Excess male hormones, known as androgens, can cause hirsutism. This can happen as a result of certain medical issues. Inheritance of hirsutism is possible. Hirsutism causes an overabundance of stiff, pigmented hair in parts of the body where males normally grow hair, such as the face, chest, and back. Medication helps to treat hirsutism. Electrolysis or laser therapy can also help to eliminate hair.
In women with PCOS, the prevalence of hirsutism ranges from 70 to 80 percent, compared to 4 percent to 11 percent in the general population. Link of hirsutism to ovarian androgen excess as well as individual pilosebaceous unit sensitivity to androgens in PCOS. The control of androgen excess with combination oral contraceptives is one strategy for reducing hirsutism in PCOS (OCPs).
What causes hair growth on the face?
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a type of polycystic ova (PCOS). An imbalance of sex hormones occurs as a result of this illness, which generally develops during puberty. PCOS can cause excessive hair growth, irregular periods, obesity, infertility, and numerous cysts on the ovaries over time. Pcos facial hair is common due to hormonal imbalance. • Cushing’s syndrome is a condition in the adrenal glands When your body is exposed to excessive levels of the hormone cortisol, this happens. It can result from your adrenal glands producing too much cortisol or from long-term use of drugs like prednisone. • Adrenal hyperplasia is a condition that occurs at birth. The adrenal glands produce abnormal amounts of steroid hormones, such as cortisol and androgen, in this hereditary disorder. • Tumors. The cause of hirsutism can be an androgen-secreting tumor in the ovaries or adrenal glands. • Medications. Hirsutism can be caused by some drugs. These include minoxidil (Rogaine, Rogaine), danazol (for endometriosis), testosterone (Androgel, Testim), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (DHEA).
PCOS and hirsutism interconnection
When male hormones in the female body exceed their normal level of secretion, hirsutism is visible. High levels of androgen are a common symptom of PCOS. Similarly, high levels of androgen cause facial hair growth in the female body. Excessive facial and body hair is usually due to a buildup of androgens in the body. Men and women both have androgens, but men have significantly larger levels of physiologically active androgens. Production of androgens is predominantly by the testes and adrenal glands in men. Androgens are produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands in women. Estrogen lowers the action of androgens in women to some extent.
Diagnosis of hirsutism in women
Training to Reproductive and medical endocrinologists to treat hirsutism and related disorders. Some gynecologists, dermatologists, and general practitioners have also gained the required knowledge. During your first medical visit, your doctor will try to distinguish between terminal hairs developing in a masculine pattern, which indicates hirsutism, and hair growth caused by genetic or ethnic predisposition. If you’ve been diagnosed with hirsutism, your doctor may order blood tests, ultrasounds, special x-rays, and hormone tests to assess how well your ovaries and adrenal glands are working. Your physician might offer appropriate treatment after determining the causes of hirsutism. Various cosmetic treatments, including laser and electrolysis, can be used to eliminate any undesirable hair that remains following treatment.
Photo Credit: Health Express
How to treat hirsutism?
Because hair grows in six-month cycles, hirsutism is usually a long-term condition. Unwanted hair can be treated in a variety of ways, some of which are more effective than others.
- Birth control pills and anti-androgen meds like Aldactone are examples of medications (spironolactone)
- Swelling, scarring, and skin redness are all possible side effects of electrolysis.
- Hair removal with lasers (this method works best on fair-skinned people with very dark hair)
- Chemical shaving, plucking, and waxing
- Weight loss may aid in the reduction of unwanted hair growth in overweight or obese women.
FAQs
1. How to stop facial hair growth due to hirsutism naturally?
Following these given this one can get rid of hirsutism naturally.
• Consume antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes (such as squash and bell peppers).
• Avoid refined foods, such as white pieces of bread, kinds of pasta, and sugar.
• For protein, consume less red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if you don’t have a soy allergy), or beans.
• Use healthy oils like olive oil or vegetable oil in your cooking.
• Elimination of trans fat is present in commercially bakery items such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, doughnuts, processed foods, and some portions of margarine.
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol.
• Recommendation of 6 to 8 glasses of filtered water each day.
2. Can hirsutism be cured permanently?
Yes, Hirsutism can be successfully treated if you stick to your doctor’s treatment regimen. Use of oral drugs in combination with topical treatments, laser or electrolytic techniques to permanently reduce or remove unwanted hair from a woman’s body.
3. What is PCOS facial hair?
The association of polycystic ovarian syndrome is with hirsutism and undesirable PCOS facial hair. Characteristics of hirsutism are coarse, black hair on the face, chest, belly, back, upper arms, and upper legs. Hirsutism is a sign of medical conditions that link to androgen hormones.
4. Does PCOs cause facial hair?
Even if fertility isn’t an issue, some of the other PCOS symptoms may be. Unwanted facial hair growth is one of the PCOS side effects that many women are unaware of, causing self-esteem concerns and maybe despair.
5. How much facial hair is normal for a woman?
A total score of less than eight is normal, a score of eight to fifteen suggests mild hirsutism, and a score of more than fifteen indicates moderate or severe hirsutism. Most women with facial hair don’t use the Ferriman-Gallwey scale to determine whether or not they have a problem. Hirsutism is a common condition that may typically be successfully manageable by medicines. Electrolysis or laser treatment can help to permanently decrease or eradicate any remaining undesirable hair after medical treatment. If other female members of your family have had excessive hair growth, keep an eye out for early signs of hirsutism in yourself and your children, particularly throughout adolescence. Hirsutism is a common side effect of PCOS. Identification of hirsutism and PCOS at an early age makes it easier to treat.
About the author
Charlotte
Charlotte is a health, beauty and wellness blogger and a mother of two, who lives between India and London
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