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Excessive or unwanted hair in women

• Overview
• Treatment

Alternative Names:

Hypertrichosis; Hirsutism; Hair - excessive (women)

Home Care:

There are a variety of ways to remove unwanted hair:

• Bleaching -- lightening hair to make it less noticeable.
• Hair removal -- shaving, plucking, waxing, or chemical depilation.
• Electrolysis -- using electrical current to damage individual hair follicles so they do not grow back. This is expensive and requires multiple treatments.
• Laser hair removal -- using laser to damage individual hair follicles so they do not grow back. This is expensive and requires multiple treatments.
• Weight loss -- in overweight women, weight loss can decrease male hormone levels and reduce hair growth.

Birth control pills and anti-androgen medications can also help reduce hair growth. A doctor must prescribe these medications.

Call your health care provider if:

Call your doctor if:

• The hair grows rapidly.
• The hair growth is associated with male features such as acne, deepening voice, increased muscle mass, and decreased breast size.
• You are concerned that medication may be worsening unwanted hair growth.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Your doctor will perform a physical examination, including a pelvic examination if appropriate. The doctor will ask questions such as:

• Do other members of your family also have excessive amounts of hair?
• What medications are you taking?
• Have your periods been regular?
• Are you pregnant?
• Have you noticed other signs of excess male hormones such as increased muscle mass, deepening voice, acne, or decreased breast size?

Diagnostic blood tests may be performed to measure levels of :

• Testosterone
• Dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S)
• Luteinizing hormone (LH)
• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
• Prolactin
• 17-hydroxyprogesterone

If a tumor is suspected, x-ray tests such as a CT scan or ultrasound may be recommended.

References:

Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology . 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby, Inc. 2004.

Claman P. SOGC clinical practice guidelines. Hirsutism: evaluation and treatment. J Obstet Gynaecol Can . 2002; 24(1): 62-73, 77-79.

Büyükaebiz A. Hirsutism in adolescent girls. J Ped Endocrinol Metab. 2007; 20:473-474.

Bona G, Bozzola M, Buzi F, et al. Hirsutism. Minerva Pediatr . 2007; 59(3):289-298.

• Review Date: 7/17/2007
• Reviewed By: Nikheel S. Kolatkar, MD, Clinical and Research Fellow, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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