Hirsutism is a common condition that occurs in women and is characterized by excessive growth of terminal body hair with a male pattern in androgen-dependent areas, such as the mustache, chin, chest, upper and lower abdominal line, arm, thighs and upper and lower back. Next, Dr. Ray Ticse, endocrinologist at Clinica Ricardo Palma, gives us more information about this condition.

Symptoms

There are other signs that can occur along with hirsutism in a process called virilization. These are the following:

• Thickening of the voice
• Baldness
• Acne
• Decreased breast size
• Increased muscle mass
• Clitoral enlargement

Causes

Among the causes that generate hirsutism we have the following:

• Polycystic ovary syndrome. It causes an imbalance in sex hormones and over the years it can cause excessive hair growth, among other symptoms
• Cushing’s syndrome. It starts when the body is exposed to high levels of the hormone cortisol
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It is characterized by the abnormal production of steroid hormones, including cortisol and androgen, by the adrenal glands.
• Tumors. An androgen-secreting tumor in the ovaries or adrenal glands can cause hirsutism, rarely
• Medicines. There are medications that due to their components can cause hirsutism, such as corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, among others

Treatment

To determine a good treatment, a deep analysis of the  clinical record is relevant. Some of these can be:

• Oral contraceptives. These are considered first-line agents for the treatment of hirsutism, since they decrease androgen production and the concentration of free testosterone.

On the other hand, depending on the cause that originates the hirsutism, the following alternatives can be used:

• Suppressive therapy
• Anti-androgen drugs
• 5-alpha reductase inhibitors
• Insulin sensitizers
• Mechanical methods

Remember that depending on the cause, hirsutism can be cured or just controlled. Therefore, it is very important to consult with a specialist doctor to determine the etiology and treatment regimens.

Dr. Ray Ticse
Endocrinologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma