Why do older women often get a lot of hairs on their chin and upper lip?

No, I don’t have hairs on my chin and upper lip. I don’t think I’m “of age” yet and thankfully, it’s not yet an issue. It doesn’t seem to happen to all women – not sure if it’s because it does happen to all and just that some “take care of it” or if it only happens to a select few.

I thought of this when visiting with a good friend this past weekend, and she had her cousin there, who seemed to be around mid-50’s. The cousin had major hair on her upper lip. It seems to be not necessarily related to the woman’s size (in other words, it’s not just overweight women who seem to have it).

What is that due to? Age? Hormones?