Short answer: A few hairs around the nipples are common and usually harmless. Hair follicles cover almost all of your skin, and the area around the nipple is one of the spots that responds to androgens, hormones such as testosterone. More hair, or hair that gets darker and coarser over time, can be a sign of hirsutism, which is most often caused by PMOS (formerly PCOS). If you have regular periods and just a few hairs, there is usually nothing to worry about.
From our survey: 72% of the 269 women with hirsutism we surveyed remove hair from their chest or around the nipples. You are far from alone. See the full results.
Finding dark hairs around your nipples can be a surprise, especially if nobody ever talks about it. You might wonder if it means something is wrong with your hormones, or if you are the only one. You are not. In this article we explain why breast hair grows, when it can point to a hormone problem, how to remove it safely if you want to, and when it is worth seeing a doctor.
Is it normal for women to have hair on their breasts?
Yes. Almost all of your skin has hair follicles. Most of them grow vellus hair, the fine, light “peach fuzz” you barely notice. Some follicles can switch to growing terminal hair, which is thicker, longer and darker. Whether that happens depends on how much androgen reaches the follicle and how sensitive the follicle is to it. [1]
The skin around the nipple is one of the androgen-sensitive areas. That is why doctors include the chest in the modified Ferriman-Gallwey score, the scale used to rate hirsutism. It rates nine body areas from 0 (no terminal hair) to 4 (a lot of hair). [1] On the chest, the lowest grade describes hair around the nipples, and higher grades describe more extensive growth. [2] You can learn more about the scale in our guide to the Ferriman-Gallwey score.
Some terminal hair on the body is common. In a US study of 633 women who were examined during routine pre-employment checkups, about 1 in 5 (22%) had a total score of 3 or more, and the researchers found no clear natural cutoff between “normal” and “hirsute.” [3] Hirsutism itself, meaning excess hair in a male-like pattern, affects an estimated 5 to 15% of women. [4]
Why do I have hair around my nipples?
There is usually more than one factor at play. Hirsutism results from an interaction between the androgens in your blood and how sensitive your hair follicles are to them. [1]
Your genes and ethnic background
A hirsute pattern of hair growth is usually genetic. [2] How much body hair is considered normal also varies between cultures and ethnic groups. [2] So if other women in your family have hair around their nipples, yours may simply run in the family.
PMOS (formerly PCOS)
If the hair is spreading or getting coarser, the most common hormonal cause is PMOS, previously called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In women who see a doctor for hirsutism, about 70 to 80% have PCOS (now PMOS), and at least 80% of hirsutism is due to androgen excess. [1] PCOS was renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome in May 2026 after a global consensus process, to reflect that it affects several hormone systems and metabolism, not just the ovaries. [5] Androgen excess is often linked with polycystic ovaries, insulin resistance and obesity. [2] Read more about the difference between hirsutism and PMOS.
Pregnancy
Mild hirsutism can appear during pregnancy. [2]
Medications and rarer causes
Some medications with androgen-like effects can cause extra hair. Rarer causes include Cushing syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (an inherited adrenal condition) and adrenal or ovarian tumors. [2] See our overview of what causes hirsutism.
Idiopathic hirsutism
In 5 to 20% of hirsute women, no hormone problem is found. This is called idiopathic hirsutism and is thought to come from follicles that are extra sensitive to normal androgen levels. [1]
Does breast hair mean I have a hormone problem?
Not on its own. Experts disagree slightly on how far to investigate a small amount of hair. The Endocrine Society guideline advises against routine hormone tests for women who have regular periods, unwanted hair in just one area, and a normal overall hirsutism score. [1] A 2025 expert review takes a broader view and suggests that women who are bothered by unwanted hair should be checked for underlying causes, whatever the amount. [6]
In practice, the pattern matters more than a few individual hairs. These signs make a hormonal cause more likely:
- Coarse, dark hair in several areas, for example the chin, upper lip, belly or lower back as well as the breasts
- Irregular, infrequent or missing periods
- Acne or thinning hair on your scalp
- Hair that keeps spreading or getting thicker
If several of these apply, try our hirsutism self-check and talk to your doctor. The guideline recommends starting with a blood test for total testosterone when a woman has an abnormal hirsutism score. [1]
How to remove hair on your breasts safely
Removing breast hair is a personal choice. It is not harmful to leave it. If you want it gone, keep in mind that the skin of the nipple and areola (the darker circle around it) is thin and sensitive, so gentle methods work best.
Trimming
Trimming with small, clean scissors is the gentlest option. It does not break the skin or pull on the follicle, so it does not cause ingrown hairs. Hold the hair away from the skin, snip close to the base, and keep the scissor tips pointing away from the nipple.
Plucking
Plucking a few stray hairs is common, but it can cause ingrown hairs and irritated, inflamed follicles. Ingrown hairs are more common in areas that are shaved, waxed, plucked or threaded. [7] Irritation from hair removal can also cause folliculitis, small red or pus-filled bumps around the hair follicles. [8] If you pluck, use clean tweezers, pull in the direction of growth, and stop if bumps appear. Read our full article on whether plucking nipple hair is bad for you.
Shaving
Shaving the breasts is possible but risky around the nipple, where a nick is easy. Shaving can cause cuts, razor burn and ingrown hairs. [9] If you shave, use a sharp razor, shave in the direction of hair growth and use as few strokes as possible. [7]
Waxing and hair removal creams
Waxing pulls hair out from the root, so results can last a few weeks. [9] Avoid it if you use isotretinoin (or used it in the past 6 months), tretinoin or an antibiotic, because these can thin the skin and make it tear when the wax comes off. [9] With hair removal creams, test a small area first and rinse at the first sign of stinging. [9] Check the label too, since many creams list areas they should not be used on. We would not use either on the nipple itself.
Laser hair removal and electrolysis
Evidence: Moderate Laser hair removal and electrolysis are the options for longer-lasting results. The Endocrine Society suggests laser or light-based treatment (photoepilation) for brown or black hair and electrolysis for white or blond hair. [1] Electrolysis can remove hair permanently, while laser makes regrowth thinner and sparser. [9] In a Cochrane review of 11 small trials, alexandrite and diode lasers reduced hair by about 50% for up to 6 months, but none of the trials were of high quality and long-term results were not documented. [10] For the nipple area specifically, see should you get laser hair removal on your nipples.
Medication for hirsutism
Evidence: Strong If the hair is caused by excess androgens and bothers you, medication treats the cause rather than the hair. The Endocrine Society suggests birth control pills as the first treatment for most women with hirsutism who are not trying to get pregnant. If that is not enough after 6 months, an anti-androgen can be added, but only with reliable contraception, because these drugs can harm a developing baby. [1] Women with high androgen levels who choose hair removal should also be offered medication to reduce regrowth. [1] Learn more in our article on hirsutism medication.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if your breast hair comes with other signs of excess androgens, such as irregular periods, acne or hair growth in several areas. See a doctor promptly if you notice:
- Hair that appears suddenly or gets much worse within months
- A deepening voice, an enlarged clitoris or increasing muscle mass
- Missing periods
Rapid onset or progression of hirsutism, or signs of virilization (male features caused by high androgens), raise the chance of a rare androgen-producing tumor and need prompt testing. [1] Read more about virilization.
Also see a doctor about any change in the breast itself, such as a new lump, nipple discharge that is not breast milk, a nipple that turns inward, or red, flaky or thickened skin on the nipple. [11] These have nothing to do with hair, but they are worth checking.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to have hair around your nipples as a woman?
Yes. The area around the nipple is androgen-sensitive, and a few terminal hairs there are a common finding. Doctors rate hair around the nipples as the lowest grade on the chest when scoring hirsutism. [2]
Does breast hair mean I have PCOS (PMOS)?
Not by itself. PMOS is the most common cause of hirsutism, [1] but a few hairs around the nipples on their own, with regular periods, are usually not a sign of a hormone problem. Hair in several areas, irregular periods or acne make PMOS more likely.
Can pregnancy cause hair on the breasts?
Yes. Mild hirsutism can develop during pregnancy. [2]
Should I shave my breasts?
You can, but trimming is gentler. Shaving can cause cuts, razor burn and ingrown hairs, [9] and the skin around the nipple nicks easily.
Key takeaways
- A few hairs around the nipples are common and usually harmless.
- Hair that is spreading, getting coarser or showing up in several areas can be hirsutism, most often caused by PMOS (formerly PCOS).
- Trimming is the gentlest removal method. Plucking and shaving can cause ingrown hairs and folliculitis.
- Sudden or fast hair growth, a deeper voice or missing periods need prompt medical attention.
Free: The Hirsutism Action Plan
A 12-page guide: what’s causing your hair growth, which tests to ask your doctor for, and which treatments actually work, plus a printable doctor visit checklist.
You’ll also get our weekly email. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sources
- Martin KA, Anderson RR, Chang RJ, et al. Evaluation and Treatment of Hirsutism in Premenopausal Women: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(4):1233-1257. PubMed 29522147
- DermNet. Hirsutism. Accessed October 2026. Link
- DeUgarte CM, Woods KS, Bartolucci AA, Azziz R. Degree of facial and body terminal hair growth in unselected black and white women: toward a populational definition of hirsutism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(4):1345-1350. PubMed 16449347
- Yildiz BO, Bolour S, Woods K, Moore A, Azziz R. Visually scoring hirsutism. Hum Reprod Update. 2010;16(1):51-64. PubMed 19567450
- Teede HJ, Bahri Khomami M, Morman R, Laven JSE, et al. Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process. Lancet. 2026;407(10545):2329-2339. PubMed 42119588
- Azziz R, Amiri M, Bril F, et al. Approach to the Patient: Hirsutism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2025;110(10):e3503-e3519. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaf226
- NHS. Ingrown hairs. Accessed October 2026. Link
- DermNet. Folliculitis. Accessed October 2026. Link
- American Academy of Dermatology. 6 ways to remove unwanted hair. Accessed October 2026. Link
- Haedersdal M, Gøtzsche PC. Laser and photoepilation for unwanted hair growth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;(4):CD004684. Cochrane summary
- American Cancer Society. Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer. Accessed October 2026. Link
This article is for education and is not medical advice. Talk to a doctor about diagnosis and treatment.