66 citations,
September 2008 in “Dermatologic therapy” The conclusion is that the best initial treatment for hirsutism is usually oral contraceptives, with the addition of antiandrogens or insulin sensitizers if needed, and topical eflornithine or laser treatments as supplementary options.
67 citations,
September 2008 in “Dermatologic therapy” Hirsutism is excessive hair growth in women often caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome, and identifying the cause is important for managing associated health risks.
121 citations,
April 2008 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” Insulin sensitizers may slightly reduce hirsutism but are less effective than other treatments.
150 citations,
February 2008 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Antiandrogens are somewhat effective in reducing excessive hair growth in women.
11 citations,
February 2008 in “British journal of nursing” Idiopathic hirsutism causes excessive hair growth in women, can be treated with medication and hair removal, but cannot be fully reversed.
37 citations,
December 2007 in “International journal of clinical practice” Hirsutism is excessive male-pattern hair growth in women, often caused by hormonal imbalances, and requires ongoing treatment to manage.
125 citations,
February 2007 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Combining eflornithine cream with laser treatment removes facial hair better than laser alone.
29 citations,
September 2004 in “Fertility and Sterility” Intermittent low-dose finasteride works as well as daily use for treating excessive hair growth in women.
39 citations,
August 2004 in “International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics” Finasteride and CPA-EE2 equally reduce hirsutism, but affect hormone levels differently.
29 citations,
April 2004 in “Annals of Pharmacotherapy” Finasteride reduces hirsutism effectively with fewer side effects but is a second-choice treatment due to safety concerns.
47 citations,
March 2004 in “European journal of endocrinology” Spironolactone plus finasteride reduces hirsutism more effectively.
56 citations,
April 2003 in “Fertility and Sterility” All three treatments reduce hirsutism, but spironolactone works best long-term.
18 citations,
January 2003 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Low-dose finasteride effectively reduces hirsutism without serious side-effects.
40 citations,
January 2003 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Finasteride effectively reduces hair growth in women with polycystic ovary syndrome or idiopathic hirsutism.
51 citations,
October 2002 in “European journal of endocrinology” Low-dose finasteride effectively treats hirsutism, is safe, and cost-effective.
22 citations,
January 2002 in “Treatments in endocrinology” Birth control pills help treat skin and hair growth problems linked to high male hormone levels.
63 citations,
March 2001 in “Fertility and Sterility” Diane 35 plus finasteride is more effective for treating hirsutism.
115 citations,
January 2001 in “American journal of clinical dermatology” Eflornithine cream effectively reduces women's unwanted facial hair but hair returns if treatment stops.
24 citations,
January 2001 in “Dermatologic clinics” Hormonal therapy is a treatment option for acne, the only medical treatment for hirsutism, and the most promising for androgenetic alopecia.
50 citations,
May 2000 in “Fertility and Sterility” Flutamide reduces hair growth better but has more side effects.
32 citations,
July 1999 in “Fertility and Sterility” Finasteride and flutamide both reduce hair growth, but finasteride has fewer side effects.
27 citations,
November 1998 in “Journal of Endocrinological Investigation” Finasteride significantly reduces hair growth in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
132 citations,
October 1995 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Electrolysis is effective for permanent hair removal, but technique is key to avoid scarring, and sometimes hormonal treatment is needed for women with hirsutism.
20 citations,
December 1994 in “Fertility and sterility” Flutamide combined with a low-dose birth control pill effectively reduces excessive hair growth in women with polycystic ovarian disease.
165 citations,
February 1994 in “Fertility and Sterility” Flutamide is more effective and has fewer side effects than spironolactone for treating hirsutism.
20 citations,
May 1990 in “Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine” Spironolactone may reduce excessive hair growth in women.
183 citations,
March 1982 in “JAMA” Spironolactone is a safe and effective treatment for reducing excessive hair growth in women.
