How To Control Facial Hair Growth

Excessive Hair Growth (Hirsutism)

Hirsutism is a status in which a woman develops excessive hair growth. Hirsutism may exist caused past high levels of androgen, menopause-related hormone changes, or disorders of the adrenal glands or ovaries. Generally, information technology responds to treatment.

Overview

What is hirsutism?

Hirsutism is a common condition in which a person develops an excessive growth of pilus. It affects v% to ten% of women of child-bearing potential.

Women will frequently develop fibroid, dark pilus growth on the upper lip, chin, chest, belly, or back, instead of the fine hair sometimes referred to as "peach fuzz" that normally grows in those areas. Although this status tin can cause much distress, it tin be treated.

Symptoms and Causes

What causes hirsutism?

In many cases, the exact crusade of hirsutism is not known. All the same, at that place are several weather that are known to cause hirsutism. These conditions include:

The natural production of male hormones (androgens). Women naturally produce androgen, yet, if a woman's androgen levels are college than normal, or if her hair follicles are more sensitive to androgens, she may develop hirsutism.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that causes a woman to produce too many androgens. Women with PCOS may also accept acne, irregular or absent menstrual periods, diabetes, weight gain, and/or bug with fertility.
The hormonal changes of menopause may lead to increased facial hair (mustache and whiskers).
Other more serious conditions. Hirsutism that occurs suddenly along with other male characteristics, such as a deeper voice, acne or increased musculus mass, may be acquired by a more than serious condition, such as disorders of the adrenal glands or ovaries.
Medications. The post-obit medications tin cause hirsutism:
- Anabolic steroids
- Testosterone
- Glucocorticoids
- Cyclosporine (Sandimmune®)
- Minoxidil (Loniten®, Rogaine®)
- Danazol (Danocrine®)
- Phenytoin (Dilantin®)

What are the symptoms of hirsutism?

The main symptom of hirsutism is thick, coarse, dark pilus that grows on parts of the body where it would normally grow as fine, thin hair. For instance, pilus may grow thicker and coarser on the face, breast, back, lower abdomen, upper arms, or upper legs of women.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is hirsutism diagnosed?

Your md will conduct a physical examination to determine the extent of the abnormal hair growth, equally well as whatsoever other physical signs that may be accompanying the hair growth, such as acne.

If your hair growth is diagnosed as hirsutism, your dr. may perform a diverseness of tests, including blood tests to check hormone levels, ultrasound to visualize the ovaries and uterus, certain X-rays and additional tests to evaluate your ovaries and adrenal glands, in order to rule out other weather condition.

Direction and Treatment

How is hirsutism treated?

The first stride would be weight loss. If y'all are overweight, fifty-fifty losing five% of your body weight can lower androgen levels and assistance a lot. Also, mild hirsutism tin be treated with a variety of techniques for hair removal. These techniques practice non address the cause of the problem, just the excessive pilus.

Temporary pilus removal

Shaving is the most common method of hair removal. Information technology is very simple and safe, but must be done very regularly to prevent stubble.
Bleaching products can exist used to lighten unwanted hair. Caution: Some bleaching products, especially if left on for too long, tin crusade skin irritation.
Waxing and plucking (tweezing) the hair is effective, merely may irritate the hair follicle and cause pimples.
Depilatories are products that dissolve hair. These products can irritate sensitive facial skin.

Hair growth reduction

Eflornithine hydrochloride (Vaniqa®) cream is a topical product that does not remove pilus but acts to slow down how fast the hair grows. Noticeable results take about 6 to 8 weeks, and once the foam is discontinued, pilus starts to abound at the normal rate it was growing pre-treatment. It is often used in conjunction with other therapies.

Long lasting hair removal

Electrolysis is a technique that uses a tiny needle and a mild electrical zap to destroy pilus roots ane past ane. Because each pilus follicle needs to be treated, information technology may not be practical to use electrolysis over a large surface area of the body. This process can be somewhat painful, fourth dimension-consuming, and expensive. If yous cull this technique, make sure your provider is licensed. Habitation electrolysis products are not effective or recommended.
Photoepilation (laser) treatments utilise a axle of light to destroy the hair follicle. This technique is long-lasting and can be used over larger areas of the torso. Photoepilation is constructive, but can be painful and expensive, and it requires several treatments.

Medical handling

Weight loss is essential. If you lot are overweight, even losing 5% of your body weight can lower androgen levels and help decrease unwanted hair.
Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) are the most common form of medical treatment for hirsutism. Birth command pills lower androgen levels, regulate the menstrual cycle and foreclose pregnancy. Almost women will notice an improvement in hirsutism in 6 to 12 months.
Medications that suppress androgens may be used in combination with birth control pills.
- Spironolactone (Aldactone®) is a diuretic, or "water pill," that is commonly used as a claret pressure medication but can also be used at lower doses for hirsutism. It blocks the effects of androgens and reduces pilus growth. Side effects may include dry out skin, heartburn, irregular vaginal haemorrhage, dizziness and fatigue.
- Finasteride is another anti-androgen drug that has been effective for hirsutism. It is reported to exist as constructive as spironolactone.
- Flutamide is some other anti-androgen drug that is used in the treatment of hirsutism. One major business organisation with this drug is the side event of causing impairment to the liver. Information technology is non considered a first line agent for hirsutism .
- Topical creams with anti-androgen effect exist but exercise non work very well for hirsutism.
Low-dose steroid medications may exist used if hirsutism is acquired by overactive adrenal glands.
Insulin-lowering drugs such as metformin and thiazolidinediones reduce claret levels of both insulin and androgens, just this treatment is controversial and non considered a first-line treatment as they take significant agin side furnishings.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists act by decreasing androgen production by the ovaries. This therapy all the same requires injections and is expensive. Moreover, it does not offer whatsoever more benefits than do birth command pills.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the prognosis (outlook) for people who have hirsutism?

Hirsutism will require ongoing treatment. None of the treatments make the hair go away completely, but they make hair grow more slowly and help to significantly decrease the amount of unwanted hair. Most women are happy with their results once they find an effective treatment regimen that works for them. One time an constructive treatment is established, information technology may be continued indefinitely.