PORTLAND — Hundreds of women across Maine are using humor to voice their displeasure over Gov. Paul LePage’s comment that the only bad thing about a chemical additive is that it might give women “little beards.”

More than 1,000 women signed onto a Facebook campaign called “Little Beard Day” in which they were encouraged to wear a fake beard. Dozens of photos of bearded women appeared on the Facebook page.

LePage said last month that he hadn’t seen enough science to support a ban on bisphenol-A, a chemical used in some plastic bottles. He said the “worst case is some women may have little beards.”

After the brouhaha, Le­Page later said he was joking and suggested that his critics should lighten up. He had no immediate comment Friday.