DEAR DR. DONOHUE: About a year ago, I noticed hair growing on my upper lip. I am a woman. At first it wasn’t all that noticeable. Now it is. People ask me about it. I have started to shave, but I’d like to know if there is a permanent answer to this or if it indicates something is wrong. I am only 24.

Please tell me what to do. — L.O.

ANSWER: Sometimes the growth of facial hair on a woman is a family or ethnic trait. Sometimes it’s a sign of a hormone problem. You’re going to have to see a doctor. The doctor will ask you questions whose answers will implicate a hormone cause. Are your periods regular? Have they lessened or stopped? Do you have hair growth on other parts of your body where it’s normal for men but not so normal for women — the chest, lower back, lower abdomen and thighs, for example? Are you losing hair at the front sides of the head, another indication of male hormone influence? Has there been a deepening of your voice? Have you experienced an outbreak of acne? All of these point to an overproduction of testosterone (male hormone) and an underproduction of estrogen (female hormone).

To settle the issue, the doctor will arrange to have your hormones checked by the lab.

One of the common causes of such a hormonal imbalance is polycystic ovary syndrome. If lab tests confirm that your hormone status demonstrates a lower-than-normal female hormone level and a higher-than-normal male hormone level, then an ultrasound of the ovaries would be the next step. The ultrasound will pick up any cysts there.

You have many options when it comes to treating polycystic ovaries. One is the birth-control pill. If you are overweight, weight loss might be the best treatment.

What if no endocrine problems are found? Then you can resort to techniques that either camouflage the hair or get rid of it permanently. Shaving is one way. It doesn’t make hair grow thicker or faster. Bleaching the hair is another. Laser treatments and electrolysis can stop hair growth permanently. Vaniqa cream doesn’t get rid of hair currently growing, but it inhibits the growth of new hair.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: All my life I have been a seamstress and made a living at it. It helped put our children through college. Now, at age 83, I’m losing my skill. My hands don’t do what I want them to do. My doctor thinks it’s multiple sclerosis. Could that be so? — R.E.

ANSWER: The age of onset for multiple sclerosis is usually much younger, in the 30s and 40s. Rarely does it make an appearance in the 60s. I can’t find any documentation that it has occurred in the 80s.

A more reasonable explanation for the loss of dexterity in someone your age is changes due to growing older. You might have osteoarthritis, a common condition that afflicts those older than 60. If the MS suggestion worries you, get another opinion.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Attacks of chest pain have left me wincing for the past four months. I consulted three doctors, but none came up with the reason for these attacks. They checked me for heart problems. Nothing was found. The fourth doctor made a diagnosis of costochondritis and gave me a shot next to the breastbone. It worked. I no longer have any pain. Please tell me more about this. — J.A.

ANSWER: Chest pain always raises fear of heart or lung illness. However, one out of four times it is related to neither of those two organs. It comes from the muscles or bones of the chest wall.

Costochondritis (costo, rib; chondritis, cartilage) is an inflammation of the cartilage that binds ribs to the breastbone. Pressure on the cartilage elicits pain out of proportion to the pressure applied. The cause of this condition isn’t known. Tietze’s syndrome is a similar disorder, but it involves two or more of those cartilage anchors, and the involved sites are swollen. Tylenol, NSAIDs (Aleve) and time usually bring a cure. A cortisone shot does so more quickly.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.