Excessive hair growth (hirsutism) (2024)

FAQs

Excessive hair growth (hirsutism)? ›

Hirsutism is excess hair growth on the body or face. It's caused by excess hormones called androgens. For women, the hair may grow in places where men often have a lot of hair, but women often don't. This includes the upper lip, chin, chest, and back.

things you can do at home to remove or lighten the hair – such as shaving, waxing, plucking, hair removal creams or bleaching. a prescription cream to slow hair growth on your face (eflornithine cream) taking a contraceptive pill if you've not been through the menopause yet – this can help control hormone levels.

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

But some women with hirsutism don't have PCOS or any other cause that can be found. Their hormone levels are normal, and so are their menstrual cycles. These women may have been born with hair follicles that are more sensitive to androgens. Hirsutism may also occur in some women who have diabetes or who are obese.

Treating the underlying cause of hirsutism can improve your symptoms. Long-term medication may slow hair growth, but it usually will not get rid of existing hair on the face and body. Some cosmetic techniques, laser hair removal and waxing, can reduce unwanted hair.

Dietary supplementation with magnesium and zinc are also thought to help prevent growth of excess facial hair. In one of the clinical studies for patients with hirsutism, participants were given a combination of magnesium, zinc, calcium, and vitamin D supplements over the course of 12 weeks.

Hirsutism is most often due to hyperproduction of androgens, of ovarian or adrenal origin. Hyperandrogenism of tumor origin, which is very severe, must be distinguished from non-tumor hyperandrogenism, which is often minimal or moderate.

The female hormones stimulate thick hair growth on the scalp while minimizing body and facial hair. An imbalance in any of these hormones — caused by any number of reasons, including puberty, pregnancy and menopause — can alter hair-growth patterns. Changes in hair-growth patterns are proceeded by hormonal changes.

Hirsutism is excessive growth of "male" pattern hair that appears on the face, back, chest, abdomen, and thighs in women. Hirsutism is common and is usually a sign of an underlying endocrine disorder, most commonly polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

What happens if hirsutism is left untreated? ›

If left untreated, higher levels of androgens can lead to the development of virilization which can cause: Balding. Deepening voice. Increase in muscle mass.

While estrogen can help thin hair, it cannot completely reverse facial and body hair growth. Many trans women and other transgender people know all too well about how time-consuming daily grooming routines can be, so thankfully, there are alternative options available.

Hirsutism usually begins around puberty, but mild hirsutism can start at any age. Most women gradually develop more facial or body hair with age. Hypertrichosis is an excessive quantity of hair in a normal location.

Actually, there is no procedure or medication that prevents face hair development. There are several scientific procedures for hair removal in both men and women. Electrolysis is a clinic technique that damages hair follicles and roots, preventing hair growth. Only dermatologists execute this procedure.

Ancestry. People of Mediterranean, Hispanic, South Asian, or Middle Eastern descent are more likely to have extra body hair. Obesity. Being overweight causes your body to make more male hormones, which can make hirsutism worse.

GnRH agonists inhibit gonadotropins and decrease ovarian androgen production, leading to decreased hirsutism but also lower estrogen levels. They are usually used in conjunction with low-dose estrogen–progestin pills to eliminate the effects of estrogen deficiency.