How to treat Hirsutism -Excessive Hair Growth -what is worth knowing?
What is Excessive Hair Growth – Hirsutism?
Excessive hair growth in women is known as hirsutism. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal imbalance, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This unwanted hair tends to be more of a problem for women than for men.
Hirsutism affects approximately 5-10% of women in Western societies and is more common in those of Mediterranean, South Asian, or Middle Eastern descent.
Hypertrichosis is the term for abnormal hair growth that can occur in either men or women.
Hirsutism is not the same as hypertrichosis, which refers to excess hair in areas that aren’t dependent on androgens (male hormones). Hirsutism is excess hair in areas where it’s typically seen in men, such as the face and lower abdomen. Hypertrichosis, on the other hand, can increase hair anywhere on the body.
What causes Excessive Hair Growth?
One of the major contributing factors to excessive hair growth in women is an increase in the body’s production of androgens, or male hormones.
There is a hereditary component to hirsutism as it can run in families. Excessive hair growth is linked to abnormally high amounts of testosterone production in a woman’s body. When adrenal glands make too much male hormone, it stimulates the growth of facial hair on the upper lip, cheeks and chin and sometimes body hair on the abdomen, back and chest. Sometimes a woman’s hair follicles are oversensitive to the presence of testosterone, and these follicles rapidly grow thick hairs.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one common cause of hirsutism. It accounts for three out of every four hirsutism cases. Benign cysts that form on the ovaries can affect hormone production, leading to irregular menstrual cycles and decreased fertility.
Adrenal gland
The adrenal glands, located just above your kidneys, are the glands that are responsible for hormone production. People with congenital adrenal hyperplasia are born without an enzyme that’s necessary for hormone production. Those with Cushing’s disease have higher-than-normal levels of cortisol. Cortisol is sometimes called the “stress hormone.” All of these conditions can affect the way your body produces androgens.
Living with Excessive Hair Growth
This condition is not life threatening, although it could be a symptom of some other hormonal condition. However, in those cases where the root cause cannot be identified, it is benign.
Although, due to pre-conceptions of feminine beauty, this condition is burdened by social stigma and is considered to be somewhat taboo. For women affected, this can lead to significant psychological challenges, low self-esteem and even depression. It’s not uncommon that women with excessive hair growth start avoiding public places and especially places like swimming pools or beaches, where it’s harder to hide the condition.
If, on the other hand, the condition is actually a symptom of some other problem, like PCOS for example, then treating the root condition usually diminishes unwanted hair growth, too. This is why it is important to consult with a doctor and do tests that will help you identify the exact nature of your condition and subsequently, the correct treatment.