Hirsutism is a common clinical condition in which females develop excessive coarse or colored hair on their face, neck, upper lip, abdomen, thighs and other parts of the body.
It is the most common endocrine disorder, mainly caused by excess male hormones such as testosterone, disorders of the adrenal gland or ovaries, or menopausal-related hormone changes. Self-care practices and effective treatment options are available for women who wish to treat hirsutism.
Often, hirsutism occurs with no identifiable cause. But some common causes of hirsutism include:
● Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): A condition in which small cysts form on the ovaries causing an imbalance of sex hormones occurs. It causes many problems like excessive hair growth, weight gain, irregular periods, etc.
● Increased levels of androgens: Although the hormone is more prominent in men than in women, its high levels in women cause excessive hair growth.
● Medications: Some medications like minoxidil (Rogaine), glucocorticoids, cyclosporin, anabolic steroids, danazol and phenytoin cause hirsutism. Other medicines such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), primarily used to treat osteoporosis, also cause excessive hair growth in women.
● Cushing syndrome: It can happen due to increased production of cortisol from your adrenal glands or long-term use of prednisone.
● Tumor: Hirsutism caused by the tumors of pituitary glands, ovaries and adrenal glands is more severe and requires quick medical treatment.
● Obesity: If you are overweight, your body tends to produce more testosterone than normal. And eventually, the condition gets worse.
● Ancestry: Women living in the middle east, South Asia, and Mediterranean regions are likely to have more body hair than other women.
● Family history: Conditions that affect your hormones, such as polycystic ovary syndrome and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, run in families and cause hirsutism.
Symptoms of hirsutism include:
● Excessive dark and thick hair growth on the areas where women usually don't have hair, for example, face (upper lip/chin), neck, chest, abdomen and inner thighs, etc.
● Oily skin
● Pimples
● Reduction in breast size
● Increased muscle mass
● The size of the clitoris increases
● A deeper voice
● Loss of hair (alopecia)
Doctors conduct several tests and examinations to diagnose hirsutism. Some of them are mentioned below:
1. Physical examination is conducted where your doctor will check for physical signs such as acne or hair growth.
2. Medical history is taken, which will tell the doctor about irregular periods and other vital information.
3. Blood tests are carried out to check your hormone levels, including testosterone or testosterone-like hormones.
4. Blood and sugar levels are checked.
5. Ultrasound is performed to look at your ovaries and uterus.
6. CT scan is used to look at your adrenal glands.
Several cosmetic or self-care practices, medications and procedures are involved in the treatment of hirsutism. We will discuss all these options one by one.
● Self-care practices include waxing, plucking, shaving, losing weight, and many home remedies. If these procedures do not work, switch to medical treatment with your doctor’s consultation.
● Medications like oral contraceptives, topical creams, birth control pills and anti-androgens stop hair growth and make the condition less severe. The hair will grow back if you stop using these medications. For more information, book an appointment with Shifa4U.
● Procedures such as laser hair removal and electrolysis are more effective than self-care methods.
Dr Rizwan Uppal, the founder of IDC, believed that proper and timely diagnosis is the key to successful treatment. An all under one roof diagnostic service with the name of Islamabad Diagnostic Center (IDC) Pvt. Ltd was established in the beautiful City of Islamabad more than a decade ago.
This brain child of Dr Rizwan was not possible without the support of his two brothers and Executive directors, Dr Rehan Uppal and Dr Imran Uppal. Since the day of inception, Dr Rehan has been a great assistance and immense help in IDC progress and evolution. IDC’s main strength lies in use of state of the art technology, in the hands of qualified and experienced team of doctors and technologist on 24/7 basis. There is still no such setup of equivalent scale and quality in Pakistan.
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