What is hirsutism?
Hirsutism is a condition in which a woman has excessive hair on her face or body.
Symptoms of hirsutism
The main symptom of hirsutism is unwanted hair growth on a woman’s face, chest, and back. This thick, dark coat is different from the normal, smooth “baby” hair on other parts of the body.
Other symptoms of hirsutism may include:
- Acne.
- Irregular menstrual cycle.
- Lower your voice.
- Increase muscle mass.
- Reduce breast size.
Causes of hirsutism?
There are several main causes of hirsutism. Including:
- Genetics: The condition can run in families.
- Ethnic: Women 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 usually related to a certain condition, such as:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): This is an imbalance of hormone levels in a woman’s body. It causes cysts to form in the ovaries, as well as other symptoms.
- Cushing’s syndrome: Caused by long-term exposure to the hormone cortisol.
- Tumors: Tumors in the ovaries or adrenal glands can affect your hormone levels.
- Medications: These include hormones, anabolic steroids, and medications used to treat endometriosis.
- Hair follicles: Some people have hair follicles that are too sensitive to male hormones. Doctors do not know the cause of this.
How is hirsutism diagnosed?
Contact your doctor if you have unusual hair growth or other related symptoms. Your doctor may conduct tests to check your hormone levels. If androgen levels are high, they may do an ultrasound to check your ovaries or a CT scan to check your adrenal glands. These tests can tell if you have any tumors.
Hirsutism can be prevented or avoided?
You cannot prevent or avoid hirsutism.
Hirsutism treatment
Medicines can help treat most cases of hirsutism. They can balance your hormone levels to reduce androgen levels.
Here are the medications your doctor may prescribe:
- Anti-androgen: The common ones are spironolactone and finasteride. These prevent your body from producing male hormones. They can also reduce the amount of new hair that grows. However, they cannot remove the hair you already have. Anti-hormonal drugs 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: They reduce androgens in your body. Birth control pills are a good option for women who do not want to become pregnant in the near future. They can be used in combination with antiandrogen drugs.
- Topical creams: The most common prescription cream is elfornithine. It slows down the growth of facial hair. You apply unwanted hair on the face and chin. The cream takes about 4 to 8 weeks to start working. Side effects may include skin irritation, rash, or stinging sensation.
Some women choose permanent hair removal. There are two types of procedures that do this. Talk to your doctor to see if these procedures are right for you.
- Electrolysis: Your doctor will insert thin needles into your unwanted hair follicles. The needles release an electrical charge that destroys the follicles. This procedure can be painful and expensive. It may be needed more than once.
- Laser therapy: The doctor uses a targeted laser to damage the cysts. This causes your unwanted hair to fall out. You may need several treatments to completely treat the cysts. Treatments can cause your skin to become red, swollen, or irritated. There is a risk of burns, scarring and skin discoloration. For some women, hair can grow back.
Living with hirsutism
Treatment can help cure or lessen the effects of hirsutism. There are also things you can do at home to hide the appearance of ingrown hairs.
- Shave: This is the safest and easiest method to remove unwanted hair. It’s also inexpensive. However, you may have to shave every day. Otherwise, your hair will grow back quickly. Frequent shaving can irritate your skin. You can apply a small amount of 1% hydrocortisone cream.
- Tweezers and hair removal: Tweezers are great for removing some stray hairs. Hair removal is more effective for removing large patches of hair. It may cause short-term discomfort and skin irritation.
- Bleaching: This can lighten your unwanted hair color to make it harder to see. Follow the instructions on the product label. Bleaching can irritate your skin or cause discoloration.
- 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 as successful. You may be allergic to the chemicals in the product. To test skin sensitivity, apply a small amount of cream to the inside of your wrist. Wait a day before applying the cream to other parts of the body. If you have a reaction to the cream, do not use it. Talk to your doctor about other options.
If you are overweight, try to lose weight and eat healthy. Some women find that this helps balance their hormones.
Hairy women can have self-esteem issues. Hair growth can be emotional and difficult to deal with. It can help to get counseling or join a support group. You can ask your doctor for a recommendation.