Excessive Hair Growth (Hirsutism) | |
| Excessive hair growth can occur in men and women. In men it is often thought to indicate a sign of masculinity but this is not necessarily so. In women it is thought to be an unfeminine characteristic and can be a source of embarrassment in our society. Our culture expects its women to be slim and hairless - far more so than is natural. If the growth of hair in a woman follows the male pattern, particularly on the face, then it is called hirsutism. Genetically we all go back to various races in different parts of the world. A normal variation of hair growth in both the men and women can occur genetically and should provoke an over reaction. Many women regularly remove the fuzzy growth of hair on the legs and also resort to various methods to remove noticeable hair on the upper lip, the eyebrows and the side of the face. If dark hair becomes more noticeable, go to your doctor to make sure there is no basic endocrine reason for this hirsutism. Treatment for these cases might include removal, or concealment with bleach. Removal of unwanted hair can be either performed by a procedure of depilation or epilation. Depilatory removal of hair can be achieved by shaving or by the use of chemicals which soften the hairs and allow them to be washed off. This procedure used usually on the legs only removes the hair at skin surface when it will regrow in time. Epilation means removal of the intact hair with its root. It can be achieved by plucking which is useful for single hairs or by wax treatments. If treated by wax the melted wax is applied and after drying and setting, it is remove together with the hair and the roots. This procedure should be done by a trained professional. Unfortunately the hair does regrow. Permanent epilation is only achieved by electrolysis which is time consuming and also more expensive. This procedure should be definitely only be performed by a qualified professional person who is skilled in the art of electrolysis. Most cases of mild hirsutism have no organic basis. Very occasionally the cause of true hirsutism is an excessive production of male hormones from the ovary or adrenal gland. In addition to hair growth, other signs of masculinisation will be present. These can include the deepening of the voice, absence of periods, receding growth of hair on the forehead and enlargement of the clitoris. There can also be acne, loss of female body contour with a decrease in breast size. Your doctor should be consulted if you feel you are suffering from hirsutism. Blood and urine tests might indicate an excessive level of male hormone. this may have to be investigated by the use of x-rays, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging,. The treatment then would be surgical removal of the tumour which is producing the hormone. In a large percentage of cases no cause can be found and it is assumed that either the ovaries or adrenal glands genetically supply more than average amounts of adroitness or that little hair follicles become over reactive to what are normal levels of androgens in the female. Medical hormonal treatment is available and can include the combined oral contraceptive pill, a cortisone type substance called dexamethasone, a new drug called cyproterone acetate, or an older drug known as spironolactone. Mild hirsutism can also be a side effect of several commonly prescribed drugs. In this case your doctor who is aware of your medication is in a position to stop the particular drug and if necessary substitute another drug that does not affect the male hormone levels in the female. |
