What Does Hirsutism Mean In Medical Terms?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Hirsutism is

excess hair

most often noticeable around the mouth and chin. Hirsutism (HUR-soot-iz-um) is a condition in women that results in excessive growth of dark or coarse hair in a male-like pattern — face, chest and back.

What can cause excessive hair growth in females?

  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). …
  • Disorders of the pituitary gland, adrenal gland, or thyroid gland.
  • Tumor on the ovary that makes extra androgens.
  • Severe insulin resistance.
  • Changes in hormones from menopause.
  • Use of anabolic steroids or corticosteroids.
  • Use of medicine to treat endometriosis.

Which term means the presence of excessive body and facial hair in women?


Hirsutism

is the presence of excess body or facial terminal (coarse) hair growth in females in a male-like pattern, affects 5–15% of women, and is an important sign of underlying androgen excess

Which hormone is responsible for facial hair growth in female?

The female sex hormone oestrogen makes body hair fine and soft. Androgens are male sex hormones, including

testosterone

, which are responsible for masculine characteristics such as facial hair and coarse body hair. A woman’s ovaries and adrenal glands naturally make a small amount of androgens.

Is arm hair considered hirsutism?

What are the symptoms of hirsutism? The main symptom of hirsutism is

thick, coarse, dark hair

that grows on parts of the body where it would normally grow as fine, thin hair. For example, hair may grow thicker and coarser on the face, chest, back, lower abdomen, upper arms, or upper legs of women.

Can hirsutism be cured?

Because

it usually is not possible to cure the hormonal problem

that causes hirsutism, ongoing medical treatment is required to manage it. Hirsutism will frequently return if medical treatment is stopped. Sometimes a combination of treatment methods is needed for best results.

Does hirsutism get worse with age?

The prevalence of hirsutism and acne

decreases with age

. Ovarian volume and follicle number also decrease with age, with the age-related decrease in follicle number seemingly greater than that of ovarian volume. Aging may also be associated with increased risk of insulin resistance and metabolic disturbances.

What can a woman do to stop facial hair growth?

  1. Weight loss. If you’re overweight and drop pounds, your body may make fewer male hormones.
  2. Shaving. …
  3. Tweezing or threading. …
  4. Waxing. …
  5. Creams. …
  6. Electrolysis. …
  7. Laser hair removal. …
  8. Medication.

How can I reduce my upper lip hair naturally?

  1. Combine 1 tablespoon of honey and 1⁄2 tablespoon of lemon juice.
  2. Apply the mixture to your upper lip skin.
  3. Leave it on for 20 minutes.
  4. Soak a washcloth in warm water. Wring out excess water.
  5. Gently wipe off the honey-lemon paste and rinse the area with cool water.

How can I remove unwanted hair permanently?

  1. Electrolysis. Electrolysis involves the use of shortwave radio frequencies distributed through fine needles placed directly into your hair follicles. …
  2. Laser hair removal. …
  3. Prescription creams. …
  4. Professional tweezing and waxing. …
  5. Chemical depilation.

Which hormone makes your hair grow?


Androgen hormones

, sometimes referred to as “male” hormones, like DHEA and testosterone, play the largest role in your overall hair growth. When your levels of these hormones are too high, you may experience excess hair growth, especially on the body or face.

How can I permanently stop facial hair from growing naturally?

  1. Sugar and Lemon Juice. All you need to do is mix two tablespoons of sugar and lemon juice, along with 8-9 tablespoons of water. …
  2. Lemon and Honey. This is another method to replace waxing. …
  3. Oatmeal and Banana. This method is quite handy. …
  4. Potato and Lentil. …
  5. Egg White and Cornstarch.

What conditions cause facial hair on females?

  • adrenal cancer.
  • adrenal tumors.
  • congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
  • Cushing’s disease.

How do you treat hirsutism in your diet?

Eat

antioxidant foods

, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes) and vegetables (such as squash and bell peppers). Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and especially sugar. Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy), or beans for protein.

Does masturbation cause PCOS?

Unrestricted sociosexuality, unrestricted desire, romantic interest in women, and masturbation frequency were all positively associated with

PCOS

symptoms (including male pattern hair growth).

How can a woman reduce androgens?

  1. Maintain a healthy weight. Weight loss can reduce insulin and androgen levels and may restore ovulation. …
  2. Limit carbohydrates. Low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets might increase insulin levels. …
  3. Be active. Exercise helps lower blood sugar levels.
Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.