TLDR Hirsutism is common body hair growth due to genetics and hormones, and while not a disease, it can be distressing; virilisation includes hirsutism with other male traits and needs medical attention.
The document describes hirsutism as the presence of coarse body hair, which is a response to androgenic stimulation and is influenced by both genetic and hormonal factors. Cultural perceptions of body hair vary globally, affecting what is considered socially acceptable. Although hirsutism is not a disease itself, it can cause significant distress depending on cultural norms. The document also notes that a substantial number of women normally have facial hair, with 30% having hair on the upper lip, 9% on the chin, and 6% on the sides of the face. Virilisation is characterized by hirsutism accompanied by other signs such as a deepened voice, clitoromegaly, temporal hair recession, breast atrophy, and increased muscle mass, which warrant thorough medical investigation.
43 citations,
November 1975 in “Archives of Dermatology” Testosterone affects hair loss, acne, and excessive hair growth, and antiandrogens can help treat these conditions.
74 citations,
November 1975 in “Archives of dermatology” Increased DHT formation in skin can cause hair loss, acne, and excessive hair growth, and antiandrogens might treat these conditions.
29 citations,
May 1975 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Combination therapy significantly reduces testosterone and moderately reduces hair growth in women with hirsutism.
58 citations,
July 1974 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Cyproterone acetate combined with ethinyl estradiol significantly reduced hirsutism in women.
July 2022 in “المجلة العراقية للصيدلة” Most women with excessive hair growth (hirsutism) also experience a common type of non-scarring hair loss called Androgenetic alopecia with telogen effluvium.
Baldness is often hereditary and linked to male hormones, becoming noticeable when half the hair is lost.
Some treatments like minoxidil, finasteride, and surgery can help with hereditary hair loss.
22 citations,
January 2017 in “Indian Dermatology Online Journal” Body hair transplants can treat baldness but differ from scalp hair and need more research on long-term results and side effects.
288 citations,
June 2009 in “Human reproduction update” The modified Ferriman-Gallwey method is a useful tool for diagnosing hirsutism.
Trichotillometry can measure hair plucking force, aiding alopecia treatment evaluation.
26 citations,
January 1994 in “McGraw-Hill eBooks” Many hair loss conditions can be treated.
