My body has betrayed me... is this a disease, or just normal aging??

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7 Comments

I haven’t seen or talked to anyone about this because I don’t usually get hung up on appearances. I don’t go around begging for approval or wishing I looked like celebrities or wearing tons of makeup. But for this past year my appearance has changed, and I’m wondering if this happens to most girls, or what (I’m 21).
It started last summer with a really innocent darkening of hairs along the upper lip. It didn’t stand out, I just noticed a difference. Then in November a line a line appeared on my face, starting at my nose and stopping halfway to my mouth. I know those "smile lines" are normal, I see them on everyone, even some babies, but the weird thing was I could feel it- like a kind of pressure on my face.
Then in February I started getting really bad acne. I hadn’t had any since high school! I used over the counter products but it was only a few weeks ago when I started using regular products from the drugstore that it quit- leaving purple acne scars, and holes. Great.
Around March I started getting more hairs on my face- dark ones coming from the sideburn area towards my cheeks, and fine blonde ones on the underside of my chin. And I got dark hairs all over my chest, and the hair on my legs and arms got more numerous and darker. I know women get hairier as they age, but I thought it would be around 40, not 20.
In April I got noticed a matching line coming from the other side of my nose. Then last month I got one in the corner of my mouth, going downwards. And now I have one in the other corner, though not as harsh.
These drooping corners feel like they’ve been numbed by the dentist. It’s just been one year, but I feel like I’ve aged five or ten.
Does this just happen when you get to your 20s? I don’t smoke or take hormone medication or anything like that. And its not like I’m covering the mirrors or signing up for a face lift, but it’s a little disconcerting, and just seems to keep getting worse. I’ve been stressed about other things, and now I have this to deal with. I just want it to go away (the problem, not my face).

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27% Normal
Based on 26 votes (7 yes)
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Comments ( 7 )
  • ReaperAJ
    14 years ago

    Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - PCOS - is a common cause of abnormal hair growth in women. It is also usually associated with glucose intolerance. I suffer from this syndrome and it is most unpleasant. If your periods are irregular at all it might be an idea to get checked by your gynie. It could indeed be a hormonal imbalance, you could even be hitting early menopause, which is uncommon, but it happens. I saw a story on a woman who went through it in her early 20's and she aged drastically. Photo's of her changed dramatically over a period of a year. It would be best to see a gynie who can also order blood tests and so on, I would say you should start there to investigate the problem.

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  • BallerinaCass
    12 years ago

    I don't think she's being vain at all, if all of those changes were happening to me, heck or even you, there would be some worrying to do.
    I think it might just be a hormonal imbalance, but I'd run it past the doctor just to be sure. Hope everything clears up!

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  • asthenia
    14 years ago

    It sounds like you're lacking something in your diet! Talk to a doctor about getting bloodwork to see what's missing, and take a multivitamin aimed towards your sex!

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  • Phoenix
    14 years ago

    Your being sorta vain here, but let me give you a tip, the more you stress over it the worse its gonna get. My body too has "betrayed me" my hair is falling of, my teeth are turning yellow even though I do not smoke nor drink coffee. Don obsess over it the more you do the worse its gonna get.

    Good luck kid.

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  • Fifinka32
    14 years ago

    Sometimes stress can show in your skin. Try waxing the hair,drinking lots of water,eating healthy and getting all your vitamines. I always had wrinkles in my forehaed from an early age and the more I focus on wrinkles the more freaked out I get even though other people say they cant notice.Because you are so young I would consider a hormone imbalance as the cause which can be sorted out by the doctor easily so try not to worry anymore, you have the whole of your youth to look forward to and your skin can regenerate itself as you still have alot of collagen production at this stage and a good collagen boosting moisteroiser can help. Goodluck with it all.

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  • IAlwaysAskWhy
    14 years ago

    Sounds like a possible hormonal imbalance. My sister-in-law had one that caused facial hair issues and warts. I would recommend a possible trip to a dermatologist or family doctor.

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  • smeagolxx
    14 years ago

    it sounds like you're lacking vitamin c... maybe you should take it in excess just to make sure you're getting at least the daily requirement and then some

    another suggestion i would make is to wash your face using cold to luke warm water (absolutely no hot, so no face washing while showering, only at the sink) hot water soap will dry out your face even if you apply layers of moisturiser after showering

    i hope things work out for you

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