9 Unusual Areas Women Develop Hair (that are also TOTALLY Normal)

Everyone gets body hair. The usual areas where things get fuzzy are your underarms, bikini area, and legs. But they’re not the only places where unwanted hair can appear. For some people, hair growth occurs on the fingers, toes, back, and even the face, to name a few.

According to dermatologists, body hair is associated with your gender, ethnicity, and family history. If you’re experiencing excessive hair growth (hirsutism), it could be related to hormonal changes (pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause) or a hormone level imbalance. A hormonal imbalance means you have high androgen levels (a sex hormone that plays a role in the male reproductive system) and too less estrogen. This can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain, thicker body hair, and even polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

If you’re exhibiting those symptoms, speak to your doctor. If not, your body hair is nothing to be alarmed about. Here are all the unusual places women get body hair — and how you can get rid of it (if you want to).

#1: Knuckles + Toes

Hairs dotting your fingers and toes are usually nothing to be concerned about. And you can easily remove them using your preferred hair removal method: shaving, waxing, depilatory cream, or tweezing.

Unless you’re experiencing any abnormalities, such as excessive hair growth or irregular periods, you have nothing to worry about.

#2: Nipples

Hair on the nipple (or more specifically the areola) is usually completely normal — and surprisingly common. Like most areas of the skin, the nipple area contains hair follicles, which is why stray hairs can appear there. Hormonal changes from things like puberty, pregnancy, or medications like birth control pills, can spur their growth. Or it could be a side effect of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Most of the time, however, nipple hair is normal and doesn’t point to a health condition.

The best way to remove nipple hair, according to the pros, is by plucking it out.

#3: Belly (AKA, the Happy Trail)

Lots of women have a happy trail. In case you didn’t know, the happy trail is the area below the belly button. Unless the hair there you are getting is very thick and dark, you shouldn’t have anything to be concerned about. Just shave it off if you’re not digging the look. Or consider waxing, which will eventually thin out the hair over time due to the damage inflicted on the hair follicle.

#4: Lower Back

Don’t panic if you’re seeing lower back hair. You might think it’s something only dudes get, but trust us, girls get it too! In fact, it’s actually quite common. The only time you should consider getting a blood test to check your hormone levels is if you’re getting thick, dark hair on your back. Otherwise, you can chill, babe!

Wax it, shave it, trim it, or try electrolysis or laser hair removal. You have plenty of options when it comes to getting rid of hair from this area of the body.

#5: Inside Your Nose

Nose hair isn’t just there to annoy us. It actually serves a purpose: protecting your nasal passages from infection. Even so, we know how frustrating nose hair can be, and most of us don’t like it for vanity reasons. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to get rid of. The best way to remove nose hair is with an electric trimmer.

#6. Face

Facial hair affects more women than you’d think. From your chin to your upper lip, facial hair is usually pretty normal as long it’s not supremely dark and thick — as this suggests the adrenal gland is pumping out too much male hormone = extra hairiness. If it’s just fine hairs, you don’t need to worry about a thing.

#7: Ears

Most guys have ear hair. It’s less common in women, but it still affects a lot of females. While it might be embarrassing, you should know that it’s not weird at all. You can either embrace it, or get rid of it via laser, tweezing, or shaving. As we like to say, your body hair, your choice.

Of course, if you’re getting excessive ear hair, speak to a dermatology or health care professional. You may be dealing with a thyroid issue, adrenal hyperplasia, or hypertrichosis. They’ll be able to determine the cause and offer some treatment options.

#8: Back of Neck

Hairy neck? No worries! Sure, hair on the back of the neck is more common in men, but that doesn’t mean won’t don’t get it. They do! You can either keep it, shave it, wax it, or laser it. Or if you suspect a hormonal imbalance is behind it, speak to your doctor about treatment options such as oral contraceptives, spironolactone, eflornithine, or finasteride.

#9: Moles

Just found a hair sprouting from your mole? It’s normal.

"Moles are collections of pigment-producing cells, or melanocytes," says Sejal Shah, M.D., board-certified dermatologist. "If the mole contains a hair follicle, the excess pigment from the excess melanocytes causes the hair to be darker and coarser."

Just be sure to keep an eye on it. If you see any changes in your mole, seek medical advice straight away as it might be a signal of skin cancer.

Turns out, nipple hair might be as common as pubic hair. While it may feel odd to have fuzz growing on your back, nipples, or in your ears, you should know that’s nothing to worry about (usually, anyway). If you’re seeing any of the signs above, or the type of hair growing looks different to the rest, consult your doctor.

Causes of hirsutism can range from hormonal changes to imbalances. It’s best to get yourself checked if you have any concerns.

You should also seek professional help if you’re experiencing hair loss (alopecia), weight loss, obesity, baldness, or a skin condition such as dermatitis. It’s always important to seek help if you suspect something’s not right.

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