- "Hirsute" redirects here. For the botanical term, see indumentum.
| Hirsutism |
| Classification and external resources |
A woman with hirsutism, as depicted in the Nuremberg Chronicle (1493)
|
| ICD-10 |
L68.0 |
| ICD-9 |
704.1 |
| DiseasesDB |
20309 |
| MedlinePlus |
003148 |
| eMedicine |
med/1017 derm/472 |
| MeSH |
D006628 |
Hirsutism is the excessive hairiness[1] on women[2] in those parts of the body where terminal hair does not normally occur or is minimal - for example, a beard or chest hair. It refers to a male pattern of body hair (androgenic hair) and it is therefore primarily of cosmetic and psychological concern. Hirsutism is a medical sign rather than a disease and may be a sign of a more serious medical condition, especially if it develops well after puberty. The amount and location of the hair is measured by a Ferriman-Gallwey score.
Contents
- 1 Signs and symptoms
- 2 Causes
- 3 Diagnosis
- 4 Treatment
- 4.1 Pharmacological
- 4.2 Other methods
- 5 See also
- 6 References
- 7 External links
Signs and symptoms[edit]
Hirsutism affects women and sometimes men, since the rising of androgens causes a male pattern of body hair, sometimes excessive, particularly in locations where women normally do not develop terminal hair during puberty (chest, abdomen, back and face). The medical term for excessive hair growth that affect both men and women is hypertrichosis.
Causes[edit]
Hirsutism can be caused by either an increased level of androgens, the male hormones, or an oversensitivity of hair follicles to androgens. Male hormones such as testosterone stimulate hair growth, increase size and intensify the growth and pigmentation of hair. Other symptoms associated with a high level of male hormones include acne, deepening of the voice, and increased muscle mass.
Growing evidence implicates high circulating levels of insulin in women for the development of hirsutism. This theory is speculated to be consistent with the observation that obese (and thus presumably insulin resistant hyperinsulinemic) women are at high risk of becoming hirsute. Further, treatments that lower insulin levels will lead to a reduction in hirsutism.
It is speculated that insulin, at high enough concentration, stimulates the ovarian theca cells to produce androgens. There may also be an effect of high levels of insulin to activate insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptor in those same cells. Again, the result is increased androgen production.
Signs that are suggestive of an androgen-secreting tumor in a patient with hirsutism is rapid onset, virilization and palpable abdominal mass.
The following may be some of the conditions that may increase a woman's normally low level of male hormones:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common cause[3]
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, in turn mostly caused by 21-α hydroxylase deficiency[4]
- Cushing's disease[4]
- Growth hormone excess (acromegaly)[4]
- Tumors in the ovaries
- adrenal gland cancer, Von Hippel–Lindau disease
- Insulin resistance
- Stromal hyperthecosis (SH) - in postmenopausal women
- Obesity: As there is peripheral conversion of androgens to estrogen in these patients, this is the same mechanism as polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS.
- Use of certain medications such as tetrahydrogestrinone, phenytoin, minoxidil
- porphyria cutanea tarda
Diagnosis[edit]
One method of evaluating hirsutism is the Ferriman-Gallwey score which gives a score based on the amount and location of hair growth on a woman.[5]
Diagnosis of patients with even mild hirsutism should include assessment of ovulation and ovarian ultrasound (because of the high prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome), as well as 17-hydroxyprogesterone (because of the possibility of finding nonclassic 21-hydroxylase deficiency[6]).
Other blood value that may be evaluated in the workup of hirsutism include:
- the androgens testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate
- thyroid-stimulating hormone
- prolactin
If no underlying cause can be identified, the condition is considered idiopathic.
Treatment[edit]
Many women with unwanted hair seek methods of hair removal. However, the causes of the hair growth should be evaluated by a physician, who can conduct blood tests, pinpoint the specific origin of the abnormal hair growth, and advise on the treatment.
Pharmacological[edit]
Pharmacological treatments include:[4]
- Spironolactone: Antialdosterone antiandrogenic compound.[7]
- Cyproterone acetate: A progestin that also has strong antiandrogenic action. In addition to single form, it is also available in some formulations of combined oral contraceptives.
- Finasteride: 5 alpha reductase inhibitor that inhibits conversion of testosterone to more active 5 alpha hydroxy testosterone
- Metformin: Antihyperglycemic drug used for diabetes mellitus. However, it is also effective in treatment of hirsutism associated with insulin resistance (e.g. polycystic ovary syndrome)
- Eflornithine: Blocks putrescine that is necessary for the growth of hair follicles
- Flutamide: Androgen receptor antagonist. The most effective treatment that was tested is the oral flutamide for one year. Seventeen of eighteen women with hirsutism treated with combination therapy of flutamide 250 mg twice daily and an oral contraceptive pill had a rapid and marked reduction in their hirsutism score. Amongst these, one woman with pattern hair loss showed remarkable improvement.[medical citation needed]
- Combination oral contraceptives
Other methods[edit]
- Epilation
- Waxing
- Shaving
- Laser hair removal
- Lifestyle change, including reducing excessive weight and addressing insulin resistance, may be beneficial. Insulin resistance can cause excessive testosterone levels in women, resulting in hirsutism.[8] One study reported that women who stayed on a low calorie diet for at least six months lost weight and reduced insulin resistance. Their levels of Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) increased, which reduced the amount of free testosterone in their blood. As expected, the women reported a reduction in the severity of their hirsutism and acne symptoms.
See also[edit]
- Ferriman-Gallwey score
- Petrus Gonsalvus
- Androgenic hair
- Pubic hair
- Hypertrichosis
- Hair removal
- Laser hair removal
- Bearded lady
- Trichophilia
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
References[edit]
- ^ "Hirsutism" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
- ^ "Merck Manuals online medical Library". Merck & Co. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Somani N, Harrison S, Bergfeld WF (2008). "The clinical evaluation of hirsutism". Dermatol Ther 21 (5): 376–91. doi:10.1111/j.1529-8019.2008.00219.x. PMID 18844715.
- ^ a b c d Unluhizarci K, Kaltsas G, Kelestimur F (2012). "Non polycystic ovary syndrome-related endocrine disorders associated with hirsutism". Eur J Clin Invest 42 (1): 86–94. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2362.2011.02550.x. PMID 21623779.
- ^ Ferriman D, Gallwey JD (November 1961). "Clinical assessment of body hair growth in women". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 21 (11): 1440–7. doi:10.1210/jcem-21-11-1440. PMID 13892577.
- ^ Di Fede, G.; Mansueto, P.; Pepe, I.; Rini, G. B.; Carmina, E. (2010). "High prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in women with mild hirsutism and no other significant clinical symptoms". Fertility and Sterility 94 (1): 194–197. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.02.056. PMID 19338993. edit
- ^ Karakurt F, Sahin I, Güler S et al. (April 2008). "Comparison of the clinical efficacy of flutamide and spironolactone plus ethinyloestradiol/cyproterone acetate in the treatment of hirsutism: a randomised controlled study". Adv Ther 25 (4): 321–8. doi:10.1007/s12325-008-0039-5. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/1232500800395|1232500800395[[Category:Articles with invalid ISBNs]]]] . PMID 18389188.
- ^ Taylor SI, Dons RF, Hernandez E, Roth J, Gorden P. (December 1982). Insulin resistance associated with androgen excess in women with autoantibodies to the insulin receptor 97 (6). pp. 851–5. PMID 7149493.
External links[edit]
- Why the Bearded Lady Was Never a Laughing Matter: Hirsutism
- The Bearded Lady
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Disorders of skin appendages (L60–L75, 703–706)
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| Nail |
- thickness: Onychogryphosis
- Onychauxis
- color: Beau's lines
- Yellow nail syndrome
- Leukonychia
- Azure Lunula
- shape: Koilonychia
- Nail clubbing
- behavior: Onychotillomania
- Onychophagia
- other: Ingrown nail
- Anonychia
- ungrouped: Paronychia
- Chevron nail
- Congenital onychodysplasia of the index fingers
- Green nails
- Half and half nails
- Hangnail
- Hapalonychia
- Hook nail
- Lichen planus of the nails
- Longitudinal erythronychia
- Malalignment of the nail plate
- Median nail dystrophy
- Mees' lines
- Melanonychia
- Muehrcke's lines
- Nail–patella syndrome
- Onychoatrophy
- Onychocryptosis
- Onycholysis
- Onychomadesis
- Onychomatricoma
- Onychomycosis
- Onychophosis
- Onychoptosis defluvium
- Onychorrhexis
- Onychoschizia
- Platonychia
- Pincer nails
- Plummer's nail
- Psoriatic nails
- Pterygium inversum unguis
- Pterygium unguis
- Purpura of the nail bed
- Racquet nail
- Red lunulae
- Shell nail syndrome
- Splinter hemorrhage
- Spotted lunulae
- Staining of the nail plate
- Stippled nails
- Subungual hematoma
- Terry's nails
- Twenty-nail dystrophy
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| Hair |
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| Sweat glands |
| Eccrine |
- Miliaria
- Colloid milium
- Miliaria crystalline
- Miliaria profunda
- Miliaria pustulosa
- Miliaria rubra
- Occlusion miliaria
- Postmiliarial hypohidrosis
- Granulosis rubra nasi
- Ross’ syndrome
- Anhidrosis
- Hyperhidrosis
- Generalized
- Gustatory
- Palmoplantar
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| Apocrine |
- Body odor
- Chromhidrosis
- Fox–Fordyce disease
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| Sebaceous |
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noco/cong/tumr, sysi/epon
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