All women possess facial hair. While the hair appears fine and lightly colored in most women, some women possess dark, coarse facial hair. Although bothersome, the presence of dark hair is not a health issue; genetics are likely to blame. For the 10 percent of women who truly suffer from a condition called hirsutism, excessive male-patterned hair growth, an underlying condition may be at fault.
Symptoms
According to FamilyDoctor.org, the primary symptom of hirsutism is the presence of dark hair on the face, chest, abdomen and back. Secondary symptoms include small breast size, deep voice, irregular or missing menses, acne and increased muscle mass.
Causes
Hirsutism can be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, tumors and some medications, according to the Mayo Clinic. All causes disrupt the balance of sex hormones in the body, allowing male hormones, or androgen hormones, to rage in excess. Sometimes doctors can find no underlying cause in an individual case. When no cause can be identified, the condition is called idiopathic hirsutism.
Probability
Some women are more likely to develop hirsutism than others. Since many diseases and disorders that cause excessive facial hair are considered hereditary, the presence of such conditions in the family line increases probability. Such conditions include congenital adrenal hyperplasia and polycystic ovary syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic. Ethnicity also plays a role in the development of facial hair. South Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean women grow more facial hair than women of Caucasian descent.
Impact
The emotional and behavioral impact of excessive facial hair in women was studied at the Royal Free and University College Medical School of London and published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research in 2006. The study surveyed a group of women who were thought to be suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome, the number-one cause of hirsutism in women. The study found that the women spent, on average, 104 minutes each week trying to remove unwanted hair. Additionally, 76 percent of the women admitted to checking their face frequently throughout the day. Many, 40 percent, said that they felt uncomfortable in social settings, and 29 percent suffered from anxiety and depression as a result of their condition.
Treatment
Several treatment options are available to women with excessive facial hair, reports Familydoctor.org. It should be noted, however, that all treatments focus on slowing or halting future growth. Nothing can be done about growth that is already present; it can only be removed. Medications such as spironolactone, sold as Aldactone, and finasteride, sold as Proscar, treat hirsutism by lowering the amount of male hormones produced by the body. Birth control pills can also be used to decrease the production of male hormones. A topical treatment called eflornithine, sold as Vaniqa, slows hair growth.
Member Comments