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Hirsutism  

What is it?

Hirsutism is the presence of excessive body or facial hair. For women, the areas most affected are the 'beard' area (upper lip, chin, front of the ears), the chest, the abdomen and the front of the thighs. The condition varies from being mild and hardly noticeable to being obvious.

What is normal?

Many women feel they are very 'hairy', but if this occurs in the normal female hair-growth areas (such as the armpit, forearms, pubic area and around the nipples) there is no cause for concern. A tendency to be 'hairy' may run in families or be prevalent in some races, such as those from the Mediterranean region. Even if the hair growth seems to be in a male pattern, there is usually no serious underlying cause and the problem can be treated.

What causes it?

Often hairiness runs in families or is more common in certain races, such as negroids. It is rare in orientals. Certain medications, such as anti-epilepsy drugs and some oral contraceptive pills, can cause it. Uncommonly, it can be due to a hormone imbalance, or to cysts or tumours of the ovaries or adrenal glands.

What can be done?

Your doctor will need to take a full medical history and examine you to assess your hair growth. A blood test may be necessary.

What is the treatment?

Your doctor my be able to reassure you that your hair growth is normal, and therefore no therapy is needed.

Cosmetic measures (such as bleaching, waxing and shaving) and treatment with depilatory creams or electrolysis can help. Your doctor will advise what will suit you. There is no evidence that shaving increases the rate of hair growth, but plucking the hair does stimulate growth. Do not pluck hairs around the lips and chin.

Medical treatment with drugs can be used if your hair growth is moderately or severely excessive and causes understandable social embarrassment. These drugs, however, are not without side effects, and your doctor will discuss the risks of treatment and weigh them against any likely benefit. It will probably take at least 3 months for you to notice any difference in your hairiness, and for most women the hair grows back once they stop taking the medications.

Copyright 1995: John Murtagh, Professor of General Practice
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia