Hirsutism – Excess Hair Growth
In the 1800s, the bearded lady was a staple of many circus shows. Today, although medical professionals know that hirsutism is a serious problem, social stigma still affects women suffering from this condition.
What is hirsutism?
Hirsutism is a condition in which women suffer from excess hair – in some cases, as much hair on the face and body as men. Generally, it refers to hair growth that mimics hair growth normal in men. This means, women with hirsutism may grow hair on their chest, face, and even back as well as on their legs and arms. In some cases, hirsutism is caused by other diseases, but in most cases the condition is caused by hormones or genetics.
How is it diagnosed?
If you suspect you may suffer from hirsutism, you need to a see doctor to determine whether there are any underlying reasons for the condition. You will likely be asked about family health history (especially about the hair growth on your relatives) and you will be given a blood test. You will be asked about your own medical history and you will be asked what medications you are currently taking. This is because some medications and medical conditions produce additional hair growth. In most cases, doctors will also check to see how much of the male hormone testosterone you are producing.
Why do some people suffer from it?
In most cases, it is simply an inherited trait. Even though it begins at puberty, women may find that the problem gets worse with time, leading them to believe they are developing a new problem. Inherited hirsutism is not really a dangerous medical condition, but doctors have become aware that it can be a serious issue that can affect a woman’s life adversely.
Does it have any other effects?
Yes, some women who suffer from hirsutism may develop poor self-esteem and may feel very shy in social situations. Since the condition mimics male hair growth, some women with this condition may feel (wrongly) that they are somehow less womanly or sexy. If left unresolved, excessive hair growth may make some women unhappy, depressed, and even isolated from others. Because of this, any good doctor will talk to you about the ways hirsutism affects your life and will offer possible solutions. If the first doctor you talk to is dismissive, look for another one. There is no reason anyone needs to deal with excessive body hair when so many options are available.
What are the best management strategies?
In most cases, the condition itself is not treated. Rather, women are encouraged to find mechanical means of getting rid of hair. Waxing, electrolysis, and other long-term methods are often very useful. Since it is now accepted as a medical condition, some women may find that their health coverage covers some or all of their hair removal treatments, which can allow women to get permanent hair removal and thus resolve the problem. Many women have also been very happy with the results they achieve with Vaniqa, a new prescription drug that inhibits hair growth.
Are there any over the counter treatments available?
Kalo Hair Growth Inhibitor contains a proprietary formula which is not available in any other hair removal products. It is probably not quite as effective as Vaniqa, but it is a lot less harsh and you can get it without a prescription. All matters considered it seems to have proven to be an effective and reliable product, so give it a try to reduce hirsutism.
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Dear,
I am 22 year old female, I have this unwanted hair problem specially face, upperlip , chin ,sidelocks, legs, lower abdom. I have gone for some tests in 2006 and till now my problem is not solve dby the doctor…I seek your advice in this regard. My problem became prominent at the age of 15 and I gain weight during that period but no one noticed that. Now the problem is worse I can not go anywhere it feels so embarssing it appears that I shave my face and being a girl it feels pathetic..my test results are as follows..
1) Blood Sugar 69.5 mg%
2) Serum Insulin 6.16 ulU/ml
3)Prolactin 7.68ng/ml
4)Thyroid stimulating hormones TSH 2.85ulU/ml
5) Free teststrone 1.02pg/ml
6) Progestron .75 ng/ml
7) testosterone 42.62 ng/dl
8)LH 6.42 mlU/ml
9)FSH 5.79 mlU/ml
10) 17 Alfa hydroxy progesterone 1.23 ng/ml
Does these test reveal some medical problem for this hair treatment . This test were done in may 2006 . Can you please suggest some homeo treatment for the same.
Dear Bonita,
Have you been checked for Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome? 70-80 percent of women with hirsutism have PCOS.
Also, your weightgain is another indicator for PCOS.
If you want a natural treatment, use D-Chiro Inositol. Is a natural supplement to relief symptoms of PCOS such as unwanted hairgrowth. It will also help you to lose weight, because your response to sugars will improve.
Good luck, don’t let this get you down!
Jessica
So, did this D-Chiro Inositol actually work for you
D-chiro Inositol helped to normalize my hormonal health. acne disappeared and hairgrowth is less severe. Menstrual cycles more regular. I feel a lot better, no more food cravings, less tired.
I have been using Vaniqa for about a year now (and not to mention how much many I have spent on this product) I have found that Vaniqa does not work on dark hairs. ( me) It does slow down the growth to a few days, but this is a product that you have to use forever. When you stop the use of Vaniqa the hair comes back quicker and thicker.
hi its vanessa again, i also have this problem and its very serious, i have side burns,i have a few tht come out on my neck, my chest,i even have hair on my feet and nuckles, i have hair on my stomach, my lower back, and my butt and not like thin hair, im talking about thick hairs, and all i do to remove them is either shave or pluck them out either way they never leave and i end up getting a mark or razor bump or something, and it just doesnt look rite im a women, with side burns and everytime i might get “lucky” its a problem because i have to make sure tht i shaved everywhere or something, my dad is deffenately a hairy person and i know i got this from him. im scarde to try pills because i dont want my hair to fall out or anything i just need help because this is honestly something tht i keep in ive never been to a doctor for this, i wanna make sure tht there is nothing tht i can possibly do, then going to the doctor would be my last resort please try and help me
Hello. I unfortunately have this issue as well. I am from Columbus, Ohio and the health care hear is horrible especially, if you are not rich, a person of color and have no insurance. The doctors here don’t give a damn is all about lying, to make you keep coming for treatment that you do not need. I am not surprise, if the water is loaded with something that caused this issue. My skin(texture) and hair growth has became extremely worse. I agree with the last sista that stated about not feeling confident and feeling less sexy and beautiful, when you want to be with someone. You should never shave your hair because it makes it more course and multiply. I learned that the hard way. I was a young girl that was teased and ostracized for being so fair-skinned and on top of that having hair. So unfortunately I shaved just to feel some type of normalcy. I am a attractive girl with attractive features but it hard to feel beautiful and enjoy being confident when you have this problem and no one gives a damn.
Im so glad that the iternent allows free info like this!
hello,
I am also suffering from the same problem and second whatever everyone has said. This is quite frustrating and often gets me depressed. My parents dont know about this condition and i cant confront them even when i know that they are very supportive and always by my side. i feel so ashamed of myself. i want to see a doctor but cant until i talk to my parents about this. What should I do? I need a permanent solution. I am a cheerful and optimistic girl but this problem always pushes me back. i have so many things planned for my future and i dont want my problem to be an obstacle. Please Please help me and advice me on what i should do.
I can so empathize with you Ms So Sad. High school was difficult for me as well. My hirsutism is not as bad as it is now. My hair grew very fine but dark. Whatever you do, DO NOT SHAVE IT. Try to get it waxed or pluck them out. I shaved them through highschool and college and girl, I look like a man on my chin.I do not want you to go through that. I have coarse hairs througout my chin and they are in the hundreds now. See if your parents can give you laser treatments. My Aunt has had this procedure done and she looks fabulous. You can not tell she had a beard on her face at all. These damn doctors, need to give us those HORMONE SHOTS that they give those transsexuals. You see how the men that transtion to women skins and bodies are, after they have those shots. They no longer have any hair or visible follicles on their faces or on other body parts. So why are women, REAL WOMEN being kept from this treatment.
thank you janelle for understanding me and the advise. hope i can confront my parents and go see a doctor and get my hirsutism treated ASAP. but in my country there arent many places to get this laser treatment and hopefully i can afford it. Anyways thanks a lot specially when only few can understand what we go through.
: )
I am sorry to hear that. I assumed that you reside in the U.S.A. Well, be thankful that God has not placed the hair all over your body as it has mine. It’s very hard though. Try to surround yourself with positive people that love you and keep in touch. Here is my facebook address:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Stacie-Be/100001240056763
I am contemplating getting a 7 week $800 Radio Frequency typer laser to remove acne on my face which im pretty sure is due to hirsutism. I have started to get dark hairs around my nipples in the past 2 years which has progressively gotten worse, but luckily i dont have any other overly abnormal hairy areas, though my pubic region is very thick and extends down to my upper thigh almost. I get the few long dark hairs around my abdomen below my belly button, but the worst are the breast hairs. I have to pluck before going out as low cut tops will reveal this horribly embarrasing problem. It has caused me to break up with my previous partner due to embarrassment, and I have had over 20+ IPL treatments to get rid of the hair (which DOESNT work trust me, slows the growth, thats about IT ! ) I also had over 20+ IPL treatments on my face for acne, which also did nothing, and to which doctors have told me does not treat acne, it only helps lessen the swelling and redness and scarring. Argh – Ive wasted almost 2 years and so much money on depilitory products, IPL, every acne treatment or product out there – HELP ME as I really dont want to fork out $800 for RF treatment for my acne, if I still need to fix the hair problem, and I could be on that Spirolactone medication or something for the entire underlying problem of hirsutism. Oh I have had blood tests recently for thyroid, pcos and other hormonal imbalances, and everythign came up fine my Doctor said.
Dear Gargamel,
look for Soprano laser, this is the best laser treatment at the moment. Highly effective.
If you want to treat the underlying cause of hirsutism, use D-chiro Inositol or start a low glycemic diet. You have to reverse your insulin resistancem, which causes the theca cells in your ovaries to produce ecxess androgens.
Spironolactone is not very healthy and certainly not recommended as a first line treatment for hirsutism currently.
Hope this helps, good luck!
Love,
Jessica
Thanks heaps jessica, I have an appointment with a womens health specialist this week and will mention that spirons not my prefered treatment (I was going to ask for this so thank you! I didnt know it had adverse effects)
Do you knwo if this soprano lasre is in australia? I might look it up….
glad this info helps.
oof Soprano in Australia, wouldn’t know. I live al the way up in the Netherlands.
Hope you find one though.
For health, the first thing you want to do, is to reverse insuline resistance. This you do through either;
1. D-chiro inositol,
2. a really large dosis of myo inositol (percursor od D-chiro inositol) and/or
3. a low glycemic diet. You can buy the book “low GI guide to managing PCOS” at amazon.com or just www.glycemicindex.com
Once you have achieved this in 2 or three months, you will feel better, more energy, less moodswings, more regular mentrual cycles and the amount of androgens circulating in your blood will be reduced.
Hope this helps. Best wishes,
Jessica Damhuis
Though I haven’t been to a doctor about this, I think I have hirsutism. My grand parents are diabetic, my father has a LOT of hair, I’m mildly obese, I might also have insulin resistance. Hair grows on my upper lip, the sides of my face, my chin, neck, my upper back, my arms, hands, knuckles, on my stomache, I have a pubic trail :’( , on my butt, and it even grows on my feet (not a lot, but thick). It started when I became overweight, and got worse when I became obese. I also haven’t had my you know what since either. And this has been giving me low self-esteem, and because of it I have a tendency to isolate myself from others (ESPECIALLY guys). I became more self-conscious when this one boy who was supposedly my “friend” pointed out my lip hair. I tried talking to my parents but they dismiss it completely. :’(
I am 19 and i feel i have a problem, but i dont think its hirsutism. I have hair that only grows on my neck, and i get pimples there also, but not on my face. The doctors ive visited said its a hormone problem like excessive totesterone ( however you spell it)… my problem is obvious and VERY embarassing that i have to shave… i feel like less of a female
…. Any suggestions??
@ Cassie: DO NOT SHAVE A THING. Girl, I learned the hard way. Ultimately, my hairs grew longer, coarser and have multiplied. People were a-holes in the 90’s and early 2000’s and i should no thave shaved a thing. Just get them plucked or waxed.
I have even tried eletrolosis, and lazor treatments, and tweezing but they keep coming back, gradually getting worse and worse… im going to an endocronologist (?) rlly soon… so maybe they can figure out wats going on. Im tired of doctors telling me that they just dont knw and so im their gienie pig.
Girl, I hear you. Thats how the medical industry is where I am at. No one cares anymore. Its all about business
janelle: i greatly thank you for ur advice
and thx jessica for ur help
You probably are coping with PCOS poly cystic ovary syndrome
verry common hormonal disorder, mainly caused by insulin resistence.
Reversing insulin resistance is vital for improving your health and reducing excess male hormones.
Hope this helps,
Jessica
ok so wat does all that mean?? wats going on?
insuline resistance:This means that your body is not metabolizing sugar in the way it is supposed to, which causes your ovaries to produce excess male hormones. Also due to insuline resistance your body produces less of the so called “sex hormone binding globuline” and function of this hormone is to bind testosterone and reduce the amount of free testosterone in your blood.
Google pcos, insuline resistance and d Chiro inositol.
Hope this helps you Find the cause of hirsutism. It certainly helped me to know what was going on in my body.
Hope this helps,
Jessica
@ Cassie: DO NOT SHAVE A THING. Girl, I learned the hard way. Ultimately, my hairs grew longer, coarser and have multiplied. People were a-holes in the 90′s and early 2000′s and i should no thave shaved a thing. Just get them plucked or waxed.
There seems to be some misinformation out here. In fact a lot of hirsute women do not have PCOS rather they are highly sensitive to testosterone. This can mean that they have higher testosterone levels, or in most cases that they have normal testosterone levels but are highly sensitive to testosterone. The problem it appears is that many doctor’s endocrinologists and dermatologists are not familiar with this insofar as they believe a that they should only treat women who have higher than normal testosterone levels.
I myself have hirsutism issues and have gone to a specialist in endocrinology who treats women like me and also women who have more majors issues like PCOS. He says that the medical establishment is just not educated about how to effectively treat. He has prescribed regular birth control (Yazmin generic) pills plus Sprionolactone (androgen inhibitor) and finasteride (propecia generic).
If my porlbem was a Death Star, this article is a photon torpedo.
I am a 14 years old female and i have this excessive hair-growing problem.These hair grow all over my body, on my chest, stomach, back, legs, arms, face and everywhere. I still don’t know know whether it’s hirsutism or not, but i’m so bothered by it. My friends tease my because of it and i feel so uncomfortable. I’m so scared, cause i’m still 14 and i already have hair all over my body, and it’s getting worse!! now i feel so embarassed to wear something short. i tried to talk to my parents about my this, but they say it’s fine, cause the hair is thin and people wouldn’t notice it, but i know that it’s getting worse and the hairs on my face ares starting to grow… And i’m also studying overseas, so i don’t think i can have a routine treatment. Please help meee….
I was diagnosed with hypertrichosis at the age of 14. I have excessive hair growth on my face (beard patterning), neck, knuckles, chest, stomach, feet and high density growth in “normal” places as well. I am now 32 years old and STILL dealing with this problem. I don’t believe it’ll ever stop.
Unfortunately, laser treatments are not covered by OHIP (I live in Canada) as they see it’s a “cosmetic” treatment. Yeah….right….cosmetic. Because of this, laser treatments would have to be paid by me, and me alone. I don’t have that kinda money. I shave everyday and my skin suffers greatly for it. It’s not tough, like a man’s and as a result I get razor burn, dry skin and general irritation from having to deal with it daily.
Anyway who MAY think they have excessive hair growth start saving up my NOW for laser treatment. Don’t be like me, going 20 years and not being able to get it treated!
Yes, laser treatment hurts. A LOT. Don’t let that stop you. It is worth it. I did get 6 treatments when I could afford it and saw a significant difference. I only wish I could continue with it, no matter how painful it is.
Thankfully I have a very understanding boyfriend, who I met a little under a year ago. He tells me not to worry about it and knows this is not something I want to have to deal with.
Hi, everyone,
I just wanted to share my success with controlling acne and facial hair.
I have had trouble with chin hair since I was 20 year old. I am 32 and this problem has been increasing steadily over time. I have had to spend an average of 10 – 20 minutes every morning tweezing the hairs on my chin. If I were to shave them, they’d be grown back by mid-day and my chin would feel bristly.
I have also had acne since I was a teenager — but instead of going away in my 20′s, my acne has been getting worse and worse. I cannot go anywhere without makeup. The skin all around my mouth and chin is almost always bright red (almost like I have a beard) unless I cover it up with makeup every day. I have had some success clearing the acne through a dermatologist, but I still always have to wear makeup because the skin around my mouth and chin always looks inflamed.
Both of these problems have gone away since I have been on a low-Gi diet. I could tell the chin hair problem improved dramatically IMMEDIATELY. The very next day after I went on the low-Gi diet I woke up and only had to pluck about three hairs.
Also my skin is tighter. The skin around my mouth was starting to look more loose — probably due to repeated inflammation, which probably weakened the skin and made it less elastic. But, anyway, I already feel a different in my chin and around my mouth.
And my acne has completely disappeared. COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED. Old scars are starting to heal up and the skin inflammation is going away, too. I am having to wear less and less makeup every week.
I am just making sure to stay on a low-Gi diet (which is easy because your cravings for sugary/ high carb foods just goes away after a couple of days).
I am also making sure to get a good liquid multi-vitamin — liquid is better because it is more like food than some pill and your body absorbs it better. There are several companies that make liquid multi-vitamins, but if you real reviews on Amazon — the people will tell you which ones work for them!
And then I also have been using a needle roller to get rid of acne scars.
That’s it! It’s been great! I can still “bad foods” periodically as long as I balance them with low-GI foods and don’t eat them too often.
If anyone wants to know more, you can email me. [email protected] Good luck!
Alice, how is your skin now a few months later? I have been on DCI and a low glycemic diet for about 6 weeks now. My skin went from cystic acne to 95% clear, and it was a-maz-ing. Now i am experiencing a small breakout again. Not as bad as before the DCI, but still kind of weird since it looked so good just a week ago. Did anything like this happen to you?
Hi
I have a question about D-Chiro inositol…i live in the States and i’m wondering where to get this product at. also what is the recommended dose needed for hirsutism and did anyone see any improvement in facial hair after taking the D-Chiro inositol? my doctor ordered some blood tests and told me that i’m not insulin resistant, i still however think that i have PCOS!! i would really appreciate your help…
Thanks
I’ve read many of the comments, and I have to wonder why no one seems to “accept” their hirsutism. I’m not being critical, but it appears to me that we are all trying to live up to our respective society’s view of what beauty is and what it is not. Maybe we should learn to start defining that for ourselves instead of feeling ashamed and hurt that we don’t fit in.
I know it’s not easy. I can relate to everything everyone has said. I used to shave most of the hair on my body. Now, I only shave my facial hair, but one day I would like to have the courage to be more accepting of that as well. I have chest hair, and sometimes I wear a v neck shirt in the summer that shows it off. Yes, I get some stares, but I also get comments from people who commend me for loving myself and being unashamed of my body. I still wear a skirt some times, and I have leg hair as well. I wear low cut pants and I have stomach hair.
I have to admit it is not always, or sometimes ever, easy going the road less traveled, but I feel like maybe I’m helping some other person to love and accept themselves. I know we all want to fit in, and we all want to feel sexy and womanly, but we are all of those even if some t.v. advertising doesn’t affirm it.
I’m not discouraging shaving or hair removal. Let’s face it, we all have to live inside of our own bodies and do what feels best for us, but I am wondering if there s a more positive way to look at this – if we can learn to stop hating our bodies. I get down on it sometimes, which is why I was perusing the web looking for sites that discussed women’s hair. They are hard to find.
All of you are beautiful. Just surround yourself with people who love and accept you – all of you. I did, and that is a huge reason why I have accepted my hair. Find someone, a friend or a lover or a relative who can affirm you, and maybe you will start to feel better about yourself.
Im 31,my problem is about my excess pubic hair….it’s too much as in,even in my legs its coming out everytime I shaved it.What is the best solution for it to reduce?Im so tired already…thanks and more power!!!!
Hi … I am a 22year old female from South Africa and have been going thru this since im 14 … I have went for three blood tests I think or two since 14years of age and only wen I was 20 did the doc give me a cause of it … …the doctor says that my body produces too much insulin and that i have a hormone problem … i also dont get my period on time … i get it aproximatly every two to three months and because of it I gain weight … ( I do however think there is something more to it other then what the doc says but im not sure) its not a nice feeling at all and it doesnt look like its going to change … ive been on birth control as well and that coats my womb so they’ve taken me off that … i dont gain weight from eating cos i hardly do eat and wish people would understand that…I have taken notice though that I tend to pick up more weight wen its been OVER three months that I HAVE NOT gotten my period … so far thats all the doctor could tell me and he has put me on diabetic medication to controll the insulin in my body…although im not a diabetic and wish to never be one … so i know exactly how you all feel and i hope for you all that everything works out for you … unfortunatly i cant give you any medical advice as i dont know any …. but i do most definatly wish the BEST for you …
Thanks
Hey I thought I was the only one in the world with this issue! I have hair on my nipples and it gets worse the older I get. My pubic area is growing down my legs as well. Question is though can you do electrolysis around the aureola (nipple) or not or maybe if you got fake boobs would the hair die that way? Really I need help I wont even date because I’m so embarrassed I’m 34 and I wont date because of this hair growth issue:( Please tell me there is a permanent solution?????