Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Female Excess Hair Growth: Hirsutism Causes & Treatment Options | Zora Health

  https://zorahealth.co/insights/hormonal-reproductive-health/female-excess-hair-growth-hirsutism/

  The medical term for excess hair growth in women is hirsutism. It refers to coarse, dark hair growing in areas more typical for men like the upper lip, chin, chest, stomach, or back. Roughly 5-10% of women of reproductive age experience hirsutism. It’s common but rarely talked about. The root cause usually comes down to hormonal imbalance. The most common causes include: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which is the #1 cause of hirsutism in women, characterized by irregular periods, acne, and elevated androgens. If elevated androgens cause your hirsutism, doctors may prescribe combined birth control pills, spironolactone, or metformin. Temporary or permanent solutions include laser hair removal, electrolysis, waxing, shaving, and depilatory creams. These may take 3-6 months to show visible changes. Always check with a healthcare provider before starting supplements. You don’t have to live with it if it’s impacting your confidence or quality of life. With the right diagnosis and support, you can take back control and feel confident again in your skin.

• #2 Best Hirsutism Treatment Near Me Marlton NJ | South Jersey

  https://hmgsderm.com/adult-dermatology/hirsutism/

  Hirsutism is a condition that causes excessive growth of dark, coarse hair on the face, chest, and back in women. This hair growth is usually the result of excess male hormones (androgens). […] Women with thick, dark, unwanted hair on their bodies can benefit from treatment. It is important to tell your dermatologist if you are also experiencing any of the symptoms of virilization, listed above. A consultation is needed to properly diagnose and treat your hirsutism for the best results. […] For women who do seek treatment, it may involve treating underlying disorders and trying various medications or therapies. treatment options include: […] Oral contraceptives: Birth control pills or other hormonal contraceptives that contain progestin and estrogen can treat hirsutism caused by androgen production.

• #3 Patient education: Hirsutism (excess hair growth in females) (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hirsutism-excess-hair-growth-in-females-beyond-the-basics

  Hirsutism refers to the growth of coarse, dark hair in areas where females typically grow fine hair or no hair at all: above the lip and on the chin, chest, abdomen, and back. This excess hair growth is caused by an increased level of male hormones (androgens). […] Females with PCOS typically have fewer than six cycles per year. When cycles are this irregular, it usually means that a female is not ovulating on a regular basis. Females with PCOS may also have acne and balding or increased hair loss near the front of the head. PCOS is a chronic condition, but several treatments can reduce hair growth. […] The treatment of hirsutism requires patience because hair follicles have a life cycle of approximately six months. Most medications must be taken for six months before a noticeable improvement occurs.

• #4 Patient education: Hirsutism (excess hair growth in females) (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hirsutism-excess-hair-growth-in-females-beyond-the-basics/print

  Hirsutism refers to the growth of coarse, dark hair in areas where females typically grow fine hair or no hair at all: above the lip and on the chin, chest, abdomen, and back. This excess hair growth is caused by an increased level of male hormones (androgens). […] Females with excess hair growth need to be evaluated by a health care provider, especially if the hair develops or worsens rapidly, or if relatives have comparatively less hair growth. […] The treatment of hirsutism requires patience because hair follicles have a life cycle of approximately six months. Most medications must be taken for six months before a noticeable improvement occurs. […] Treatment for hair growth related to PCOS — The treatment of PCOS may also involve lifestyle changes including weight loss, treatment of infertility, diabetes, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

• #5 Hirsutism – Diagnosis & treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirsutism/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354941

  Tests that measure the amount of certain hormones in your blood, including testosterone or testosterone-like hormones, might help determine whether elevated androgen levels are causing your hirsutism. […] Treatment of hirsutism with no sign of endocrine disorder is not necessary. For women who do need or seek treatment, it may involve treating any underlying disorder, developing a self-care routine for unwanted hair, and trying various therapies and medications. […] If cosmetic or self-care methods of hair removal haven’t worked for you, talk with your doctor about drugs that treat hirsutism. With these medications it usually takes up to six months, the average life cycle of a hair follicle, before you see a significant difference in hair growth. Options include: […] Oral contraceptives. Birth control pills or other hormonal contraceptives, which contain estrogen and progestin, treat hirsutism caused by androgen production. Oral contraceptives are a common treatment for hirsutism in women who don’t want to become pregnant. Possible side effects include nausea and headache.

• #6 Patient education: Hirsutism (excess hair growth in females) (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hirsutism-excess-hair-growth-in-females-beyond-the-basics/print

  Several medications are available for the treatment of hirsutism. These medications can decrease the amount of body hair, stop the growth of new hair, and decrease the growth rate and coarseness of existing hair. […] Combined estrogen-progestin contraceptive pills, rings, and patches lower the levels of androgens produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. […] Antiandrogens – Antiandrogens are medications that directly decrease androgen production or block the action of androgens on the hair follicle. […] The most commonly used antiandrogen is spironolactone. […] Over time, many females find that a multipronged approach that includes direct hair removal (such as laser), suppression of androgen production with estrogen-progestin contraceptives and androgen blockade with an antiandrogen (spironolactone) may produce the maximal reduction in bothersome hair growth.

• #7 Hirsutism and Hypertrichosis – Dermatologic Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/dermatologic-disorders/hair-disorders/hirsutism-and-hypertrichosis

  Hirsutism is the excessive growth of thick or dark hair in women in locations that are more typical of male hair growth patterns (eg, mustache, beard, central chest, shoulders, lower abdomen, back, inner thigh). […] Treatment for hirsutism itself is necessary only if the patient finds the excess hair cosmetically objectionable. Patients with androgen-dependent hirsutism require a combination of hair removal and antiandrogen therapy. […] Nonandrogendependent excess hair growth, such as hypertrichosis, is treated primarily with physical hair removal methods. […] Treatment of underlying disorder […] Topical treatments […] Hormonal treatment […] Oral contraceptives in standard doses often are the initial treatment for hirsutism caused by ovarian hyperandrogenism. Oral contraceptives reduce ovarian androgen secretion and increase sex hormonebinding globulin, thereby decreasing free testosterone levels.

• #8 Management of hirsutism

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3830374/

  Although hirsutism is a frequent and distressing disorder often signaling an underlying endocrine disorder, a systematic approach to evaluation and the use of combination therapy will provide satisfactory treatment for most patients. […] The treatment of hirsutism should be undertaken using combination therapy, including: Androgen suppression, Peripheral androgen blockade, and Mechanical/cosmetic amelioration and destruction of the unwanted hairs. […] The most popular treatment for hirsutism are oral contraceptive (OC) medications, which suppress circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), leading to a decrease in ovarian androgen production. […] Long-acting GnRH agonists (e.g. Luprolide Depot, 3.75 mg per month) have been found to be useful in ameliorating hirsutism and may be required to suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in severely androgenized or hyperinsulinemic patients.

• #9 Patient education: Hirsutism (excess hair growth in females) (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hirsutism-excess-hair-growth-in-females-beyond-the-basics

  Several medications are available for the treatment of hirsutism. These medications can decrease the amount of body hair, stop the growth of new hair, and decrease the growth rate and coarseness of existing hair. […] Combined estrogen-progestin contraceptive pills, rings, and patches lower the levels of androgens produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. They are usually the first choice for the treatment of hirsutism, and between 60 and 100 percent of females with hirsutism will notice improvement when taking these medications. […] Antiandrogens are medications that directly decrease androgen production or block the action of androgens on the hair follicle. […] Over time, many females find that a multipronged approach that includes direct hair removal (such as laser), suppression of androgen production with estrogen-progestin contraceptives and androgen blockade with an antiandrogen (spironolactone) may produce the maximal reduction in bothersome hair growth.

• #10 Hirsutism in Women | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2019/0801/p168.html

  Hirsutism may be treated with pharmacologic agents and/or hair removal. Recommended pharmacologic therapies include combined oral contraceptives, finasteride, spironolactone, and topical eflornithine. […] If bothersome hirsutism persists despite cosmetic measures (e.g., shaving, plucking, waxing), pharmacologic treatment should be initiated, followed by direct hair removal methods if pharmacologic treatment does not yield satisfactory results. […] Combined oral contraceptives should be used as initial therapy for hirsutism in women who are not trying to conceive. […] If combined oral contraceptives are contraindicated or ineffective, the antiandrogens spironolactone, finasteride (Propecia), or dutasteride (Avodart) may be considered. […] The ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor eflornithine (Vaniqa) can be used as topical therapy for excessive facial hair. […] Numerous hair removal methods may be used to treat hirsutism. […] If patients desire a more permanent solution, photoepilation or electrolysis can be considered. […] Photoepilation is the preferred treatment for most patients who desire permanent hair removal.

• #11 Hirsutism – Harvard Health

  https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/hirsutism-a-to-z

  Hirsutism is excessive hair growth in certain areas of a woman’s face and body, such as the mustache and beard area, that creates a „male pattern” of hair. […] Hirsutism can be caused by abnormally high levels of androgens or abnormal stimulation of hair follicles even when androgen levels are normal. […] If a specific cause of hirsutism is diagnosed, your doctor may suggest appropriate treatment for that cause. For all women with hirsutism, cosmetic treatments and medical treatments that decrease the levels of androgens or their impact on hair follicles can be helpful: […] Several medicines can alter the impact of androgen hormones on the body and skin. Combination birth control pills (containing both estrogen and progesterone) can counterbalance the masculine effects of androgen hormones and decrease the production of testosterone by the ovary. Hirsutism may improve after 6 to 12 months of consistent use of birth control pills.

• #12 Hirsutism – Diagnosis & treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirsutism/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354941

  Tests that measure the amount of certain hormones in your blood, including testosterone or testosterone-like hormones, might help determine whether elevated androgen levels are causing your hirsutism. […] Treatment of hirsutism with no sign of endocrine disorder is not necessary. For women who do need or seek treatment, it may involve treating any underlying disorder, developing a self-care routine for unwanted hair, and trying various therapies and medications. […] If cosmetic or self-care methods of hair removal haven’t worked for you, talk with your doctor about drugs that treat hirsutism. With these medications it usually takes up to six months, the average life cycle of a hair follicle, before you see a significant difference in hair growth. Options include: […] Oral contraceptives. Birth control pills or other hormonal contraceptives, which contain estrogen and progestin, treat hirsutism caused by androgen production. Oral contraceptives are a common treatment for hirsutism in women who don’t want to become pregnant. Possible side effects include nausea and headache.

• #13 Patient education: Hirsutism (excess hair growth in females) (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hirsutism-excess-hair-growth-in-females-beyond-the-basics/print

  Several medications are available for the treatment of hirsutism. These medications can decrease the amount of body hair, stop the growth of new hair, and decrease the growth rate and coarseness of existing hair. […] Combined estrogen-progestin contraceptive pills, rings, and patches lower the levels of androgens produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. […] Antiandrogens – Antiandrogens are medications that directly decrease androgen production or block the action of androgens on the hair follicle. […] The most commonly used antiandrogen is spironolactone. […] Over time, many females find that a multipronged approach that includes direct hair removal (such as laser), suppression of androgen production with estrogen-progestin contraceptives and androgen blockade with an antiandrogen (spironolactone) may produce the maximal reduction in bothersome hair growth.

• #14 Hirsutism and Hypertrichosis – Dermatologic Disorders – Merck Manual Professional Edition

  https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/dermatologic-disorders/hair-disorders/hirsutism-and-hypertrichosis

  Antiandrogenic therapy is also used and can include finasteride (1 to 5 mg orally once/day) or spironolactone (25 to 100 mg orally 2 times a day). These medications are contraindicated in women of childbearing age unless contraception is used because they may feminize a male fetus. […] Corticosteroids are used when necessary to suppress adrenal androgen production. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (eg, leuprolide acetate, nafarelin, triptorelin) can be used for severe forms of ovarian hyperandrogenism under the direction of a gynecologist or endocrinologist.

• #15 Management of hirsutism

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3830374/

  Treatment of insulin resistance, primarily by weight loss or using metformin or thiazolidinediones has been demonstrated to improve hyperandrogenemia and ovulatory function in many women with PCOS. […] These include androgen receptor blockers, such as spironolactone, flutamide, and cyproterone acetate. […] Spironolactone is a very effective agent for reducing hirsutism, regardless of the degree of hyperandrogenemia. […] Flutamide is effective treatment for hirsutism in doses of 500 mg daily. […] Cyproterone acetate is an effective agent for the treatment of hirsutism. […] Finasteride is useful for the treatment of hirsutism in women in doses of 5 mg per day. […] Shaving, bleaching, or chemical depilation may be useful to temporarily ameliorate unwanted hairs. […] Techniques to accomplish the permanent destruction of hair follicles producing the unwanted hairs include electroepilation and laser photothermolysis. […] Eflornithine hydrochloride 13.9% cream is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of unwanted facial hair growth.

• #16 Hirsutism – Diagnosis & treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirsutism/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354941

  Anti-androgens. These types of drugs block androgens from attaching to their receptors in your body. They’re sometimes prescribed after six months on oral contraceptives if the oral contraceptives aren’t effective enough. […] The most commonly used anti-androgen for treating hirsutism is spironolactone (Aldactone, CaroSpir). The results are modest and take at least six months to be noticeable. Possible side effects include menstrual irregularity. Because these drugs can cause birth defects, it’s important to use contraception while taking them. […] Topical cream. Eflornithine (Vaniqa) is a prescription cream specifically for excessive facial hair in women. It’s applied directly to the affected area of your face twice a day. It helps slow new hair growth but doesn’t get rid of existing hair. It can be used with laser therapy to enhance the response.

• #17 Hirsutism – Diagnosis & treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirsutism/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354941

  Anti-androgens. These types of drugs block androgens from attaching to their receptors in your body. They’re sometimes prescribed after six months on oral contraceptives if the oral contraceptives aren’t effective enough. […] The most commonly used anti-androgen for treating hirsutism is spironolactone (Aldactone, CaroSpir). The results are modest and take at least six months to be noticeable. Possible side effects include menstrual irregularity. Because these drugs can cause birth defects, it’s important to use contraception while taking them. […] Topical cream. Eflornithine (Vaniqa) is a prescription cream specifically for excessive facial hair in women. It’s applied directly to the affected area of your face twice a day. It helps slow new hair growth but doesn’t get rid of existing hair. It can be used with laser therapy to enhance the response.

• #18 Hirsutism in Women (Excess Body Hair Growth) | Cedars-Sinai

  https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/h/hirsutism-in-women-excess-body-hair-growth.html

  Other medicines can reduce the hormones that cause hair growth. It can take 6 months or longer for you to see results from these medicines. […] Medicines that can change hormones to affect hair growth include: Birth control pills. These are different kinds of hormone pills that prevent pregnancy. They can reduce the amount of androgens in your body. Most women will notice a change in body hair growth when taking birth control pills. Antiandrogen medicine. This type of medicine can reduce your body’s androgen levels. Or it may stop the effects of androgens on hair follicles. The most common type is spironolactone. The medicines can cause birth defects, so a woman must use birth control while taking them. […] Talk with your healthcare providers about the risks, benefits, and possible side effects of all treatments.

• #19 Management of Hirsutism in a PCOS Patient

  https://exxcellence.org/list-of-pearls/management-of-hirsutism-in-a-pcos-patient/

  Hirsutism is often a primary complaint in women with PCOS. The most effective treatment includes a long-term approach that reduces androgen receptor activity, thus decreasing new terminal hair development, and the removal of existing terminal hairs. Treatment should be based on the amount of distress that hirsutism causes the patient. […] Medical interventions to decrease hair growth include the suppression of androgen excess by using combined oral contraceptives (COCs). This medication reduces androgen production by the suppression of circulating luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone and decrease free testosterone by stimulating sex hormone binding globulin production. Moderate and severe hirsutism may require the addition of systemic anti-androgens to COCs. […] Spironolactone is the most commonly used androgen blocker. It competes with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by binding to the androgen receptor and inhibits enzymes involved in androgen production. Finasteride inhibits the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

• #20 Management of hirsutism

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3830374/

  Treatment of insulin resistance, primarily by weight loss or using metformin or thiazolidinediones has been demonstrated to improve hyperandrogenemia and ovulatory function in many women with PCOS. […] These include androgen receptor blockers, such as spironolactone, flutamide, and cyproterone acetate. […] Spironolactone is a very effective agent for reducing hirsutism, regardless of the degree of hyperandrogenemia. […] Flutamide is effective treatment for hirsutism in doses of 500 mg daily. […] Cyproterone acetate is an effective agent for the treatment of hirsutism. […] Finasteride is useful for the treatment of hirsutism in women in doses of 5 mg per day. […] Shaving, bleaching, or chemical depilation may be useful to temporarily ameliorate unwanted hairs. […] Techniques to accomplish the permanent destruction of hair follicles producing the unwanted hairs include electroepilation and laser photothermolysis. […] Eflornithine hydrochloride 13.9% cream is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of unwanted facial hair growth.

• #21 Hirsutism: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment | Doctor

  https://patient.info/doctor/hirsutism

  Eflornithine, a topical hair growth retardant, inhibits the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase. It may reversibly slow facial hair growth in up to 70% of patients; however, evidence is weak. […] Combined oral contraceptives: Recommended as first-line treatment. There is evidence of limited quality that they are effective for mild hirsutism. […] Anti-androgens: Flutamide, finasteride and spironolactone have all been used in the management of hirsutism. There is some low-quality evidence for efficacy of flutamide and spironolactone but results for finasteride were found to be inconsistent in a Cochrane review. […] Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists: For severe cases, these are occasionally used in secondary care. GnRH agonists such as leuprorelin or goserelin should be reserved for use in women who do not respond to combination hormonal therapy or those who cannot tolerate oral contraceptives.

• #22 Hirsutism – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470417/

  Spironolactone is known to block androgen receptors and is the second most common treatment. It can even be combined with an oral contraceptive. However, the improvement is slow and takes many months. Thus, compliance with spironolactone is low. […] Finasteride is used to treat hirsutism and is preferred as it does not have any estrogenic or progesterone activity. However, it is not recommended in women of childbearing age as there is a risk of ambiguous genitalia in the fetus. […] Surgical excision is necessary in the case of the tumoral process. Ovariectomy may be indicated for severe hyperandrogenism in menopausal or perimenopausal women. […] The management of hirsutism is interprofessional, including the dermatologist, the endocrinologist, and the gynecologist. The treatments used serve to reduce the severity of hirsutism, as well as to improve overall health and self-esteem.

• #23 Management of hirsutism

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3830374/

  Treatment of insulin resistance, primarily by weight loss or using metformin or thiazolidinediones has been demonstrated to improve hyperandrogenemia and ovulatory function in many women with PCOS. […] These include androgen receptor blockers, such as spironolactone, flutamide, and cyproterone acetate. […] Spironolactone is a very effective agent for reducing hirsutism, regardless of the degree of hyperandrogenemia. […] Flutamide is effective treatment for hirsutism in doses of 500 mg daily. […] Cyproterone acetate is an effective agent for the treatment of hirsutism. […] Finasteride is useful for the treatment of hirsutism in women in doses of 5 mg per day. […] Shaving, bleaching, or chemical depilation may be useful to temporarily ameliorate unwanted hairs. […] Techniques to accomplish the permanent destruction of hair follicles producing the unwanted hairs include electroepilation and laser photothermolysis. […] Eflornithine hydrochloride 13.9% cream is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of unwanted facial hair growth.

• #24 Hirsutism/Hair Loss and congenital adrenal hyperplasia

  https://caresfoundation.org/living-with-cah-hirsutism-hair-loss/

  Spironolactone is an androgen blocker which is also a weak diuretic (a drug that causes excess urination). […] Cyproterone acetate is another androgen blocker which is used in Europe and Australia but not approved in the United States. […] The combination of cyproterone acetate and ethinylestradiol is found in Diane and Dianette. These drugs therefore operate as both an oral contraceptive and an androgen blocker at the same time. […] Flutamide, another anti-androgen medication, is no longer used by our center as other centers have reported two deaths tentatively associated with its use. […] Vaniqa is an enzyme inhibitor used topically to slow the growth of unwanted facial hair in women. Vaniqa must be prescribed by a physician. […] In summary, there are many ways to battle hirsutism or hair loss. The first and most important step is to consult your endocrinologist and make sure that the replacement medication you are taking is adequate. Then, if hirsutism is the problem, discuss the various options presented here with your endocrinologist and/or dermatologist and find a treatment plan with which you are comfortable.

• #25 Management of hirsutism

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3830374/

  Treatment of insulin resistance, primarily by weight loss or using metformin or thiazolidinediones has been demonstrated to improve hyperandrogenemia and ovulatory function in many women with PCOS. […] These include androgen receptor blockers, such as spironolactone, flutamide, and cyproterone acetate. […] Spironolactone is a very effective agent for reducing hirsutism, regardless of the degree of hyperandrogenemia. […] Flutamide is effective treatment for hirsutism in doses of 500 mg daily. […] Cyproterone acetate is an effective agent for the treatment of hirsutism. […] Finasteride is useful for the treatment of hirsutism in women in doses of 5 mg per day. […] Shaving, bleaching, or chemical depilation may be useful to temporarily ameliorate unwanted hairs. […] Techniques to accomplish the permanent destruction of hair follicles producing the unwanted hairs include electroepilation and laser photothermolysis. […] Eflornithine hydrochloride 13.9% cream is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of unwanted facial hair growth.

• #26 Hirsutism/Hair Loss and congenital adrenal hyperplasia

  https://caresfoundation.org/living-with-cah-hirsutism-hair-loss/

  Spironolactone is an androgen blocker which is also a weak diuretic (a drug that causes excess urination). […] Cyproterone acetate is another androgen blocker which is used in Europe and Australia but not approved in the United States. […] The combination of cyproterone acetate and ethinylestradiol is found in Diane and Dianette. These drugs therefore operate as both an oral contraceptive and an androgen blocker at the same time. […] Flutamide, another anti-androgen medication, is no longer used by our center as other centers have reported two deaths tentatively associated with its use. […] Vaniqa is an enzyme inhibitor used topically to slow the growth of unwanted facial hair in women. Vaniqa must be prescribed by a physician. […] In summary, there are many ways to battle hirsutism or hair loss. The first and most important step is to consult your endocrinologist and make sure that the replacement medication you are taking is adequate. Then, if hirsutism is the problem, discuss the various options presented here with your endocrinologist and/or dermatologist and find a treatment plan with which you are comfortable.

• #27 EXCESSIVE HAIR GROWTH (HIRSUTISM)

  https://laivfclinic.com/excessivehairgrowth/

  Hirsutism is defined as excessive hair growth in various body areas commonly known as androgen-dependent sites. […] The choice of treatment depends on patients age, desire for pregnancy or contraception and co-existing metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance. In most cases, visible effects of hirsutism such as undesired facial and body hair are the most disturbing to the patient. […] Birth control pills (BCP oral contraceptives) are one of the most commonly used agents in hirsutism treatment. […] Anti-androgenic agents include spironolactone, finasteride and flutamide. […] Eflornithine (Vaniqa) is an enzyme blocker (ornithine decarboxylase) that has an important role in the development of the hair follicle. […] Mechanical hair removal should be combined with hormonal or non-hormonal treatments and can include shaving, bleaching, using depilating agents, electrolysis and laser hair removal. Laser hair removal has been one of the most popular methods recently with high success rates.

• #28 Hirsutism – Diagnosis & treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirsutism/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354941

  Anti-androgens. These types of drugs block androgens from attaching to their receptors in your body. They’re sometimes prescribed after six months on oral contraceptives if the oral contraceptives aren’t effective enough. […] The most commonly used anti-androgen for treating hirsutism is spironolactone (Aldactone, CaroSpir). The results are modest and take at least six months to be noticeable. Possible side effects include menstrual irregularity. Because these drugs can cause birth defects, it’s important to use contraception while taking them. […] Topical cream. Eflornithine (Vaniqa) is a prescription cream specifically for excessive facial hair in women. It’s applied directly to the affected area of your face twice a day. It helps slow new hair growth but doesn’t get rid of existing hair. It can be used with laser therapy to enhance the response.

• #29 Hirsutism in Women (Excess Body Hair Growth) | Cedars-Sinai

  https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/h/hirsutism-in-women-excess-body-hair-growth.html

  Hirsutism is excess hair growth on the body or face. […] Treatment depends on personal preference. Hair growth causes no physical harm. The decision to remove or reduce hair varies from person to person. […] Methods to remove or reduce unwanted hair include: Shaving. Hair will start growing back right away, so shaving needs to be repeated often. Depilatory lotion. This is a type of hair removal done with chemicals put on the skin. It softens hair above the skin so it can be wiped away. Waxing. Hot or cold wax can be used to pull out hair from the root. This treatment needs to be done every 2 to 3 weeks. Bleaching. Chemicals can lighten the color of the hair and make it harder to see. Electrolysis. A very thin needle is put into a hair follicle. Electricity is sent through the needle. This damages the hair follicle. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Laser hair removal. A special laser is pointed at the skin. The light from the laser is absorbed by color (pigment) in the hair and destroys the hair. This works best on people with dark hair and light skin. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Medicated cream. Skin cream with eflornithine can slow hair growth. Results show up in 6 to 8 weeks. The hair will regrow in about 8 weeks if you stop using the cream.

• #30 Hirsutism – Diagnosis & treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirsutism/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354941

  Anti-androgens. These types of drugs block androgens from attaching to their receptors in your body. They’re sometimes prescribed after six months on oral contraceptives if the oral contraceptives aren’t effective enough. […] The most commonly used anti-androgen for treating hirsutism is spironolactone (Aldactone, CaroSpir). The results are modest and take at least six months to be noticeable. Possible side effects include menstrual irregularity. Because these drugs can cause birth defects, it’s important to use contraception while taking them. […] Topical cream. Eflornithine (Vaniqa) is a prescription cream specifically for excessive facial hair in women. It’s applied directly to the affected area of your face twice a day. It helps slow new hair growth but doesn’t get rid of existing hair. It can be used with laser therapy to enhance the response.

• #31 Management of Hirsutism in a PCOS Patient

  https://exxcellence.org/list-of-pearls/management-of-hirsutism-in-a-pcos-patient/

  Eflornithine is a topical facial cream that inhibits the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase to treat hair that is already present. Improvement in hirsutism has been shown in 60% of patients after 6 months of use. Eflornithine plus laser treatment is superior to laser alone. Hair removal (shaving, plucking, waxing, depilatory creams, electrolysis, and laser vaporization) is often needed in addition to medical therapy. […] Laser treatment and intense pulsed light are methods of photoepilation, which generally require multiple sessions to achieve adequate results. Limited studies have found laser treatment to be more effective than electrolysis. Women with dark hair and light skin are better candidates for laser therapy, especially during the anagen phase of hair growth. Electrolysis is intended to result in permanent hair removal by the destruction of the follicle, but is painful and technically difficult, and best suited to treatment of small areas.

• #32 Management of hirsutism

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3830374/

  Treatment of insulin resistance, primarily by weight loss or using metformin or thiazolidinediones has been demonstrated to improve hyperandrogenemia and ovulatory function in many women with PCOS. […] These include androgen receptor blockers, such as spironolactone, flutamide, and cyproterone acetate. […] Spironolactone is a very effective agent for reducing hirsutism, regardless of the degree of hyperandrogenemia. […] Flutamide is effective treatment for hirsutism in doses of 500 mg daily. […] Cyproterone acetate is an effective agent for the treatment of hirsutism. […] Finasteride is useful for the treatment of hirsutism in women in doses of 5 mg per day. […] Shaving, bleaching, or chemical depilation may be useful to temporarily ameliorate unwanted hairs. […] Techniques to accomplish the permanent destruction of hair follicles producing the unwanted hairs include electroepilation and laser photothermolysis. […] Eflornithine hydrochloride 13.9% cream is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of unwanted facial hair growth.

• #33 Evaluation and Treatment of Women with Hirsutism | AAFP

  https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2003/0615/p2565.html

  For patients whose terminal hair growth does not decrease significantly, treatment with insulin-sensitizing agents may be useful. Metformin (Glucophage) has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and decrease testosterone levels in patients with PCOS. […] Increased androgen production from nonspecific hyper-secretion or adult-onset adrenal hyperplasia responds to glucocorticoid suppression with dexamethasone.

• #34 Hirsutism and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) patient education booklet | ReproductiveFacts.org

  https://www.reproductivefacts.org/news-and-publications/fact-sheets-and-infographics/hirsutism-and-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/

  Birth control pills are the most commonly suggested hormonal treatment for hirsutism. They prevent ovulation and decrease the production of androgens by the ovaries. […] Spironolactone, a diuretic or water pill, often is prescribed in combination with birth control pills. It has been found to directly block the effects of androgens in hair follicles and has been used to treat hirsutism. […] Low doses of steroids may be prescribed for overactive adrenal glands. […] Severe forms of hyperandrogenism may be treated by a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog. These medications treat hirsutism by suppressing ovarian androgens to very low levels. […] Cosmetic removal of hair in women with hormonally associated hirsutism always should be accompanied by medical therapy in order to be successful.

• #35 Hirsutism and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) patient education booklet | ReproductiveFacts.org

  https://www.reproductivefacts.org/news-and-publications/fact-sheets-and-infographics/hirsutism-and-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/

  Birth control pills are the most commonly suggested hormonal treatment for hirsutism. They prevent ovulation and decrease the production of androgens by the ovaries. […] Spironolactone, a diuretic or water pill, often is prescribed in combination with birth control pills. It has been found to directly block the effects of androgens in hair follicles and has been used to treat hirsutism. […] Low doses of steroids may be prescribed for overactive adrenal glands. […] Severe forms of hyperandrogenism may be treated by a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog. These medications treat hirsutism by suppressing ovarian androgens to very low levels. […] Cosmetic removal of hair in women with hormonally associated hirsutism always should be accompanied by medical therapy in order to be successful.

• #36 Management of hirsutism

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3830374/

  Although hirsutism is a frequent and distressing disorder often signaling an underlying endocrine disorder, a systematic approach to evaluation and the use of combination therapy will provide satisfactory treatment for most patients. […] The treatment of hirsutism should be undertaken using combination therapy, including: Androgen suppression, Peripheral androgen blockade, and Mechanical/cosmetic amelioration and destruction of the unwanted hairs. […] The most popular treatment for hirsutism are oral contraceptive (OC) medications, which suppress circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), leading to a decrease in ovarian androgen production. […] Long-acting GnRH agonists (e.g. Luprolide Depot, 3.75 mg per month) have been found to be useful in ameliorating hirsutism and may be required to suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in severely androgenized or hyperinsulinemic patients.

• #37 Hirsutism in Women (Excess Body Hair Growth) | Cedars-Sinai

  https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/h/hirsutism-in-women-excess-body-hair-growth.html

  Hirsutism is excess hair growth on the body or face. […] Treatment depends on personal preference. Hair growth causes no physical harm. The decision to remove or reduce hair varies from person to person. […] Methods to remove or reduce unwanted hair include: Shaving. Hair will start growing back right away, so shaving needs to be repeated often. Depilatory lotion. This is a type of hair removal done with chemicals put on the skin. It softens hair above the skin so it can be wiped away. Waxing. Hot or cold wax can be used to pull out hair from the root. This treatment needs to be done every 2 to 3 weeks. Bleaching. Chemicals can lighten the color of the hair and make it harder to see. Electrolysis. A very thin needle is put into a hair follicle. Electricity is sent through the needle. This damages the hair follicle. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Laser hair removal. A special laser is pointed at the skin. The light from the laser is absorbed by color (pigment) in the hair and destroys the hair. This works best on people with dark hair and light skin. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Medicated cream. Skin cream with eflornithine can slow hair growth. Results show up in 6 to 8 weeks. The hair will regrow in about 8 weeks if you stop using the cream.

• #38 Patient education: Hirsutism (excess hair growth in females) (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hirsutism-excess-hair-growth-in-females-beyond-the-basics/print

  Several methods can be used to physically remove or lighten excess hair so that it less noticeable. These methods can be used in conjunction with medication. […] Shaving – Shaving is a safe and effective method for hair removal but may require daily sessions. […] Electrolysis – Electrolysis damages individual hair follicles by inserting a very fine needle into the hair follicle and applying an electrical current. Electrolysis is best suited for treatment of small areas, although larger areas may be treated with multiple sessions over time. […] Laser hair removal – Although expensive, laser hair removal is effective, faster, and less painful than electrolysis. […] Eflornithine hydrochloride (brand name: Vaniqa) is a skin cream that can be used to slow the growth of unwanted facial hair in females.

• #39 Excessive Hairiness (Hirsutism) | Loma Linda University Health

  https://lluh.org/conditions/excessive-hairiness-hirsutism

  Hirsutism is excess hair growth on the body or face. For women, the hair may grow in areas where men often have a lot of hair but women often don’t. This includes the upper lip, chin, chest, and back. It’s caused by an excess of male hormones called androgens. All women naturally produce small amounts of androgens. But high levels of these hormones can lead to hirsutism. […] Treatment depends on personal preference. Hair growth causes no physical harm. The decision to remove or reduce hair varies from person to person. […] Methods to remove or reduce unwanted hair include: Shaving. Hair will start growing back right away, so shaving needs to be repeated often. Depilatory lotion. This is a type of hair removal done with chemicals put on the skin. It softens hair above the skin so it can be wiped away. Waxing. Hot or cold wax can be used to pull out hair from the root. This treatment needs to be done every 2 to 3 weeks. Bleaching. Chemicals can lighten the color of the hair and make it harder to see. Electrolysis. A very thin needle is put into a hair follicle. Electricity is sent through the needle. This damages the hair follicle. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Laser hair removal. A special laser is pointed at the skin. The light from the laser is absorbed by color (pigment) in the hair and destroys the hair. This works best on people with dark hair and light skin. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Medicated cream. Skin cream with eflornithine can slow hair growth. Results show up in 6 to 8 weeks. The hair will regrow in about 8 weeks if you stop using the cream.

• #40 Hirsutism: Causes, Treatments for Excessive Hairiness in Women

  https://www.webmd.com/women/hirsutism-hair-women

  Creams. Some creams have strong chemicals called depilatories. You apply the cream and let it sit for a while, and when you wipe it off, the hair goes with it. They can irritate sensitive skin, so test a small spot before you use one on a large area. […] Electrolysis. You can remove hair for good with electrolysis, which zaps hair at the root with an electric current. After you repeat the process several times, hair should stop growing in treated areas. […] Laser hair removal. The heat from lasers removes hair from the root, but you need to repeat the process several times, and it sometimes grows back. […] Medication. Doctors can prescribe drugs that change the way your body grows hair. But when you stop using it, your hair will grow back. […] Birth control pills make the body produce fewer male hormones. With regular use, you should have less hair on your face or body.

• #41 Excessive Hairiness (Hirsutism) | Loma Linda University Health

  https://lluh.org/conditions/excessive-hairiness-hirsutism

  Hirsutism is excess hair growth on the body or face. For women, the hair may grow in areas where men often have a lot of hair but women often don’t. This includes the upper lip, chin, chest, and back. It’s caused by an excess of male hormones called androgens. All women naturally produce small amounts of androgens. But high levels of these hormones can lead to hirsutism. […] Treatment depends on personal preference. Hair growth causes no physical harm. The decision to remove or reduce hair varies from person to person. […] Methods to remove or reduce unwanted hair include: Shaving. Hair will start growing back right away, so shaving needs to be repeated often. Depilatory lotion. This is a type of hair removal done with chemicals put on the skin. It softens hair above the skin so it can be wiped away. Waxing. Hot or cold wax can be used to pull out hair from the root. This treatment needs to be done every 2 to 3 weeks. Bleaching. Chemicals can lighten the color of the hair and make it harder to see. Electrolysis. A very thin needle is put into a hair follicle. Electricity is sent through the needle. This damages the hair follicle. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Laser hair removal. A special laser is pointed at the skin. The light from the laser is absorbed by color (pigment) in the hair and destroys the hair. This works best on people with dark hair and light skin. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Medicated cream. Skin cream with eflornithine can slow hair growth. Results show up in 6 to 8 weeks. The hair will regrow in about 8 weeks if you stop using the cream.

• #42 Excessive Hairiness (Hirsutism) | Loma Linda University Health

  https://lluh.org/conditions/excessive-hairiness-hirsutism

  Hirsutism is excess hair growth on the body or face. For women, the hair may grow in areas where men often have a lot of hair but women often don’t. This includes the upper lip, chin, chest, and back. It’s caused by an excess of male hormones called androgens. All women naturally produce small amounts of androgens. But high levels of these hormones can lead to hirsutism. […] Treatment depends on personal preference. Hair growth causes no physical harm. The decision to remove or reduce hair varies from person to person. […] Methods to remove or reduce unwanted hair include: Shaving. Hair will start growing back right away, so shaving needs to be repeated often. Depilatory lotion. This is a type of hair removal done with chemicals put on the skin. It softens hair above the skin so it can be wiped away. Waxing. Hot or cold wax can be used to pull out hair from the root. This treatment needs to be done every 2 to 3 weeks. Bleaching. Chemicals can lighten the color of the hair and make it harder to see. Electrolysis. A very thin needle is put into a hair follicle. Electricity is sent through the needle. This damages the hair follicle. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Laser hair removal. A special laser is pointed at the skin. The light from the laser is absorbed by color (pigment) in the hair and destroys the hair. This works best on people with dark hair and light skin. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Medicated cream. Skin cream with eflornithine can slow hair growth. Results show up in 6 to 8 weeks. The hair will regrow in about 8 weeks if you stop using the cream.

• #43 Hirsutism // Middlesex Health

  https://middlesexhealth.org/learning-center/diseases-and-conditions/hirsutism

  Anti-androgens. These types of drugs block androgens from attaching to their receptors in your body. […] The most commonly used anti-androgen for treating hirsutism is spironolactone (Aldactone, CaroSpir). […] Topical cream. Eflornithine (Vaniqa) is a prescription cream specifically for excessive facial hair in women. […] Hair removal methods whose results may last longer than self-care methods and which may be combined with medical therapy include: Laser therapy. […] Electrolysis. This treatment involves inserting a tiny needle into each hair follicle. […] Self-care methods such as the following temporarily remove or reduce the visibility of unwanted facial and body hair. […] Plucking. Plucking is a good method to remove a few stray hairs, but is not useful for removing a large area of hair.

• #44 Hirsutism: Causes, Treatments for Excessive Hairiness in Women

  https://www.webmd.com/women/hirsutism-hair-women

  Hirsutism Treatment […] If you have more facial or body hair than you want, there are several ways you can remove it: […] Weight loss. If you’re not at a healthy weight and drop pounds, your body may make fewer male hormones. […] Shaving. You can remove unwanted hair easily with a razor or electric shaver. You may need to shave daily to avoid stubble growth. Some people get razor burn from shaving too often, but a soothing cream may help. […] Tweezing or threading. There are different ways to pluck hair from the root. You can use tweezers, or you can have areas threaded, which involves using a long, tight strand to loop around and remove each unwanted hair. These methods can cause pain and redness. […] Waxing. A quick way to remove lots of unwanted hair from the root is with melted wax. Often, you get this done in a salon. Wax is applied to the skin and then removed quickly. It can cause pain and redness.

• #45 Hirsutism – Diagnosis & treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirsutism/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354941

  Hair removal methods whose results may last longer than self-care methods and which may be combined with medical therapy include: […] Laser therapy. A beam of highly concentrated light (laser) is passed over your skin to damage hair follicles and prevent hair from growing (photoepilation). You might need multiple treatments. […] Electrolysis. This treatment involves inserting a tiny needle into each hair follicle. The needle emits a pulse of electric current to damage and eventually destroy the follicle. You might need multiple treatments. […] Self-care methods such as the following temporarily remove or reduce the visibility of unwanted facial and body hair. There is no evidence that self-removal of hair leads to heavier hair growth.

• #46 Hirsutism in Women (Excess Body Hair Growth) | Cedars-Sinai

  https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/h/hirsutism-in-women-excess-body-hair-growth.html

  Hirsutism is excess hair growth on the body or face. […] Treatment depends on personal preference. Hair growth causes no physical harm. The decision to remove or reduce hair varies from person to person. […] Methods to remove or reduce unwanted hair include: Shaving. Hair will start growing back right away, so shaving needs to be repeated often. Depilatory lotion. This is a type of hair removal done with chemicals put on the skin. It softens hair above the skin so it can be wiped away. Waxing. Hot or cold wax can be used to pull out hair from the root. This treatment needs to be done every 2 to 3 weeks. Bleaching. Chemicals can lighten the color of the hair and make it harder to see. Electrolysis. A very thin needle is put into a hair follicle. Electricity is sent through the needle. This damages the hair follicle. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Laser hair removal. A special laser is pointed at the skin. The light from the laser is absorbed by color (pigment) in the hair and destroys the hair. This works best on people with dark hair and light skin. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Medicated cream. Skin cream with eflornithine can slow hair growth. Results show up in 6 to 8 weeks. The hair will regrow in about 8 weeks if you stop using the cream.

• #47 Patient education: Hirsutism (excess hair growth in females) (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hirsutism-excess-hair-growth-in-females-beyond-the-basics/print

  Several methods can be used to physically remove or lighten excess hair so that it less noticeable. These methods can be used in conjunction with medication. […] Shaving – Shaving is a safe and effective method for hair removal but may require daily sessions. […] Electrolysis – Electrolysis damages individual hair follicles by inserting a very fine needle into the hair follicle and applying an electrical current. Electrolysis is best suited for treatment of small areas, although larger areas may be treated with multiple sessions over time. […] Laser hair removal – Although expensive, laser hair removal is effective, faster, and less painful than electrolysis. […] Eflornithine hydrochloride (brand name: Vaniqa) is a skin cream that can be used to slow the growth of unwanted facial hair in females.

• #48 Excessive Hairiness (Hirsutism) | Loma Linda University Health

  https://lluh.org/conditions/excessive-hairiness-hirsutism

  Hirsutism is excess hair growth on the body or face. For women, the hair may grow in areas where men often have a lot of hair but women often don’t. This includes the upper lip, chin, chest, and back. It’s caused by an excess of male hormones called androgens. All women naturally produce small amounts of androgens. But high levels of these hormones can lead to hirsutism. […] Treatment depends on personal preference. Hair growth causes no physical harm. The decision to remove or reduce hair varies from person to person. […] Methods to remove or reduce unwanted hair include: Shaving. Hair will start growing back right away, so shaving needs to be repeated often. Depilatory lotion. This is a type of hair removal done with chemicals put on the skin. It softens hair above the skin so it can be wiped away. Waxing. Hot or cold wax can be used to pull out hair from the root. This treatment needs to be done every 2 to 3 weeks. Bleaching. Chemicals can lighten the color of the hair and make it harder to see. Electrolysis. A very thin needle is put into a hair follicle. Electricity is sent through the needle. This damages the hair follicle. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Laser hair removal. A special laser is pointed at the skin. The light from the laser is absorbed by color (pigment) in the hair and destroys the hair. This works best on people with dark hair and light skin. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Medicated cream. Skin cream with eflornithine can slow hair growth. Results show up in 6 to 8 weeks. The hair will regrow in about 8 weeks if you stop using the cream.

• #49 Management of Hirsutism in a PCOS Patient

  https://exxcellence.org/list-of-pearls/management-of-hirsutism-in-a-pcos-patient/

  Eflornithine is a topical facial cream that inhibits the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase to treat hair that is already present. Improvement in hirsutism has been shown in 60% of patients after 6 months of use. Eflornithine plus laser treatment is superior to laser alone. Hair removal (shaving, plucking, waxing, depilatory creams, electrolysis, and laser vaporization) is often needed in addition to medical therapy. […] Laser treatment and intense pulsed light are methods of photoepilation, which generally require multiple sessions to achieve adequate results. Limited studies have found laser treatment to be more effective than electrolysis. Women with dark hair and light skin are better candidates for laser therapy, especially during the anagen phase of hair growth. Electrolysis is intended to result in permanent hair removal by the destruction of the follicle, but is painful and technically difficult, and best suited to treatment of small areas.

• #50 Hirsutism – Diagnosis & treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirsutism/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354941

  Hair removal methods whose results may last longer than self-care methods and which may be combined with medical therapy include: […] Laser therapy. A beam of highly concentrated light (laser) is passed over your skin to damage hair follicles and prevent hair from growing (photoepilation). You might need multiple treatments. […] Electrolysis. This treatment involves inserting a tiny needle into each hair follicle. The needle emits a pulse of electric current to damage and eventually destroy the follicle. You might need multiple treatments. […] Self-care methods such as the following temporarily remove or reduce the visibility of unwanted facial and body hair. There is no evidence that self-removal of hair leads to heavier hair growth.

• #51 Patient education: Hirsutism (excess hair growth in females) (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hirsutism-excess-hair-growth-in-females-beyond-the-basics/print

  Several methods can be used to physically remove or lighten excess hair so that it less noticeable. These methods can be used in conjunction with medication. […] Shaving – Shaving is a safe and effective method for hair removal but may require daily sessions. […] Electrolysis – Electrolysis damages individual hair follicles by inserting a very fine needle into the hair follicle and applying an electrical current. Electrolysis is best suited for treatment of small areas, although larger areas may be treated with multiple sessions over time. […] Laser hair removal – Although expensive, laser hair removal is effective, faster, and less painful than electrolysis. […] Eflornithine hydrochloride (brand name: Vaniqa) is a skin cream that can be used to slow the growth of unwanted facial hair in females.

• #52 Excessive Hairiness (Hirsutism) | Loma Linda University Health

  https://lluh.org/conditions/excessive-hairiness-hirsutism

  Hirsutism is excess hair growth on the body or face. For women, the hair may grow in areas where men often have a lot of hair but women often don’t. This includes the upper lip, chin, chest, and back. It’s caused by an excess of male hormones called androgens. All women naturally produce small amounts of androgens. But high levels of these hormones can lead to hirsutism. […] Treatment depends on personal preference. Hair growth causes no physical harm. The decision to remove or reduce hair varies from person to person. […] Methods to remove or reduce unwanted hair include: Shaving. Hair will start growing back right away, so shaving needs to be repeated often. Depilatory lotion. This is a type of hair removal done with chemicals put on the skin. It softens hair above the skin so it can be wiped away. Waxing. Hot or cold wax can be used to pull out hair from the root. This treatment needs to be done every 2 to 3 weeks. Bleaching. Chemicals can lighten the color of the hair and make it harder to see. Electrolysis. A very thin needle is put into a hair follicle. Electricity is sent through the needle. This damages the hair follicle. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Laser hair removal. A special laser is pointed at the skin. The light from the laser is absorbed by color (pigment) in the hair and destroys the hair. This works best on people with dark hair and light skin. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Medicated cream. Skin cream with eflornithine can slow hair growth. Results show up in 6 to 8 weeks. The hair will regrow in about 8 weeks if you stop using the cream.

• #53 Experts issue recommendations to manage unwanted hair growth in women | Endocrine Society

  https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2018/experts-issue-recommendations-to-manage-unwanted-hair-growth-in-women

  When women choose hair removal therapy to address hirsutism, the Society suggests photoepilation for women with unwanted auburn, brown or black hair and electrolysis for women with unwanted white or blonde hair. […] Providers should warn women of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent about the increased risk of side effects such as skin pigment changes, blistering or, in rare cases, scarring.

• #54 Management of Hirsutism in a PCOS Patient

  https://exxcellence.org/list-of-pearls/management-of-hirsutism-in-a-pcos-patient/

  Eflornithine is a topical facial cream that inhibits the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase to treat hair that is already present. Improvement in hirsutism has been shown in 60% of patients after 6 months of use. Eflornithine plus laser treatment is superior to laser alone. Hair removal (shaving, plucking, waxing, depilatory creams, electrolysis, and laser vaporization) is often needed in addition to medical therapy. […] Laser treatment and intense pulsed light are methods of photoepilation, which generally require multiple sessions to achieve adequate results. Limited studies have found laser treatment to be more effective than electrolysis. Women with dark hair and light skin are better candidates for laser therapy, especially during the anagen phase of hair growth. Electrolysis is intended to result in permanent hair removal by the destruction of the follicle, but is painful and technically difficult, and best suited to treatment of small areas.

• #55 Hirsutism: Practice Essentials, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology

  https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/121038-overview

  Systemic therapies directed at hirsutism can be divided into those that decrease ovarian or adrenal androgen production and those that inhibit androgen action in the skin. The systemic therapies include glucocorticoids, oral contraceptives (OCs), spironolactone, flutamide, finasteride, cyproterone acetate (not available in the United States), and insulin sensitizers (metformin and rosiglitazone). […] Laser therapy has been shown not only to reduce unwanted hair but also to improve depression and anxiety in women with hirsutism. In many patients, hirsutism can be controlled just with laser, without using any drugs.

• #56 Hirsutism – OBGYN | UCLA Health

  https://www.uclahealth.org/medical-services/obgyn/conditions-treated/hirsutism

  A successful management plan for unwanted hair addresses a woman’s own concerns and allows for an individualized strategy that balances time spent on mechanical hair removal with prevention of further hair growth through medical therapy. Follow-up visits are often necessary to review progress, assess side effects, and advise further management as necessary, thereby increasing long-term satisfaction. The best management of unwanted hair growth often requires a multidisciplinary approach provided by qualified physicians, aestheticians, laser therapists, and electrologists and that 3 to 6 months of treatment is commonly required before improvement of hirsutism is observed.

• #57 Patient education: Hirsutism (excess hair growth in females) (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hirsutism-excess-hair-growth-in-females-beyond-the-basics/print

  Several medications are available for the treatment of hirsutism. These medications can decrease the amount of body hair, stop the growth of new hair, and decrease the growth rate and coarseness of existing hair. […] Combined estrogen-progestin contraceptive pills, rings, and patches lower the levels of androgens produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. […] Antiandrogens – Antiandrogens are medications that directly decrease androgen production or block the action of androgens on the hair follicle. […] The most commonly used antiandrogen is spironolactone. […] Over time, many females find that a multipronged approach that includes direct hair removal (such as laser), suppression of androgen production with estrogen-progestin contraceptives and androgen blockade with an antiandrogen (spironolactone) may produce the maximal reduction in bothersome hair growth.

• #58 Patient education: Hirsutism (excess hair growth in females) (Beyond the Basics) – UpToDate

  https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hirsutism-excess-hair-growth-in-females-beyond-the-basics

  Several medications are available for the treatment of hirsutism. These medications can decrease the amount of body hair, stop the growth of new hair, and decrease the growth rate and coarseness of existing hair. […] Combined estrogen-progestin contraceptive pills, rings, and patches lower the levels of androgens produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. They are usually the first choice for the treatment of hirsutism, and between 60 and 100 percent of females with hirsutism will notice improvement when taking these medications. […] Antiandrogens are medications that directly decrease androgen production or block the action of androgens on the hair follicle. […] Over time, many females find that a multipronged approach that includes direct hair removal (such as laser), suppression of androgen production with estrogen-progestin contraceptives and androgen blockade with an antiandrogen (spironolactone) may produce the maximal reduction in bothersome hair growth.

• #59 Hirsutism – OBGYN | UCLA Health

  https://www.uclahealth.org/medical-services/obgyn/conditions-treated/hirsutism

  Hirsutism in women is defined as excessive coarse hair appearing in a male-type pattern. It represents exposure of hair follicles to high levels of the male hormone androgen in the blood and/or the hair follicle itself. […] Hirsutism is often treated with a combination of approaches, including oral contraceptives with or without an antiandrogen, such as spironolactone, to lower levels or block actions of androgen on hair follicles. Oral contraceptives are often combined with antiandrogens to improve their clinical effect and to prevent pregnancy, since accidental exposure of the male fetus to antiandrogens can harm fetal development. A topical cream (eflornithine hydrochloride) also can be applied to treat facial hirsutism. […] Medical therapy inhibits hair growth without eliminating hair already present. Therefore, medical therapy usually is combined with mechanical methods of hair removal, such as electrolysis or lasers. Electrolysis refers to the insertion of an electrode to destroy individual hair follicles. It is ideal for removing small areas of sparse hair of any color. Laser hair removal is a common, safe and effective cosmetic procedure that also is performed for removal of unwanted facial and body hair.

• #60 Management of Hirsutism in a PCOS Patient

  https://exxcellence.org/list-of-pearls/management-of-hirsutism-in-a-pcos-patient/

  Eflornithine is a topical facial cream that inhibits the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase to treat hair that is already present. Improvement in hirsutism has been shown in 60% of patients after 6 months of use. Eflornithine plus laser treatment is superior to laser alone. Hair removal (shaving, plucking, waxing, depilatory creams, electrolysis, and laser vaporization) is often needed in addition to medical therapy. […] Laser treatment and intense pulsed light are methods of photoepilation, which generally require multiple sessions to achieve adequate results. Limited studies have found laser treatment to be more effective than electrolysis. Women with dark hair and light skin are better candidates for laser therapy, especially during the anagen phase of hair growth. Electrolysis is intended to result in permanent hair removal by the destruction of the follicle, but is painful and technically difficult, and best suited to treatment of small areas.

• #61 Management of hirsutism

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3830374/

  Although hirsutism is a frequent and distressing disorder often signaling an underlying endocrine disorder, a systematic approach to evaluation and the use of combination therapy will provide satisfactory treatment for most patients. […] The treatment of hirsutism should be undertaken using combination therapy, including: Androgen suppression, Peripheral androgen blockade, and Mechanical/cosmetic amelioration and destruction of the unwanted hairs. […] The most popular treatment for hirsutism are oral contraceptive (OC) medications, which suppress circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), leading to a decrease in ovarian androgen production. […] Long-acting GnRH agonists (e.g. Luprolide Depot, 3.75 mg per month) have been found to be useful in ameliorating hirsutism and may be required to suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in severely androgenized or hyperinsulinemic patients.

• #62 Hirsutism: What It Is, In Women, Causes, PCOS & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14523-hirsutism

  Hirsutism is a common condition that causes excessive hair growth. It primarily affects females. Treatment options include weight loss, medications and other hair removal options. […] Yes, hirsutism is treatable. Treatments include: […] Weight loss is often the first step in treating hirsutism. Losing even 5% of your body weight can lower your androgen levels and stop excessive hair growth. […] Birth control pills are the most common medication used to treat hirsutism. They lower androgen levels, regulate your menstrual cycle and prevent pregnancy. […] Androgen-suppressing medications can effectively treat mild cases of hirsutism by lowering the amount of androgens your body produces. […] Eflornithine skin cream is a topical product that you rub on your affected areas. It doesn’t remove hair, but it slows down how fast your hair grows.

• #63 Hirsutism: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment | Doctor

  https://patient.info/doctor/hirsutism

  Hirsutism treatment is unnecessary if no abnormal aetiology can be diagnosed and if the patient is not concerned about the cosmetic appearance. Management is mainly directed at any underlying cause if present. Treatment of hirsutism is not usually curative, unless a treatable underlying cause has been found. Because of the cyclical nature of hair growth, any systemic treatment may take up to six months to be effective. […] Encourage weight loss if overweight: Weight loss increases steroid hormone-binding globulin levels and decreases insulin resistance and the levels of serum androgens and luteinising hormones. Obesity has an adverse effect on the outcome of all systemic treatments. […] Shaving, threading, waxing, using depilatory creams, electrolysis and laser epilation or photo-epilation do not exacerbate hair growth and are effective, at least in the short term. Hair removal therapies are not usually available on the NHS.

• #64 PCOS and hirsutism: causes and treatment

  https://thriva.co/hub/womens-health/pcos-and-hirsutism-causes-and-treatment

  Excess body hair (hirsutism) is relatively common affecting up to 10% of women. Its caused by raised androgen levels, like testosterone. And the main underlying cause is PCOS. There are a range of treatments available to remove any unwanted hair. […] Its not necessary to remove excess body hair, but some people find it affects their self-esteem and mood. So there are a range of treatment options to remove unwanted hair. […] In the case of PCOS, lifestyle changes can help to treat the underlying condition which might help manage your hair growth. For example, a small amount of weight loss can significantly improve PCOS symptoms (if youre carrying excess weight). […] Specific hair removal treatments: laser hair removal a light source heats and destroys hair follicles, electrolysis an electric current stops hair growth, eflornithine a prescription cream that slows down the growth of facial hair after 4-8 weeks of treatment, medication prescribed by your doctor for example, the oral contraceptive pill can help block androgen production. Tweezing, shaving, threading, waxing, hair removal creams, and bleaching are other options.

• #65 Hirsutism: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment | Doctor

  https://patient.info/doctor/hirsutism

  Hirsutism treatment is unnecessary if no abnormal aetiology can be diagnosed and if the patient is not concerned about the cosmetic appearance. Management is mainly directed at any underlying cause if present. Treatment of hirsutism is not usually curative, unless a treatable underlying cause has been found. Because of the cyclical nature of hair growth, any systemic treatment may take up to six months to be effective. […] Encourage weight loss if overweight: Weight loss increases steroid hormone-binding globulin levels and decreases insulin resistance and the levels of serum androgens and luteinising hormones. Obesity has an adverse effect on the outcome of all systemic treatments. […] Shaving, threading, waxing, using depilatory creams, electrolysis and laser epilation or photo-epilation do not exacerbate hair growth and are effective, at least in the short term. Hair removal therapies are not usually available on the NHS.

• #66 Hirsutism in Women (Excess Body Hair Growth)

  https://healthlibrary.uwmedicine.org/Wellness/Nutrition/85,P00327

  Other factors that can lessen excess hair growth include: Treating another condition. Treating disorders of the pituitary gland, adrenal gland, or thyroid gland can lessen excess hair growth. Weight loss. In some women, losing weight can reduce androgen levels and cause hair growth to slow. Aging. Women age 30 and older have decreasing androgen levels. Hair growth may lessen over time. […] Talk with your healthcare providers about the risks, benefits, and possible side effects of all treatments.

• #67 Management of hirsutism

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3830374/

  Treatment of insulin resistance, primarily by weight loss or using metformin or thiazolidinediones has been demonstrated to improve hyperandrogenemia and ovulatory function in many women with PCOS. […] These include androgen receptor blockers, such as spironolactone, flutamide, and cyproterone acetate. […] Spironolactone is a very effective agent for reducing hirsutism, regardless of the degree of hyperandrogenemia. […] Flutamide is effective treatment for hirsutism in doses of 500 mg daily. […] Cyproterone acetate is an effective agent for the treatment of hirsutism. […] Finasteride is useful for the treatment of hirsutism in women in doses of 5 mg per day. […] Shaving, bleaching, or chemical depilation may be useful to temporarily ameliorate unwanted hairs. […] Techniques to accomplish the permanent destruction of hair follicles producing the unwanted hairs include electroepilation and laser photothermolysis. […] Eflornithine hydrochloride 13.9% cream is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of unwanted facial hair growth.

• #68 Hirsutism Information | Mount Sinai – New York

  https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/condition/hirsutism

  Treatment for hirsutism depends on whether there is an underlying cause, and how severe the hair growth is. For example, if medications are making it worse, you can ask your doctor if you can switch medications. A tumor on the ovaries or adrenal glands can be removed surgically. Overweight women with hirsutism may want to lose weight so their bodies will make less testosterone. […] If your doctor cannot find a cause, you can try a combination of self care and hair-removal techniques. Psychological support may also help because hirsutism is often a frustrating and embarrassing condition. […] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any medications to treat hirsutism. However, some drugs may lower androgen production and reduce hair growth. It can take 6 months or longer for the medications to produce noticeable changes in hair growth. They must be taken long term to keep symptoms under control. These medications include:

• #69 Excessive Hairiness (Hirsutism) | Loma Linda University Health

  https://lluh.org/conditions/excessive-hairiness-hirsutism

  Other medicines can reduce the hormones that cause hair growth. It can take 6 months or longer for you to see results from these medicines. This is because hair grows, rests, falls out, and regrows in cycles that last for months. And not all hairs are in the same part of the cycle at the same time. Because of this, treatments that affect the hair you have now may need to be repeated over time. Medicines that can change hormones to affect hair growth include: Birth control pills. These are different kinds of hormone pills that prevent pregnancy. They can reduce the amount of androgens in your body. Most women will notice a change in body hair growth when taking birth control pills. Antiandrogen medicine. This type of medicine can reduce your body’s androgen levels. Or it may stop the effects of androgens on hair follicles. The most common type is spironolactone. The medicines can cause birth defects, so a woman must use birth control while taking them.

• #70 Excessive Hairiness (Hirsutism) | Loma Linda University Health

  https://lluh.org/conditions/excessive-hairiness-hirsutism

  Other medicines can reduce the hormones that cause hair growth. It can take 6 months or longer for you to see results from these medicines. This is because hair grows, rests, falls out, and regrows in cycles that last for months. And not all hairs are in the same part of the cycle at the same time. Because of this, treatments that affect the hair you have now may need to be repeated over time. Medicines that can change hormones to affect hair growth include: Birth control pills. These are different kinds of hormone pills that prevent pregnancy. They can reduce the amount of androgens in your body. Most women will notice a change in body hair growth when taking birth control pills. Antiandrogen medicine. This type of medicine can reduce your body’s androgen levels. Or it may stop the effects of androgens on hair follicles. The most common type is spironolactone. The medicines can cause birth defects, so a woman must use birth control while taking them.

• #71 Hirsutism – OBGYN | UCLA Health

  https://www.uclahealth.org/medical-services/obgyn/conditions-treated/hirsutism

  A successful management plan for unwanted hair addresses a woman’s own concerns and allows for an individualized strategy that balances time spent on mechanical hair removal with prevention of further hair growth through medical therapy. Follow-up visits are often necessary to review progress, assess side effects, and advise further management as necessary, thereby increasing long-term satisfaction. The best management of unwanted hair growth often requires a multidisciplinary approach provided by qualified physicians, aestheticians, laser therapists, and electrologists and that 3 to 6 months of treatment is commonly required before improvement of hirsutism is observed.

• #72 Hirsutism in Women (Excess Body Hair Growth)

  https://healthlibrary.uwmedicine.org/Wellness/Nutrition/85,P00327

  Other factors that can lessen excess hair growth include: Treating another condition. Treating disorders of the pituitary gland, adrenal gland, or thyroid gland can lessen excess hair growth. Weight loss. In some women, losing weight can reduce androgen levels and cause hair growth to slow. Aging. Women age 30 and older have decreasing androgen levels. Hair growth may lessen over time. […] Talk with your healthcare providers about the risks, benefits, and possible side effects of all treatments.

• #73 Hirsutism Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

  https://www.upmc.com/services/womens-health/conditions/hirsutism

  Hirsutism treatment often focuses on hair removal, rather than on what’s causing the abnormal hair growth. Many women feel self-conscious, embarrassed, and anxious about hirsutism and PCOS facial hair. […] But if hirsutism is a marker for another medical condition, your doctor will focus on treating the underlying condition. […] Your doctor may prescribe: […] Contraceptive medication (birth control pill, hormone patches, or vaginal rings) Usually the first course of treatment. […] Antiandrogen medication can be added if the pill doesn’t improve your condition. […] If you have hirsutism and it bothers you even if your case is mild ask your provider for treatment options. Hair removal won’t make hair thicker, but it can cause skin irritations. […] Cosmetic hair management techniques include: […] Bleaching agents. […] Plucking/tweezing. […] Shaving. […] Threading. […] Topical hair removal creams. […] Waxing. […] Electrolysis. […] Weight loss may improve unwanted hair growth. People with hirsutism and PCOS should consider making lifestyle changes to improve their overall health.

• #74 Hirsutism Information | Mount Sinai – New York

  https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/condition/hirsutism

  Treatment for hirsutism depends on whether there is an underlying cause, and how severe the hair growth is. For example, if medications are making it worse, you can ask your doctor if you can switch medications. A tumor on the ovaries or adrenal glands can be removed surgically. Overweight women with hirsutism may want to lose weight so their bodies will make less testosterone. […] If your doctor cannot find a cause, you can try a combination of self care and hair-removal techniques. Psychological support may also help because hirsutism is often a frustrating and embarrassing condition. […] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any medications to treat hirsutism. However, some drugs may lower androgen production and reduce hair growth. It can take 6 months or longer for the medications to produce noticeable changes in hair growth. They must be taken long term to keep symptoms under control. These medications include:

• #75 Excessive Hairiness (Hirsutism) | Loma Linda University Health

  https://lluh.org/conditions/excessive-hairiness-hirsutism

  Hirsutism is excess hair growth on the body or face. For women, the hair may grow in areas where men often have a lot of hair but women often don’t. This includes the upper lip, chin, chest, and back. It’s caused by an excess of male hormones called androgens. All women naturally produce small amounts of androgens. But high levels of these hormones can lead to hirsutism. […] Treatment depends on personal preference. Hair growth causes no physical harm. The decision to remove or reduce hair varies from person to person. […] Methods to remove or reduce unwanted hair include: Shaving. Hair will start growing back right away, so shaving needs to be repeated often. Depilatory lotion. This is a type of hair removal done with chemicals put on the skin. It softens hair above the skin so it can be wiped away. Waxing. Hot or cold wax can be used to pull out hair from the root. This treatment needs to be done every 2 to 3 weeks. Bleaching. Chemicals can lighten the color of the hair and make it harder to see. Electrolysis. A very thin needle is put into a hair follicle. Electricity is sent through the needle. This damages the hair follicle. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Laser hair removal. A special laser is pointed at the skin. The light from the laser is absorbed by color (pigment) in the hair and destroys the hair. This works best on people with dark hair and light skin. This method is done over several sessions. This can reduce and remove hair for months or longer. Medicated cream. Skin cream with eflornithine can slow hair growth. Results show up in 6 to 8 weeks. The hair will regrow in about 8 weeks if you stop using the cream.

• #76 Hirsutism – Harvard Health

  https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/hirsutism-a-to-z

  Anti-androgen medicines can work alone or in combination with birth-control pills. The most commonly used medicine is spironolactone (Aldactone), although others are available. It is unsafe to take anti-androgen medicines during pregnancy. […] Most cases of hirsutism can be treated successfully with medication and cosmetic attention. It may require time and persistent use of these therapies, but most cases will respond to a combined approach.

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