Hirsutism

Overview:

Hirsutism refers to an excessive amount of hair growth in specific areas of a woman’s body and face. Women usually have very fine and faint hair in these areas, but a heavier growth in a pattern common to men is not normal.

Normal hair growth patterns vary with the geographical area in question. White women usually have more non-scalp and facial hair than Asians or African-Americans do. Women’s hirutism is caused by hair follicles being over-stimulated by androgen hormones such as testosterone. Women usually have only low levels of these predominantly male hormones, but higher levels can cause excessive growth of hair.

Causes:

In some cases, extra male hormones come from medications that women may take, like some types of birth control pills or steroids used in bodybuilding. Other types of medicines can cause your body to manufacture extra male hormones, including medications that treat high blood pressure, aggression, bipolar disorder, migraine headaches, epileptic seizures, agitation, schizophrenia and nausea. Sometimes, androgen hormones can be over-produced due to ovary abnormalities, or anomalies in the pituitary or adrenal glands.

Women with mild cases of hirsutism may notice that they have significant mature hair growth on the lower abdomen, around the nipples, or in the side-burn, chin or lip areas. Mature hair refers to hair that is the same color as the hair on your scalp. If the hirsutism is more advanced, you may see mature hair on the upper abdomen, sternum, shoulders and upper back. Usually, this disorder originates while a girl or woman goes through puberty. If it begins before – or after – puberty, hormones may be the cause, and you should be checked by a physician.

Your physician will ask questions about your medical history, and specifically your menstrual cycles, while trying to determine whether you suffer from hirsutism or not. You will also be examined during your visit. If your menstrual cycles are normal, the hair growth is more likely inherited. If you suffer from irregular cycles, and have always done so, then you may have polycystic ovary syndrome. The irregular periods and body hair can also be caused by tumors in the pituitary or adrenal glands, or in the ovary. If your hirsutism is mild, and you don’t have any other symptoms that point to production of male hormones, you may not need to be tested further.

If you do require additional testing, your physician may screen for male hormones, or evidence of tumors in your glands. Your blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels may be tested, in case diabetes is the cause of your hirsutism. You may also need MRI’s of any areas your physician is concerned about.

Most hirsutism is a lifelong period of over-growth of male pattern hair. But some women may respond to medical treatments, if they are extended over a period of months. Some tumors can respond to radiation, surgical treatment or both. Cosmetic treatments may remove your unwanted hair on a temporary basis, and can help to limit the hair re-growing in the same areas.

You can’t prevent hirsutism, as far as research now shows. The only thing you can do that may help is to avoid unnecessary medications that cause hirsutism.

Treatments:

There are various treatment plans that have different success levels in treating hirsutism. If you happen to be overweight, losing weight can slow down the level of male hormone production in your body. Cosmetic or medical treatments that help decrease the androgen levels can be beneficial.

Hair softeners, waxing, shaving or plucking the hair may treat mild hirsutism, but they can cause the skin to become irritated, and they have to be repeated quite often. Laser removal of hair is usually effective, but it doesn’t prevent new follicles of hair from developing. This is a relatively expensive manner of treatment, too. Electrolysis destroys the follicles’ ability to grow hair, but it may leave small scarred areas after treatment.

Some medications can change the way androgen hormones affect your body. Taking birth control pills may be helpful in counterbalancing the effects of androgen hormones. Usually you will need to take these medications for six months to a year, to see full results. Anti-androgen medications can also be used to combat the androgen hormones. These cannot be taken if you are pregnant.

Regardless of the effectiveness of medicines and hair removal methods, they remain the only commonly used treatments for hirsutism today.