause, which typically begins in your mid-to-late 40s.
Estrogen declines: As estrogen levels drop, the balance between estrogen and testosterone shifts.
Testosterone effects become more noticeable: Even if testosterone levels don’t increase, its influence becomes more visible.
Hair transformation: Due to these hormonal changes, barely there vellus hair can become thicker or darker.
New hair growth areas: Chin and jawline hair become more common. As another Reddit commenter adds, “I have a magnifying mirror mounted to my wall and the chin check happens every morning!”
Slower skin cell turnover: Maybe people don’t realize this is a factor, but your skin itself can cause facial hair to look more noticeable:
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Your skin’s natural renewal cycle slows with age, so dead skin cells build up more than they used to.
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Dead skin cell build-up creates a duller surface, making your facial hair appear more prominent.
The best way to manage facial hair as you age
There are several options for removing facial hair, but not all are ideal for delicate facial skin—and it depends on what type of hair you need to remove.
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Laser treatments: These are best for dark, coarse hair—but not effective for soft, light peach fuzz
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Waxing: Waxing can be harsh, irritating and damaging to the skin barrier—especially if you use retinol in your skincare routine
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Tweezing: While we’ve all plucked a stray hair, this method is time-consuming and not practical if you have larger areas of facial hair you want to address.
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Sonic dermaplaning: Safe for sensitive skin and easy to do at home, sonic dermaplaning is recommended by dermatologists and estheticians as the gold standard for removing facial hair at home.
Why sonic dermaplaning is the top choice for removing peach fuzz and facial hair
Sonic dermaplaning with a device like LUXE+ works by removing both peach fuzz and dead skin cells that cause your complexion to look dull (and make fuzz stand out more). You’re not only getting safe and gentle hair removal, but also brightening your skin and boosting cellular turnover—which helps you skin look and “act” younger long-term.
“You only need to dermaplane at home once a week,” says licensed master esthetician Billie Jo Bond. “This gives you the ideal balance of exfoliation and fuzz removal, and you’re not going to damage your skin barrier by over-exfoliating.”
Does facial hair grow back thicker after removal?
We couldn’t end this article without addressing this common question. This answer is no—nothing you do on the surface of your skin will change how your hair grows back. Your peach fuzz will grow back exactly the same—no thicker, darker or coarser. Sometimes your hair may feel temporarily coarser as it grows back due to blunt ends, but the follicle itself does not change thickness. Read more here!
A quick note on excessive facial hair
While increased facial hair is normal with age, sudden or excessive growth—especially if accompanied by other symptoms—should always be discussed with your healthcare provider.
