Hirsutism is a condition that causes the growth of excessive facial and body hair on a woman. The hair is dark and coarse and is located where hair growth in women usually is minimal or absent. This thick, dark hair is different from the hair that some women have on their upper lip, chin, breasts or stomach, or the fine “baby” hair all over their body.

Causes

Hirsutism can be caused by abnormally high levels of male hormones (called androgens). The following are some of the conditions that may increase a woman’s normally low levels of male hormones:

    • Polycystic ovary syndrome, which occurs when an imbalance of hormone levels in a woman’s body causes cysts in the ovaries
    • Cushing’s syndrome, which occurs when the body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol for a long period of time
    • Tumors in the ovaries or adrenal gland, formed when abnormal cells grow out of control and clump together.

The following factors can also cause hirsutism:

    • Hair follicles that are overly sensitive to male hormones
    • Some medicines, such as hormones, anabolic steroids and a medicine used to treat women who have endometriosis (called danazol)
    • Hirsutism seems to runs in families
    • Race and ethnicity – women of European, Middle Eastern and South Asian ancestry are more likely to develop the condition.

Signs and symptoms

The major symptom of hirsutism is hair growth on the face, breasts, stomach and back (male-pattern hair growth in women). About half of women with hirsutism have high levels of male sex hormones, called androgens. If hirsutism is caused by high levels of male hormones, symptoms may include:

    • Acne
    • Irregular menstrual periods
    • Deepening of the voice
    • Increased muscle mass
    • Decreased breast size.

If hirsutism is due to Cushing syndrome, signs and symptoms can include:

    • Obesity, especially around the middle section
    • High blood pressure (hypertension)
    • Diabetes
    • Thinning skin.

Treatment

The treatment for hirsutism depends on how severe the problem is and whether there is an underlying cause. For example, if medication is making the condition worse, the sufferer may want to ask her doctor if she can take other medications or stop taking them. If a tumour on the ovaries or adrenal glands is the cause, it may be removed surgically. Overweight women with hirsutism may want to lose weight so their bodies will produce less testosterone.

If no underlying cause is found, a combination of self-care strategies and hair-removal techniques may be used. Some cosmetic therapies, such as laser hair removal or waxing, can reduce the appearance of hair growth. Psychological support may also help because hirsutism is often a frustrating and embarrassing condition.

 

Sources
http://familydoctor.orgl
http://www.umm.edu