Hirsutism Pathophyiology and Treatment: An Overview

Hirsutism is a symptom rather than a disease and may be a sign of a more serious medical indication, especially if it develops well after puberty. Patients with hirsutism due to hormonal causes will have some disturbances of menstruation, lack of ovulation, acne, deepening of voice, balding and overweight. The present paper reviews the pathophysiology and treatment modes of hirsutism.

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HIRSUTISM PATHOPHYIOLOGY AND TREATMENT: AN OVERVIEW

Chandrawanshi Pawan
Department of Pharmacy, B.U., Bhopal, M.P.

Hirsutism is a symptom rather than a disease and may be a sign of a more serious medical indication, especially if it develops well after puberty. Patients with hirsutism due to hormonal causes will have some disturbances of menstruation, lack of ovulation, acne, deepening of voice, balding and overweight. The present paper reviews the pathophysiology and treatment modes of hirsutism.

INTRODUCTION

Hirsutism (from Latin hirsutus = shaggy, hairy) is defined as excessive and increased hair growth in women 1,7 in locations where the occurrence of terminal hair normally is minimal or absent. It refers to a male pattern of body hair (androgenic hair) and it is therefore primarily of cosmetic and psychological concern. Hirsutism is a symptom rather than a disease and may be a sign of a more serious medical indication, especially if it develops well after puberty 2, the excessive growth of thick dark hair in locations where hair growth in women usually is minimal or absent.In most cases, hirsutism is a benign condition and primarily is of cosmetic concern. However, when hirsutism in women is accompanied by masculinizing signs or symptoms, particularly when these arise well after puberty, hirsutism may be a manifestation of a more serious underlying disorder such as an ovarian or adrenal neoplasm.

In women, hirsutism exceeding culturally normal levels can be as distressing an emotional problem as the loss of scalp hair. The onset of hirsutism can take 1 of several forms, eg, in women with familial hirsutism, it often appears during puberty. Hirsutism usually develops gradually in patients with PCOS and CAH. Hirsutism appears abruptly when an androgen-secreting tumor arises 7. Hirsutism is a common disorder affecting up to 8 percent of women.It often results from conditions that are not life-threatening, such as chronic anovulation. Hirsutism is defined as the presence of excessive terminal hair in androgen-dependent areas of a woman's body . The disorder is a sign of increased androgen action on hair follicles, from increased circulating levels of androgens (endogenous or exogenous) or increased sensitivity of hair follicles to normal levels of circulating androgens.

The whole 12 pages article is available for download here.