Hirsutism

Description

Hirsutism (HUR-soot-iz-um) is a condition in women that results in excessive growth of the dark or coarse hair on a man-like pattern of the face, chest, and back.

With hirsutism, extra hair growth often arises from an excess of male hormones (androgens, primarily testosterone.

Self-care methods and effective treatment options are available for women who want to treat hirsutism.

Symptoms

Hirsutism is rigid or dark body hair, that are listed in the body, where women are often not the hair, the face, the chest, the lower part of the abdomen, inner thighs, and back. People have different opinions on what is considered excessive.

When high levels of androgens cause hirsutism, other signs may develop over time, in a process called virilization. Virilizing signs may include:

  • The deepening of the voice
  • Baldness
  • Acne
  • The decrease in size of the breasts
  • Increased muscle mass
  • Enlargement of the clitoris

When to see a doctor

If you think that you have too coarse hair on the face or body, talk with your doctor about treatment options.

Excess facial or body hair is often a symptom of an underlying medical problem. Consult your doctor for an evaluation if more than a couple of months experience severe or rapid growth of hair on the face or on the body or signs of virilization. You may be referred to a doctor who specializes in hormone disorders (endocrinologist), or problems of the skin (dermatologist).

Causes

Hirsutism can be caused by:

  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This condition, which often begins with puberty, there is an imbalance of sex hormones. Over the years, the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can gradually result in excess hair growth, irregular periods, obesity, infertility, and sometimes multiple cysts in the ovaries.
  • Cushing's syndrome. This occurs when the body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol. It can develop from adrenal glands making too much cortisol, or taking medications, such as prednisone for a long period of time.
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. This inherited condition that is characterized by the abnormal production of steroid hormones, including cortisol and androgens by the adrenal glands.
  • Tumors. Rarely, an androgen-secreting tumor in the ovaries or adrenal glands can cause hirsutism.
  • Drugs. Some medicines can cause hirsutism. These include minoxidil (Rogaine Minoxidil); danazol, which is used to treat women with endometriosis; testosterone (Androgel, Testim); and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). If your partner uses topical products that contain androgens, can be affected as well, through the skin-to-skin contact.

Often hirsutism occurs without identifiable cause.

Risk factors

There are several factors that can influence your chance of developing hirsutism, including:

  • The history of the family. Several conditions that cause hirsutism, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia and polycystic ovary syndrome in families.
  • Ancestry. Women of the Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and South Asian descent are more likely to have more body hair without identifiable cause than are other women.
  • Obesity. Obesity causes increased production of androgens, which can worsen the hirsutism.

Complications

Hirsutism can be emotionally painful. Some women feel self-conscious for having the unwanted hair. Some develop depression. Also, although hirsutism does not cause physical complications, the underlying cause of a hormonal imbalance can.

If you have hirsutism and irregular periods, you may have polycystic ovary syndrome, which can inhibit fertility. Women who take certain medicines to treat hirsutism should avoid pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects.

Prevention

Hirsutism is usually not preventable. But the loss of weight if you're overweight, it could help reduce hirsutism, especially if you have polycystic ovary syndrome.

Hirsutism

Diagnosis

Tests that measure the amount of certain hormones in the blood, including testosterone or testosterone-like hormones, could help to determine whether the elevation of androgen levels are the cause of hirsutism.

Your doctor may also examine your abdomen and do a pelvic exam to look for masses that could indicate a tumor.

Treatment

Treatment of hirsutism with no sign of an endocrine disorder, it is not necessary. For women who need or seek treatment, this may involve the treatment of any underlying disorder, the development of a self-care routine for the unwanted hair, and trying a variety of therapies and medications.

Drugs

If you use cosmetics or self-care of the hair removal methods that have not worked for you, talk with your doctor about medications to treat hirsutism. With these drugs usually takes up to six months, the average life cycle of a hair follicle, before you see a significant difference in the growth of the hair. The options include:

  • The oral contraceptives. Birth control pills or other hormonal contraceptives that contain estrogen and progestin, to treat hirsutism caused by the production of androgens. Oral contraceptives are a common treatment for hirsutism in women who do not want to become pregnant. Possible side effects include nausea and headache.
  • Anti-androgens.These types of medicines block the androgens from attaching to their receptors in your body. Sometimes it is prescribed after six months on the pills if oral contraceptives are not effective enough. The most commonly used anti-androgen to treat hirsutism is spironolactone (Aldactone, CaroSpir). The results are modest, and take at least six months to be noticeable. Possible side effects include menstrual irregularity. Because these drugs can cause birth defects, it is important to use contraception while taking them.
  • Topical cream. Eflornithine (Vaniqa) is a prescription cream specifically for the excess facial hair in women. It is applied directly to the affected area of the face two times a day. It helps slow the growth of new hair, but don't get rid of existing hair. Can be used with the laser therapy to improve the response.

Anti-androgens. These types of medicines block the androgens from attaching to their receptors in your body. Sometimes it is prescribed after six months on the pills if oral contraceptives are not effective enough.

The most commonly used anti-androgen to treat hirsutism is spironolactone (Aldactone, CaroSpir). The results are modest, and take at least six months to be noticeable. Possible side effects include menstrual irregularity. Because these drugs can cause birth defects, it is important to use contraception while taking them.

Procedures

The hair removal methods whose results can last longer than the methods of self care — and that can be combined with medical therapy include the following:

  • The laser therapy.A beam of high concentration of light (laser) is transmitted through your skin to damage the hair follicles and prevent the growth of hair (epilation). You may need several treatments. For people who have unwanted hair is black, brown or chestnut, photoepilation is usually a better option than electrolysis. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of the different lasers used for this method of hair removal. People with tanned or dark pigmentation of the skin are at greater risk of side effects of certain lasers, including a darkening or lightening of his usual tones of the skin, formation of blisters, and inflammation.
  • The electrolysis.This treatment consists of the insertion of a small needle into each hair follicle. The needle emits a pulse of electrical current to damage and eventually destroy the follicle. You may need several treatments. For natural persons the blonde or white hair, electrolysis is a better option than laser therapy. Electrolysis is effective, but can be painful. A numbing cream is spread on your skin before the treatment could reduce the discomfort.

The laser therapy. A beam of high concentration of light (laser) is transmitted through your skin to damage the hair follicles and prevent the growth of hair (epilation). You may need several treatments. For people who have unwanted hair is black, brown or chestnut, photoepilation is usually a better option than electrolysis.

Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of the different lasers used for this method of hair removal. People with tanned or dark pigmentation of the skin are at greater risk of side effects of certain lasers, including a darkening or lightening of his usual tones of the skin, formation of blisters, and inflammation.

The electrolysis. This treatment consists of the insertion of a small needle into each hair follicle. The needle emits a pulse of electrical current to damage and eventually destroy the follicle. You may need several treatments. For natural persons the blonde or white hair, electrolysis is a better option than laser therapy.

Electrolysis is effective, but can be painful. A numbing cream is spread on your skin before the treatment could reduce the discomfort.

Self-care

Self-care methods, such as the following, temporarily reduce or eliminate the visibility of the unwanted facial and body hair. There is no evidence that the self-removal of hair leads to the more severe the growth of the hair.

  • The plucking. Waxing is a good method to remove a couple of stray hairs, but is not useful for the removal of a large area of hair. Plucked hair usually regrows. This method of hair removal you can do with the tweezers, thin threads (threaded) or other devices designed for this purpose.
  • Shaving. Shaving is quick and low cost, but it needs to be repeated regularly.
  • The hair removal wax. Waxing involves applying hot wax on the skin where the hair grows. Once the wax hardens, you pull the skin to remove the hair. Hair removal that remove the hair from a large area quickly, but you can chop temporarily and, at times, causes skin irritation and redness.
  • The hair removal. Chemical depilatories are applied to the affected skin, where they dissolve hair. These products are available in a variety of forms, such as gel, cream or lotion. May irritate the skin and cause dermatitis. You will need to repeat the waxing on a regular basis to maintain the effect.
  • The whitening. Bleaching lightens the color of the hair, so that it is less noticeable in people with fair skin. The hair-bleaching products, which usually contain hydrogen peroxide can cause irritation of the skin. Test all the products you use on a small area of the skin first.

Preparing for your appointment

When you make your appointment, ask if you should avoid the removal of your unwanted hair so that the doctor can better evaluate your condition. Make a list of:

  • Key personal information, including to other medical conditions, and changes in your menstrual cycle or in the sexual desire
  • All the drugs, vitamins, and other supplements that you take, including over-dose
  • Questions to ask your doctor

For hirsutism, some questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms?
  • What are other possible causes of the symptoms?
  • What tests do I need?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • You should see a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material I can have? What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you questions, such as:

  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • Has your menstrual cycle changed, or has ceased to have your period?
  • Have you gained weight?
  • Have developed new acne?
  • It has the size of their breasts changed?
  • Others commented that his voice has changed?
  • You are planning to become pregnant soon?
Symptoms and treatment of Hirsutism