Hirsutism - Hair despair

Excess hair on the body is the condition that can be dealth with tricology

Hair - how to grow it on one hand, and how to permanantly stop it from growing on the other - is the dilemma faced by many women today. Sounds contradictory? Well, the same women who might diligently apply oil on her hair and purchase the best hair products so that the hair on the head can grow longer and better, will also be trying her beat to get rid of the hair on the rest of her body.

Hair growing in regions normally associated in men - like the face and chest - are obviously very distressing for women. But it is important to remember that you are not the only one with this problem, there are many other women with the same condition suffering silently. Most importantly this is a medical condition like any other, and trichology exists so that it can be dealt with.

What is Hirsutism?

Hirsutism is simply the medical term for excess body or facial hair in women. It can be described as a male hair growth pattern or distribution on a female body. It usually begins around puberty, but mild hirsutism can start at any age. Most women do not realise how common their problem is.

Symptoms of Hirsutism

• Growth of excess hair on the face area, especially on the upper lips and chin.
• Loss of hair on the scalp and the fronto-vertex region in women.

What is Hypertrichosis?

Hirsutism must be distinguishes from Hypertrichosis. Hypertrichosis is usually described as an excessive quantity of hair in a normal location on one's body, compared to others of the same age, sex and ethnic background. Thus it is improtant to keep in mind that what is excessive growth depends on where the growth is taking place, and in whom. A women with beard would be suffering from hirsutism, as thick hair growth in face is not normal for women. A few chin hair and a few upper lip hair does not make one hirsute, because fine growth may occur as a normal process in women too.

What causes Hirsutism?

Hirsutism is almost always the result of excessive effect of androgens on the hair follicles. This could be caused by:

• The use of male hormones and medications with androgen effects (eg - steroids).
• Androgen producing ovarian tumours. Hirsutism progresses rapidly and if left untreated leads to masculinisation (loss of scalp hair, voice changes, male body habits)
• Polycystic Ovarian Disease: Women suffering from this are obese, hirsute and have irregular and infrequent menstrual cycles. Because women in this condition stop ovulating it is often referred to as 'Anovulation Syndrome'.
• Cushings Syndrome: This condition is the consequence of an excess production of corticisteroids in the adrenal glands. Some of these corticosteroids are androgens and therefore stimulate hair growth.

Remedies for Hirsutism

The remedies includes bleaching, shaving, plucking, threading, waxing, depilatory creams and electrolysis. The latest treatments includes a herb called Oleum Jacoris. Laser therapy has also shown promising results, though long-term testing is needed to confirm this.