All body hair that sprouts during puberty—think hair on your underarms, genitals, and chest hair on guys—is controlled by hormones. Since our estrogen levels drop as we reach middle to later age, body hair growth corresponds by becoming sparser and thinner, too.
The reason armpit and leg hair appears to stop growing is primarily due to the shorter anagen phase compared to other types of hair, such as scalp hair. Once hair reaches a certain length dictated by its growth cycle, it will stop growing until it sheds and is replaced by new hair.
When you were a little girl you had hair on your head, arms and legs. At puberty hormones caused you to grow pubic and underarm hair. When those hormones diminished, so did the hair in those areas. It is totally normal for the hair to diminish or disappear. Yippee, no more shaving.
The absence of underarm hair in some individuals can be attributed to several factors, including genetics, hormonal levels, and certain medical conditions. Here's a breakdown of these factors: Genetics: Hair growth patterns, including the presence or absence of underarm hair, are largely influenced by genetics.
Menopause-related hair loss can occur in other parts of the body as well. Many females notice hair growth slows or stops on their legs, arms, and armpits. Pubic hair can also begin to thin leaving bald spots. Even your eyelashes and eyebrows may thin out during menopause.
Armpit hair generally begins to grow around puberty, finishes growing around the end of your teenage years, and remains for the rest of your adult life.
Biotin: A B-complex vitamin that helps strengthen strands and stimulate follicle growth. Biotin deficiency has been linked to hair loss.
Some ethnic groups aren't hairy at all and never get much in the way of body or pubic hair. Even if the rest of your family is laden with armpit hair, having none is not abnormal or a problem. As long as your period is happening, your hormones have matured and that's all that matters from a long term standpoint.
Similar, to hair loss on the scalp, you can experience hair loss on your arms for a number of different reasons. Skin conditions; skin conditions such as dermatitis, seborrhea, psoriasis, eczema and keratosis pilaris can cause hair loss on both the arm and legs.
Severe and prolonged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause loss of hair. The loss is diffuse and involves the entire scalp rather than discrete areas. The hair appears uniformly sparse.
If baldness runs in your family, hair loss can occur on your legs as well as your head. Losing hair on your legs is also connected with a number of health issues, like poor circulation, diabetes, thyroid conditions, fungal infections, folliculitis, hormone changes, and pituitary gland disorders.
More than half of women deal with noticeable pubic hair loss as they age, says Dr. DePree.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is often thought to be one of the causes of hair loss. After all, this micronutrient is needed for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis and red blood cell production, both of which are critical to growing new hair fibers.
Hair growth can continue throughout a woman's life, although it may slow down with age due to hormonal changes. There isn't a maximum age limit for hair growth. Genetics, health, and lifestyle factors play significant roles.
Vitamin D.
Vitamin D is essential for creating the cells that develop into hair follicles. It also supports healthy bones and your immune system. If you have hair loss and low vitamin D levels, your doctor may recommend vitamin D supplements.
The state of axillary, pubic, chest, abdominal, limb and eyebrow hair was examined in both sexes, and facial hair in females. Most or all axillary hair was lost in one sixth of the males and half of the females. This loss was progressive with age.
The cells that make the hairs on your arms are programmed to stop growing every couple of months, so the hair on your arms stays short. The hair follicles on your head, on the other hand, are programmed to let hair grow for years at a time, so the hair can grow very long.
Hair loss and thinning
A 2022 study 1 found that 200 out of 200 women participating had menopausal hair loss. Low estrogen levels also can affect the growth cycle of your hair, shortening the growth phase and delaying the stage when the hair regrows.
Alopecia universalis (AU), also known as alopecia areata universalis, is a medical condition involving the loss of all body hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes, chest hair, armpit hair, and pubic hair. It is the most severe form of alopecia areata (AA).
There's plenty of reason to go forgo hair removal and go unshaven in that region. According to board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD, not shaving your underarms actually becomes lower maintenance overall. “You won't have to shave or choose shaving cream,” King explains.
Over time, hair fibers become thinner and drop out, and unfortunately, they never regenerate. Natural pigment (color) changes occur in hair as you age as well. Pigment cells stop producing as much, and eventually, your once thick, chestnut hair becomes thin, fine and gray.
Low iron levels can lead to hair loss. Iron deficiency can trigger a condition called telogen effluvium, which increases hair shedding and limits hair growth. Iron deficiency hair loss can be reversed if you get your iron levels back to normal. Oral iron supplements can help replenish your body's iron stores.