Most people fret about not having enough hair. Their hair is too fine, too brittle, not abundant enough, subject to breaking, won't grow at all or it's falling out. However, there are people with the exact opposite problem: They have too much hair and not only is it sprouting from their scalp but from other parts of their body. This can be every bit as traumatic as going bald.
Hirsutism
If a person is growing hair by leaps and bounds on his face and other parts of his body, he may be afflicted with a condition called hirsutism. Persons with this condition grow thick, dark hair all over the body and face. According to the Family Doctor website, hirsutism appears to be genetic, and may even occcur when there are high levels of androgens (male hormones) in the body. When a woman has too many male hormones, in addition to excessive hair growth, she may have irregular menstrual periods, acne, increased muscle mass and a deep voice.
Who Gets It?
If a woman has high levels of androgens----she may be a candidate for developing hirsutism. Signs that a woman has too many male hormones include irregular menstrual periods, larger than normal muscle mass, a deep voice and acne. An abnormally high level of male hormones in females can be caused by conditions such as ovarian or adrenal tumors, polycystic ovary syndrome, Cushing's Disease and hyperthecosis.
Hirsutism in females results in a male pattern of hair growth on the chin, upper lip, and other areas where men have hair growth.
Although doctors aren't sure why, hirsutism can also be prompted when a person's hair follicles are extremely sensitive to androgens (male hormones). Hirsutism is genetic.
Medicines To Avoid
Medications, such as hormones, anabolic steroids and birth control pills can contribute to hirsutism. Other medicines that can promote hirsutism include danazol, glucocorticoids, cyclosporine, minoxidil and phenytoin.
Can This Condition Be Treated?
Some doctors prescribe a medication called an anti-androgen, which controls hirsutism to a certain extent. This medicine will decrease new hair growth but probably won't have any impact on the hair that is already present.
Ask your doctor about a topical prescription cream that can be directly applied to the areas on your body that have extreme hair growth. This cream ostensibly slows hair growth, just as the anti-androgen medicine does.
Hypertrichosis
Another excessive hair growth condition is hypertrichosis, which differs from hirsutism in that there is generally no androgen (male hormone) present. Hypertrichosis results in unusual hair density and length. According to the Hypertrichosis website, this condition is inherited. When babies are born, lanugo hairs, which are long and silky, generally shed shortly after birth or just before. However, if the individual has hypertrichosis, the hair does not shed and will remain on the adult's body, with the exception of the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
When there is abundant hair on the ears, generally men's ears, this is called hairy pinna. If hairy pinna is seen on a newborn infant it may be because the mother of the infant has diabetes.
Tags: hair growth, male hormones, androgens male, androgens male hormones, deep voice