Hirsutism in women - photos, treatment and drugs, causes

Disease hirsutism is not an independent pathology, but acts either as a manifestation of disorders in the body, or an individual genetically determined feature.

This term is applicable only to women, and differs from some other phenomena associated with the growth of body hair found in representatives of both sexes.

Hirsutism - what is it?

Hirsutism is the excessive hairiness of a female face and a male-type body. It can be manifested by the growth of the beard, mustache, excess hair on the arms, legs and trunk, and is caused by a high concentration of androgens in the blood - male sex hormones. It, in turn, is caused by various diseases.

Frequent satellites of hirsutism - infertility, excess body weight and malfunction of the menstrual cycle, as well as the growth of muscle mass. There may be symptoms of defemination - a decrease in the size of the mammary glands, a decrease in the tone of the voice, the absence of a vaginal secretion( lubricant).

Hirsutism can be a temporary condition or permanent, when the underlying pathology is chronic or congenital.

Two other phenomena, virilism and hypertrichosis, are close to hirsutism. In the first case, the level of androgens is also raised in the body, which can be manifested by the growth of hair on the body and face according to the male type( not always), baldness, coarsening of the voice.

Sometimes virilism is the cause of hirsutism. In hypertrichosis, excessive hair growth is not always caused by a change in the concentration of hormones and occurs in representatives of both sexes. It can be associated with hereditary diseases and skin lesions.

Since virilism, hirsutism and hypertrichosis show increased hair growth, these concepts are often confused. But due to various reasons, the treatment scheme is often different.

Causes of hirsutism

There are not many diseases in which hair growth is increased, but there are serious disorders among them. Therefore, the treatment of hirsutism should not be reduced only to the cosmetological removal of vegetation on the face and body. First of all, you need to undergo a thorough examination and find out the cause of the problem.

Changes in the production of hormones in hirsutism are often associated with taking medications, in particular oral contraceptives or other hormonal drugs.

Hair growth in the male type on the body of a woman is provoked:

• Diseases of the ovaries - polycystosis, a cancerous tumor or benign neoplasms. To hirsutism leads to a violation of hormonal function in these pathologies.
• Asher-Thiers Syndrome and Diabetes Mellitus, which are often related to each other.
• Menopause when production of female hormones of estrogens is reduced.
• Diseases of the adrenal glands.
• Pituitary diseases - Morganyi-Stewart-Morel syndrome and others. The pituitary gland, or pineal gland, regulates the endocrine system, therefore, with functional disorders of this organ, hormonal imbalance develops.
• Pathologies of the adrenal glands - hyperplasia of their cortex, tumors, Cushing's syndrome, Addison's disease. The adrenal cortex produces male sex hormones, so these diseases can provoke hirsutism.
• Disorders in the thyroid gland.
• Obesity and other metabolic diseases.
• Diseases of the liver or kidney.
• Heredity - in this case, there may not be hormonal disorders, and intensive hair growth is genetically laid.

With hirsutism, the cause may be a prolonged or incorrect intake of drugs that affect the hormonal background. Among them, Cortisone, Ciclosporin, Interferon, Prednisone, androgen-based drugs, such as anabolic.

Hirsutism in women

Hair growing on the skin of a person can be of three types:

• Short, soft and colorless gun, covering most of the body;
• Rigid bristly - these are eyelashes, eyebrows and hairs in the nostrils;
• Soft long hair on the head, in the armpits, on the external genitals, and also on the face of men.

Signs of hirsutism in women is the appearance of dark and hard hair on the skin( whiskers, vegetation on the chin and above the upper lip, on the chest, stomach, hips).It can appear at any age, including the period of puberty.

The concept of hirsutism is applicable only to female representatives, because men are naturally endowed with a high level of androgens in the blood and as a result increased growth of hair on the face and body.

Congenital hirsutism, not caused by health problems, is common among women of Caucasian nationality and in eastern countries. If the growth of hair by the male type develops without a genetic predisposition, you should consult a doctor to find out its causes.

Treatment of hirsutism in women - drugs and methods

With hirsutism in women, treatment is aimed at eliminating the root cause of hair loss, which may require the help of specialists such as endocrinologist, oncologist, gynecologist, therapist, surgeon, dermatologist. Only after this it makes sense to remove the hair itself, and an experienced cosmetologist will help you choose the method that suits it.

The first step is to call an endocrinologist and take blood tests for testosterone, gonadotropin, cortisol, androstenedione.

In the course of diagnostics, the serum of the blood must be examined for the concentration of DHAE-C( dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate) - this allows to determine the main place of production of androgens in the body.

Drugs in the treatment of hirsutism

After identifying the cause of hairy style, the male type is prescribed appropriate medication. With hirsutism, treatment with drugs may include one of the following options:

• Receiving oral combined contraceptives that inhibit the production of male hormones - these products contain a minimal concentration of estrogen( Diane-35, Janine and others).
• Dexamethasone or Prednisolone - they reduce the production of androgens by the adrenal glands, and are often prescribed with hereditary hyperplasia of these endocrine glands.
• Spironolactone - blocks androgen receptors and suppresses their synthesis, the effectiveness is observed after a few days after the start of treatment. Of the side effects of the drug are often observed intermenstrual bloody discharge.
• Ketoconazole is indicated if the administration of the above-mentioned agents does not produce results.

Warning! Combined oral contraceptives are not prescribed for women over 35 years of age, smokers, for liver failure, pregnancy, hypertension, thromboembolic complications. Also, they are extremely undesirable if a woman is planning to have childbirth.

Hormone therapy can last from 3 months to a year. Treatment for women with contraceptives is carried out strictly according to the appointment of a specialist. This is due to the fact that with hirsutism in most cases there are hormonal disorders.

Incorrect use of hormones without preliminary diagnosis and adjusted dose of administration can have an even more negative effect on endocrine and other internal organs, causing the development of such complications:

• malfunctions in the menstrual cycle;
• cysts in the ovaries;
• pathology of the uterus and uterine bleeding.

Therapy of the medicinal form of hirsutism consists in the abolition of the preparations that caused the hairy transmission in the male type.

Tumor Removal

If the cause is ovarian cancer or adrenal gland cancer, surgical removal of the neoplasm is indicated. With hirsutism, it is the tumor cells that produce an excess of androgens.

If the growth is significant, the attending physician may decide to completely remove the affected organ. After the operation, supportive hormone therapy is usually indicated, which is often necessary throughout life.

Hair loss

Treatment of the cause of hair loss stops the formation of an excess of new vegetation on the body and face, but does not destroy the already existing hair.

Cosmetological methods help to get rid of them:

• photoepilation;
• laser hair removal;
• bioepilation with wax;
• application of special creams;
• conventional hair removal;
• plucking and shaving.

The first two methods are the most effective, as they destroy the hair follicles, thus preventing the growth of new hairs.

Treatment of hirsutism at home

Is it possible to cure hirsutism alone at home? Therapy of a pathological cause should be carried out only after diagnosis and according to the appointment of a specialist. The medications prescribed by the doctor are usually carried out at home, in strict accordance with the recommended regimen.

As for folk remedies, their use is aimed only at removing or lightening the hair, but not at eliminating the cause of excess vegetation on the face and body. At home, with hirsutism more often than others use such remedies:

• tincture of dope;
• lemon juice;
• alcohol tincture of walnut partitions.

Oily tincture of datura wipe the skin once a day for 2-3 months. The product acts on the hair follicles, so before applying, you should do depilation, for example, to shave. Apply tincture in small amounts, applying a few drops on a cotton swab or napkin.

Datura is a poisonous plant, therefore any means based on it require caution in the application. Tincture should be stored out of reach of children and animals, do not apply to the face and mucous membranes and do not allow the medication to enter.

Softens hard hairs and reduces their growth tincture from walnut partitions. For its preparation raw from 30 nuts pour 100 ml of alcohol and insist 2-3 weeks. The composition is lubricated areas of skin with excess vegetation 1 time per day for 3-4 weeks. Regular wiping the skin with lemon juice allows you to soften and lighten the dark hair, making them less visible.

Complications of hirsutism

Consequences and complications of hirsutism can be:

1. Violation of the monthly cycle;
2. Infertility;
3. Uterine bleeding and as a consequence anemia;
4. Diabetes mellitus due to ovarian polycystic ovaries;
5. Appearance of secondary male sexual characteristics - increase in muscle mass, coarsening of the voice, changes in facial features, reduction of the mammary glands;
6. Alopecia.

Against the background of hirsutism syndrome, depression and other mental disorders often develop.

Forecast

Therapy for female type of hair can take up to 6-12 months, while it does not reduce or disappear existing hair.

Prognosis for timely treatment is favorable.

As a result of therapy, the pathological cause of hirsutism is eliminated and the growth of new hair is significantly slowed down.