Hirsutism is a condition that affects females. Teens and adult women with hirsutism typically have abnormal growth of body and facial hair. Hirsutism has many causes, but the excessive hair growth is stems from an overproduction of male sex hormones. If you have hirsutism, you can usually treat it by correcting the underlying medical condition. Consult your doctor before trying to treat hirsutism on your own.
Symptoms
If you're a teenager with hirsutism, you'll likely experience symptoms such as coarse, dark facial and body hair, acne, irregular menstruation cycles and a deep voice, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The most noticeable symptom of hirsutism is the hair growth, which often occurs in areas for females such as the chest, face and back, the Mayo Clinic notes. Other symptoms of hirsutism in teens include reduced breast size, clitoral enlargement, abnormally large muscle mass and balding. In some cases, hirsutism symptoms can also include high blood pressure, glucose intolerance and enlarged adrenal glands or ovaries, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Causes
Hirsutism can stem from an underlying medical condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian or adrenal tumors, Cushing's syndrome and adrenal-gland enzyme defects, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Hirsutism can also be caused by taking certain medications that can increase hair growth, including birth control pills, minoxidil, phenytoin, cyclosphorine, anabolic steroids, diazoxide, progestins, hexachlorobenzene and danazol. Another underlying condition that causes hirsutism is the hereditary adrenal-gland disorder called congenital adrenal hyperplasia, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you have hirsutism because of Cushing's syndrome, you might also experience symptoms such as high blood pressure, diabetes, thin skin and obesity, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Testing
Your doctor can diagnose hirsutism by taking your medical history, performing a physical exam and testing your blood for androgen hormone levels, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your doctor might also perform an ultrasound or CT scan to study your adrenal glands and ovaries to detect tumors or other abnormalities that could cause hirsutism. Other tests for hirsutism and its related underlying conditions include X-rays, MRI scans and suppression or stimulation tests, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Considerations
In addition to the various underlying medical conditions associated with hirsutism, you can also inherit hirsutism, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you have South Asian, European or Middle Eastern heritage, you're at a higher risk of developing hirsutism. Keep in mind that hair growth largely depends on your family's hair-growth characteristics and ethnicity, points out the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Excessive hair growth can run in families and is not necessarily hirsutism when hormonal levels are normal.
Treatments
Waxing, shaving or bleaching unwanted hair, or undergoing electrolysis or laser treatments are some methods of treating the symptoms of hirsutism, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Actual treatment of hirsutism typically involves treating the underlying medical condition causing the hormonal imbalance. Hirsutism with an unknown cause is often treated with medications such as oral contraceptives, anti-androgens and prescription hair-removal creams, the Mayo Clinic notes. Improving your nutrition and exercising daily to lose weight can also treat hirsutism. Certain alternative therapies such as acupuncture and herbal remedies can help treat hirsutism as well. You might take natural supplements such as diindolylmethane and calcium-D-glucarate or herbs such as spearmint, chasteberry, saw palmetto and black cohosh to treat hirsutism, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Before you begin taking any natural or conventional medicine for hirsutism, ask your doctor about the potential health risks and drug interactions.
