Hirsutism, the growth of normal and abnormal body hair, is a problem for men and women of all backgrounds. The Hormone Help Center of New York reports that Asians have little hair, but unwanted hair growth can be extraordinarily bothersome. People from Mediterranean backgrounds often grow excess facial or body hair, but because it is not an acceptable look, women with extra hair feel abnormal. The truth is, anyone can have unwanted hair. And fortunately, it's easy to treat.
About Hirsutism
Men and women can have hirsutism, the growth of unwanted hair. The Mayo Clinic reports that until puberty, we're all covered with fine, transparent hairs called vellus hair. Once we hit puberty, the body releases the male sex hormones called androgens. At that point, certain parts of the body develop dark, course and curly terminal hairs. "About half the women with mild hirsutism have high androgen levels," according to the Mayo Clinic. For men, hirsutism is harder to detect because they're naturally more hairy.
Types of Treatment
Treatment for unwanted facial hair ranges from temporary removal to permanent and hormonal blockers to minimize hair growth. The easiest way to remove excess hair is by shaving. It's also the treatment that requires the most maintenance because hair grows back immediately. But contrary to popular belief, shaved hair does not come back thicker. It appears that way because stubble is coarser than fully-grown follicles.
Temporary Hair Removal
Longer-term treatments include laser hair removal and waxing. Laser removal destroys the hair follicle at its base. It's a procedure that needs to be repeated to stay hair-free, but can eventually permanently damage some follicles altogether and minimize hair regrowth.
Waxing tears the hairs out by the roots. Re-growth appears again after several weeks. And, you need to allow the hairs to grow about 1/4 inch before waxing again. This usually makes it less desirable for treating facial hair.
Permanent Hair Removal
Electrolysis is the only permanent hair removal. A dermatologist will take a tiny electrical probe, insert it into and destroy the hair follicle. It can take a few sessions before the follicle is completely destroyed.
Hormonal Treatments
A topical cream like eflornithine (brand name Vaniqa) is specifically prescribed to treat excess facial hair. It works by interfering with an enzyme in the skin of the hair follicle needed for hair growth. The National Institutes of Health reports that after 24 weeks of eflornithine treatment, 32 percent of women had showed improvement compared with only 9 percent who took a placebo.
Oral contraceptives can be prescribed to women to treat hirsutism. Birth control pills contain the hormones estrogen and progestin, which inhibit the ovaries from producing the male sex hormone androgen. It won't eliminate existing hair, but will prevent future hair growth in unwanted areas.
Anti-androgens, like spironolactone (brand name Aldactone), are prescribed to block androgens in the body from attaching to receptors that spur hair growth.
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