Hirsutism Explained
Hirsutism is excess hair growth in females, often those who have not yet reached menopause but is also common in women who are post menopause. This excess hair can be found on the face, back, chest and other parts of the body we wouldn’t normally associate with women. What causes it and how do we get rid of it?
Whether or not a woman experiences Hirsutism is often down to excess in the amount of androgens (male sex hormones) she has in her body, but another common cause of this condition is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that causes multiple cysts on the ovaries. They are normally harmless but the syndrome itself can disrupt the regularity of the menstrual cycle and also cause fertility problems.
Women whose hormonal balance changes might also experience the growth of facial hair, especially after menopause. When oestrogen levels fall and androgen levels increase, facial hair growth is stimulated and, as luck would have it, this hair is particularly popular on the chin.
Unfortunately, sometimes there is simply no known reason for this condition. It’s not something we can easily get rid of but there are ways of dealing with the excess facial hair and managing it.
Hair removal creams are a good option and will need to be used consistently for results. Vaniqa is the most popular on the market and contains a drug called eflornithine. It works in the follicle of the hair by stymying the effects of the enzymes responsible for hair growth. You can get this product online from vairous websites including Chemist Direct and The Online Clinic.
Waxing and plucking are good for the short term but laser is the most recommended as a longer-term solution. Laser heats up the root of the hair and destroys the follicle however; a number of treatments are required in order to catch all of the hairs in all of their cycles and it’s very expensive!
Dianette, the contraceptive pill, is also prescribed for the condition as it stops the production of testosterone in the body. Again treatment should be consistent until the hair is gone but the good thing about Dianette is that treatment can cease once the excess hair has vanished.
If all of this fails, there are rumours about spearmint tea and a decrease in the ingestion of white carbohydrates too. I’m not sure about the spearmint tea but it is interesting to note that high glycaemic foods like white carbohydrates increase blood sugar and therefore the levels of insulin in the body. High levels of insulin also cause an increase in the production of androgens.
Whatever the cause, there are solutions if it excess hair really bothers you. It’s always advisable to see a doctor anyway in case of underlying hormonal issues but generally it’s quite common, totally normal, and can be dealt with some way, somehow.
You can read more about hirsutism here.