Hirsutism

"Hirsute" redirects here. For the botanical term, see Indumentum.
Hirsutism
SpecialtyDermatology, endocrinology
TreatmentBirth control pills, antiandrogens, insulin sensitizers[1]
Hirsutism depicted in a female patient with PCOS and nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Hirsutism is excessive body hair on parts of the body where hair is normally absent or minimal. The word is from early 17th century: from Latin hirsutus meaning "hairy".[2] It usually refers to a male pattern of hair growth in a female that may be a sign of a more serious medical condition,[3] especially if it develops well after puberty.[4] Cultural stigma against hirsutism can cause much psychological distress and social difficulty.[5] Discrimination based on facial hirsutism often leads to the avoidance of social situations and to symptoms of anxiety and depression.[6]

Hirsutism is usually the result of an underlying endocrine imbalance, which may be adrenal, ovarian, or central.[7] It can be caused by increased levels of androgen hormones. The amount and location of the hair is measured by a Ferriman–Gallwey score. It is different from hypertrichosis, which is excessive hair growth anywhere on the body.[3]

Treatments may include certain birth control pills, antiandrogens, or insulin sensitizers.[1]

Hirsutism affects between 5 and 15% of women across all ethnic backgrounds.[8] Depending on the definition and the underlying data, approximately 40% of women have some degree of facial hair.[9] About 10 to 15% of cases of hirsutism are idiopathic with no known cause.[10]

  1. ^ a b Barrionuevo, P; Nabhan, M; Altayar, O; Wang, Z; Erwin, PJ; Asi, N; Martin, KA; Murad, MH (1 April 2018). "Treatment Options for Hirsutism: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis". The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 103 (4): 1258–1264. doi:10.1210/jc.2017-02052. PMID 29522176.
  2. ^ "hirsute adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary". www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  3. ^ a b "Merck Manuals online medical Library". Merck & Co. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
  4. ^ Sachdeva S (2010). "Hirsutism: Evaluation and Treatment". Indian J Dermatol. 55 (1): 3–7. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.60342. PMC 2856356. PMID 20418968.
  5. ^ Barth JH, Catalan J, Cherry CA, Day A (September 1993). "Psychological morbidity in women referred for treatment of hirsutism". J Psychosom Res. 37 (6): 615–9. doi:10.1016/0022-3999(93)90056-L. PMID 8410747.
  6. ^ Jackson J, Caro JJ; Caro G, Garfield F; Huber F, Zhou W; Lin CS, Shander D & Schrode K (2007). "The effect of eflornithine 13.9% cream on the bother and discomfort due to hirsutism". International Journal of Dermatology. 46 (9). the Eflornithine HCl Study Group: 976–981. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2007.03270.x. PMID 17822506. S2CID 25986442.
  7. ^ Blume-Peytavi U, Hahn S (Sep–Oct 2008). "Medical treatment of hirsutism". Dermatol Ther. 21 (5): 329–339.
  8. ^ Azziz R. (May 2003). "The evaluation and management of hirsutism". Obstet Gynecol. 101 (5 pt 1): 995–1007. doi:10.1016/s0029-7844(02)02725-4. PMID 12738163.
  9. ^ Blume-Peytavi U, Gieler U, Hoffmann R, Shapiro J (2007). "Unwanted Facial Hair: Affects, Effects and Solutions". Dermatology (Basel). 215 (2): 139–146. doi:10.1159/000104266. PMID 17684377. S2CID 9589835.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmid35292252 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).