• Unwanted facial hair afflicts many women. Some women have resorted to laser cosmetic surgery to address this blemish. Other women use tweezers to pluck the hairs, but they complain that the offending hair patches return in a short time. Older women are more likely to possess unwanted facial hair, but it affects women of all ages.
  
  

Causes of Facial Hair Growth

• The Mayo Clinic defines hirsutism as a condition of unwanted, male-pattern hair growth in women. The clinic states that hirsutism may arise from excess male hormones called androgens or it may be due to an ethnic or genetic trait. The clinic maintains that up to 10 percent of U.S. women suffer from hirsutism.
  
  

Diseases Cause Facial Hair Growth

• Epigee.org states that polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) increases the level of the male hormone androgen and by that association causes facial hair growth known as hirsutism. Epigee also claims that Cushing's disease, another hormonal disorder, can also increase levels of androgen that increases facial hair growth.
  
  According to the website, hair follicles that are overly sensitive to male hormones can cause excess hair growth as well. The article claims that excess hair development is also more common among women of Mediterranean and sub-continental Asian descent.
  
  

Medicines Cause Hirsutism

• According to FamilyDoctor.Org, some medicines can cause hirsutism. These medicines include hormones, anabolic steroids and danazol. Danazol is used to treat women who suffer from endometriosis. The article posits that hirsutism also seems to be hereditary and thus occurs in families.
  
  

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

• Dr. Laurie Green, quoted in a CNN article, submits that adult onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia can cause hirsutism. Dr. Green advises that the disorder is present from birth, but the symptoms may not appear until during adulthood. The condition is difficult to diagnose.
  
  Dr. Green notes that tumors of the adrenal glands or the ovaries can also produce androgens. She argues that although tumors are a rare occurrence, these tumors do cause increased levels of male hormone, with the accompanying severe hair growth.
  
  According to MedlinePlus, people with congenital adrenal hyperplasia lack an enzyme needed by the adrenal gland to make the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. The article further states that without those two hormones, the body produces more androgen male sex hormone.