Hirsutism
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OVERVIEW
What is hirsutism?
Hirsutism is a condition where women have excess hair on their face or body.
SYMPTOMS
The main symptom of hirsutism is unwanted hair growth on the face, chest, and back. This thick, dark hair is different from the normal, fine “baby” hair on other parts of the body.
Other symptoms of hirsutism may include:
- Acne
- Abnormal menstrual periods
- Deepening of the voice
- Increased muscle mass
- Decreased breast size
CAUSES & RISK FACTORS
What causes hirsutism?
There are several main causes of hirsutism. These include:
- Genetics: The condition can run in families.
- Ethnicity: Those from certain cultures are more likely to have hirsutism. This includes women of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Mediterranean descent.
- High levels of male hormones (called androgens): This is often related to a certain condition, such as:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): This is an imbalance of hormone levels in the body. This causes cysts to form in the ovaries as well as other symptoms.
- Cushing’s syndrome: This is caused by long -time exposure to the hormone cortisol.
- Tumors: Tumors in the ovaries or adrenal gland can affect your hormone levels.
- These include hormones, anabolic steroids and a medicine used to treat endometriosis.
- Hair follicles. Some people have hair follicles that are overly sensitive to male hormones. Healthcare providers don’t know what causes this.
DIAGNOSIS & TESTS
Contact your healthcare provider if you have abnormal hair growth or other related symptoms. They may run tests to check your hormone levels. If they are high in androgens, they may do an ultrasound to check your ovaries or a CT scan to check your adrenal gland. These tests can show if you have any tumors.
PREVENTION
Can hirsutism be prevented or avoided?
You cannot prevent or avoid hirsutism.
TREATMENT
Medicines can help treat most cases of hirsutism. They can balance out your hormone levels to reduce the amount of androgens.
Below are types of medicines your healthcare provider may prescribe:
- Anti-androgens: Common anti-androgen medicines are spironolactone and finasteride. These block your body from producing male hormones. They also can decrease the amount of new hair growth. However, they cannot get rid of the hair you already have. Anti-androgens take at least 3 to 6 months to work. They can cause birth defects. Do not take them if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
- Birth control pills. These decrease androgens in the body. Birth control pills are a good option for those who do not wish to become pregnant in the near future. Birth control can be prescribed in combination with anti-androgen medicines.
- Topical creams: The most common prescription cream is eflornithine. It slows down the growth of facial hair. You apply it to the areas of unwanted hair on your face and chin. The cream takes about 4 to 8 weeks to start to work. Side effects may include skin irritation, a rash, or a stinging feeling.
Some may choose to permanently remove their hair. There are two types of procedures that do this. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if these procedures would be right for you.
- Thin needles are inserted into the follicles of your unwanted hair. The needles release electrical charges that destroy the follicles. This procedure can be painful and expensive. It may be needed more than once.
- Laser hair removal. Targeted lasers are used to damage the follicles. This causes your unwanted hair to fall out. You may need several sessions of treatments to fully treat the follicles. The treatments can cause your skin to become red, swollen, or irritated. There is a risk of burning, scarring, and discolored skin. For some, the hair growth may return.
Living with hirsutism
Treatment can help cure or lessen the effects of hirsutism. There also are things you can do at home to conceal the appearance of hair growth.
- Shaving: This is the safest and easiest method of removing hair. It also is inexpensive. However, you may have to shave every day. Otherwise, your hair grows back quickly. Frequent shaving can irritate your skin. You can apply a small amount of 1% hydrocortisone cream.
- Tweezing and waxing. Tweezing is good for removing small stray hairs and waxing is more effective for removing larger patches of hair. It can cause brief discomfort and skin irritation.
- This can lighten the color of your unwanted hair to make it harder to see. Follow the directions on the product label. Bleaching can irritate your skin or cause discoloring.
- Topical creams, lotions, and gels. . These products can break down your hair follicles over time. However, they can take a while to work and may not be successful. You may be allergic to the chemicals in the products. To test how sensitive your skin is, apply a small amount of cream to the inside of your wrist. Wait one day before applying the cream to other parts of your body. If you have a reaction to the cream, do not use it.
If you are overweight, try to lose weight and eat a healthy diet. Some people find that this helps to balance their hormones.
People who have hirsutism may have self-esteem issues. The hair growth can be emotional and hard to deal with.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Canadian Dermatology Association
56561