Heavy hair (hirsutism)

Normal body hair is naturally present in all people in certain areas of the body. One becomes annoying thick hair respectively increased body hair however, if this is through a excessive hair growth is marked.

What is excessive hair (hirsutism)?

Hirsutism shows up as a male hair distribution pattern in women. This can include different areas of the body, but mostly refers to all areas of the body where hair growth is to be expected in men.
© Neyro - stock.adobe.com

A strong hair on the body is also hidden behind the names Hypertrichosis, Hirsutism and Virilization. The prefix hyper- denotes an excess. Heavy hair, which is hidden behind the term hypertrichosis, is characterized by the appearance of thicker hair growth and excessive hair on atypical parts of the body. Thickened hair is diagnosed when the hair appears on the chest, thighs and as unfeminine whiskers.

In male patients, thick hair can be seen if there is excessive hair growth on the stomach and back, especially in the neck. Women with increased hair growth also suffer from increased hair growth on the upper lip (see women's beard) and on the chin. Some women also have increased hair on their forearms and buttocks.

causes

Only after a clear clarification of the symptoms can the causal relationships between a increased hair and the actual triggers are closed. The causes of hypertrichosis are completely different from those of increased hairiness in hirsutism.

The Hypertrichosis as increased hairiness occurs when the affected person has localized, more or less thick body hair distributed over the whole body. This can be genetic and resemble male hair. Causes of increased hair growth are circulatory disorders, hereditary diseases, blood diseases, hormone-releasing tumors and various drugs.

A special form of increased hair is that Virilization. This goes hand in hand with other physical changes in women with regard to masculinization.

The causes of thicker hair in Hirsutism are an excess of male sex hormones in women. Genetic predispositions and the use of anabolic steroids during doping also lead to increased hairiness in women and men. Tumor-like growths on the adrenal glands or ovaries and androgenic drugs also promote increased hair growth.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

Hirsutism shows up as a male hair distribution pattern in women. This can include different areas of the body, but mostly refers to all areas of the body where hair growth is to be expected in men. Especially in the face, there is increased hair growth on the upper lip, on the sideburns and in the chin area. It is true that light downy hair can also be described as common in a woman's face, but in hirsutism this downy hair is transformed into thicker terminal hair.

In addition, there is increased body hair on the area of ​​the sternum and around the areola. The forearms and lower legs are also more hairy. From the navel in the direction of the pubic hair comes hairlines, which can run more or less zigzag.

The pubic hair is more pronounced and leaves the triangular shape, which is aesthetically ideal. Rather, the pubic hair goes into the thighs - and possibly into the hair there.

In many cases, hirsutism cannot be differentiated from normal body hair. Body hair in women is also very dependent on genetic influences. The thicker body hair is therefore only given a disease value if it is very noticeable or poses a problem for the woman herself.

Complications

The excessive body hair itself is usually associated with mental as well as physical impairments. The trigger for hirsutism can, however, be a very serious disorder, with complications to be expected. For example, hirsutism can be due to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCO), one of the most common hormonal disorders in women.

In affected patients, the ovaries enlarge due to the formation of cysts. The reason for this is the fact that although many egg cells mature, ovulation does not ultimately occur. Therefore, the egg cells stay in the follicles instead of migrating to the fallopian tubes after ovulation. The follicles enlarge and develop cysts, which can lead to infertility.

If the hirsutism is a consequence of the adrenogenital syndrome (AGS), it can lead to a number of very stressful side effects. These include, for example, a strong masculinization up to the development of a pseudopenis, strong and rapid body growth in girls or the premature entry into puberty as well as an increased susceptibility to infections or regular hypoglycaemia.

As a lot of those affected perceive excessive body hair as disfiguring, psychological problems, in particular depression requiring therapy, must also be expected. Even suicide attempts are rare.

When should you go to the doctor?

If you have a lot of body hair, you do not need to consult a doctor in all cases. Under normal circumstances, body hair is something natural that has no disease value. It is therefore not necessarily a disease if the hair growth on different parts of the body is more intense than on other people. If the hair is felt to be uncomfortable or annoying, it can be removed by regular shaving or depilation.

A doctor's visit is only necessary if the person concerned experiences the hair as suffering. If psychological problems or general malaise occur, you should speak to a doctor. In the case of excessive hair growth that occurs in unusual parts of the body, it is advisable to clarify the cause with a doctor. There may be genetic, hormonal or other disorders of the organism that need to be diagnosed and treated.

In hirsutism, there is an excess of male hormones in a woman. Therefore, women in particular should investigate the cause of excessive hair on areas such as the upper lip. If growths or swellings appear on the body, this confirms the suspicion of an irregular hormone balance. The proportion of male sex hormones in the organism is determined by taking a blood sample. A doctor should also be consulted if the libido is disturbed or the menstrual cycle is irregular.

Treatment & Therapy

To a thick hair different therapy options come into consideration. In addition to external treatments against increased hair growth through cosmetic and aesthetic medicine procedures, medicinal treatments can also be offered. These depend on the findings of the diagnostic work-up and the extent of the increased hairiness as well as the suffering of those affected.

Since the patients are under enormous stress and are often desperate when they have increased hair growth, it is important to carry out diagnostics as quickly as possible and to initiate treatments against the increased hair growth as soon as possible.

Short-term methods for removing thick hair are shaving, epilation and the sclerotherapy of the hair roots by means of electrical and usually laser-assisted epilation. The hair roots are killed in this context, so that no more hair can appear in the treated areas.

If the causes of increased hairiness are known as hirsutism or hypertrichosis, the therapy can be targeted. If the hair is thick, stopping the suspected medication can be helpful. Medicines that promote increased hair growth can, if possible, be replaced by other medicinal products that achieve a similar effect, but are not characterized by this side effect.

Hormone therapies that counteract excess hair are also useful as helpful medicinal treatments against excessive hair. This variant aims to reduce the concentration of male sex hormones. If hormone-producing tumors are the trigger for increased hair growth, surgical treatment can promise success to prevent excessive hair growth.

prevention

As part of preventive measures, a thick hair partially avoid. However, this is only possible if the trigger for increased hairiness is only due to external factors.

Avoiding the consumption of anabolic steroids by women and the administration of drugs that induce hair growth is also important. In-depth diagnostic investigations and the prescription of special medication against polycystic ovary syndrome by the gynecologist are recommended as a preventive measure, as the increased hair growth already shows in puberty.

Aftercare

Hirsutism, i.e. excessively thick body hair, depends on the causal disease in follow-up care and is therefore very different. If the causative disease can be treated successfully, the hirsutism will disappear completely within a few weeks to months afterwards, without the need for further measures. In the case of a hormone disorder, long-term or lifelong intake of corresponding hormones may be necessary in order to at least reduce hair growth permanently.

An endocrinologist is particularly helpful here, who can observe the hormone levels in the body and check the blood values ​​through regular examinations. Depending on the cause, it is not always possible to achieve a healing of the hirsutism. The focus here should not be on pure aftercare, but on permanent symptomatic treatment. Long-term methods of hair removal such as laser treatments should be weighed up and considered by the patient.

General practitioners and cosmetic studios in particular offer detailed advice. Laser treatments are carried out in several recurring sessions. Follow-up care is primarily aimed at skin care, other special measures are usually not required. If there are hormonal changes, hirsutism may recur and treatment will need to be repeated in a number of ways.

You can do that yourself

A lot of hair is usually not a medical problem, but rather a cosmetic one. Those affected suffer mentally from the changed appearance - especially if it cannot be covered by clothing. Avoidance of certain social situations often determines everyday life. The health insurance companies only cover the expenses for repairing thick hair in severe cases. Sick people can improve their situation themselves through various measures.

A regular shave on the affected areas is considered to be promising. However, any visible recovery is short-lived. The body hair grows back after just a few days. For a much longer period of time, the hair disappears as it grows. Since the root is also torn out, those affected do not suffer from the cosmetic problems for about four weeks. Epilating and bleaching are also suitable. Both procedures promise smooth skin for over four weeks. If you don't want to do hair removal yourself, you can turn to a beauty salon.

Self-treatment is not always advisable. If strong hair growth suddenly occurs, you should definitely consult a doctor. Behind it can be a serious illness.