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| Hirsutism: Excessive hair in women |
Here are more hairy women than others, it is normal. But if you are one of those with excessive dark and thick hair where almost no woman has it, such as the face, back or chest, you probably have hirsutism.
What is hirsutism?
This is what is called when women grow a lot of thick and dark hair in the areas where men generally grow: the back, the chest, the abdomen, the chin and the neck or over the upper lip. It is usually due to an excess of male hormone - androgen - in women. Although in some cases it has been found that it may also be due to characteristic features of certain ethnic groups.
Many women suffer in silence for that uncomfortable excessive hair that shames them so much and that they do even the impossible to hide or remove. If that happens to you, we know how difficult it is, but don't feel alone ... today hirsutism affects 10% of women in the United States.
Most women who have hirsutism only suffer from excess hair. However, if your levels of male hormone (androgen) are very high, your body may begin to undergo many more changes, such as wanting to adopt a male physiognomy. For example, the voice becomes thicker, you suffer from baldness or acne, your bust is reduced and your muscle mass increases, etc. A serious problem! In those cases, you should see your doctor urgently. Fortunately, this happens to a few women, and the vast majority only suffer from excess hair.
The good news is that there are possibilities to treat and control hirsutism. Between personal care and medications, you have several options to choose from and thus stop suffering from this problem. Consult with your doctor to identify the causes of your hirsutism or excess hair and recommend the most appropriate treatment for you. In some cases, they are endocrinological problems that REQUIRE treatment, since it may be due to tumors that are producing those hormones (it is the minority of cases).
Treatment options for hirsutism:
Some options are ...
- Home treatments: shaving with a blade, using the epilator for small areas, waxing, chemical hair removal, discoloration.
- Hair removal treatments: Electrolysis and laser hair removal.
- Medical treatment: Birth control pills, anti-androgen medications, and medicated creams to reduce hair growth like Vaniqa.
- Dieting: If your problem is excess weight, it is very likely that losing it will decrease the levels of male hormones in your body.
If you had not dared to ask why you had that problem or to seek help to solve it, now you have a new possibility. Consult your doctor about hirsutism, he or she can help you.