I need some advice regarding my daughter who is 7, she has a tuft of hair on her neck (in the front middle) it's getting thicker and more visible as the years go on and it's quite long hair, she also has dark thick hair on her back (not long) I always assumed it would correct itself but now I'm not so sure that it will. I want to get medical advice from the GP as I am a bit concerned about an underlying issue especially with the hair on her neck as I've never seen that before (even in adults) I should also mention her heritage is half Australian and half Kenyan (maybe that might contribute? But unsure) first question is has anyone dealt with anything like this? What was the outcome? If it's all normal and no underlying issue then should I just leave it for now until she asks (if she asks) to get rid of it? (My only concern cosmetically is her getting teased at school) the other problem I have is that my GP is insisting on her coming in for her appointment as she is a new patient (our while family goes to this practise she has just never needed an appointment until now) I'm not sure how I will navigate this as I don't want to point it out and let her know that it could be a problem or that is even an issue and make her feel self conscious! She hasn't said anything to me and doesn't seem to notice or care. Advice welcome please.
7 Replies
I would make that appointment as a general check up. Ask the doctor if you could send an email prior to the appointment detailing your concerns as it's a delicate issue that you'd like to treat with a little discretion.
Failing that a phone call before so you can explain or even a small note you could give the doctor on arrival.
Assuming all is normal, I would wait for her to notice it or mention it. Then you can talk her through the options of either removal or embracing it and how that's all entirely her decision.
Point it out to your daughter before you go, just say you just want to make sure everything is OK as it's not normal for hair to grow there! As long as you don't make it a big deal or tell her it's ugly you shouldn't have a problem but you do need to prepare her for the doctor.
I know hair tufts on the spine can mean spina bifida because my son has a sacral dimple and it was one of the things they looked for. No idea with it being on the front of her neck though, does she have a mole or a scar there? That seems to be where my random hairs are. I'm sure the doctor will be able to give more of an answer.
I think it's ok to have it removed if that's what she wants, take her for an appointment to see what they suggest.
They should do a blood test and check hormone levels. Whilst nothing too concerning, it may indicate higher levels of testosterone or could be pre indicators to things like cushings disease.
I would mention it in a way like “sometimes we go to doctors for a checkup, and this is important so we can find What’s normal for us. Including hair growth”
Before you go taking her to a gp and telling her hair isn't normal, I advise speaking to a health nurse of speaking to a gp about it wirhout her present.
I don't really see the problem with telling her it's not normal. Part of learning about our bodies is learning what is normal or not so we know when to see a doctor. It's not like you're talking about body shape or skin colour, it's hair where it shouldn't be and could be a sign of something else, it could also be nothing. My daughter was born with a malformed ear and I always told her it was abnormal, she's passed all hearing tests so I would tell her it's abnormal but it doesn't stop it doing what it's supposed to so it's up to you if you want to get it fixed or not. She's never had a problem with it, never tried to hide it and never wanted surgery. She's nearly 21 and she occasionally needs to explain it to people but otherwise it's a non issue. Obviously hair is not permanent but my point is you're not damaging your child by pointing out what's different about them, you're helping them learn about their body.
In the past 3 yrs I have developed facial hair aka a beard. My sister has had the same since she was a kid, well turns out we have cysts on our Ovaries and even with surgery it will always remain, also with this I have gone from a blonde to very very dark hair. Not everyone with cysts get it only some as the hormones change drastically.
In the past 3 yrs I have developed facial hair aka a beard. My sister has had the same since she was a kid, well turns out we have cysts on our Ovaries and even with surgery it will always remain, also with this I have gone from a blonde to very very dark hair. Not everyone with cysts get it only some as the hormones change drastically.