Re: what's hirsutism and how do you get rid of it?

Dear Shama,

That is a good question you asked!

Hirsutism is defined as having coarse hair on the face, chest, upper back, 
or abdomen of a female.  This is caused by excess production of androgen, a  
class of hormones that include testosterone.  

Hirsutism can be mild, such as a hint of a moustache that can be removed by 
shaving, waxing, or electrolysis.  This might be normal if people in their 
race or family also have a touch of hirsutism.   This is also normal during  
pregnancy or puberty.  Or that person is just a little more hairy than the 
rest of her friends!  

On the other hand, hirsutism can be severe, with a lot of facial hair, and 
be associated with other symptoms of virilization such as deepening of the 
voice, oily skin, acne, loss of menstrual regularity, or no menstrual 
cycles at all.  If this is the case, that person should seek a doctor to 
find the specific cause to get the appropriate treatment.  The biggest 
concern is that there might be a tumor making a lot of androgens that needs 
to be removed.  If it is not a tumor, then drugs that are anti-androgens 
are used in conjunction with oral contraceptives because a woman should not 
get pregnant while on anti-androgens (it would be very bad for the fetus).

The Common causes are:
Familial or racial factors
Idiopathic (cause unknown) hirsutism
Physiologic (normal) hirsutism during pregnancy or puberty

The Uncommon causes are:
Injury to the central nervous system
Drugs (Anabolic steroids, Oral contraceptives, Progesterone, Testosterone, 
Cyclosporine, Diazoxide, Dilantin, Minoxidil)
Emotional stress
Polycystic Ovary Disease
Severe Malnutrition

The Rare causes are:
Achard-Thiers syndrome
Acromegaly
Adrenal disorders
Congenital erythropoietic porphyria
Dysmorphogenic syndromes
Hypothyroidism
Male pseudohermaphroditism
Ovarian disorders (gonadal dysgenesis, tumors)

I hope this helps, and thanks for the interesting question!
....mark fung, md,phd

References:
1. "Hirsutism", entry in The Bantam Medical Dictonary 
2. "Hirsutism & Virilization", Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 
(1999 edition), L.M. Tierney, Jr. et al., Editors, page 1099-1101.
3. "Hirsutism", Oski's Essential Pediatrics, K.B. Johnson and F.A. Oski, 
Editors (1997 edition), p697-698.