How to Stop Excessive Hair Growth
Hirsutism, a pattern of excessive hair growth in women, plagues up to 10 percent of American women, according to the Mayo Clinic. The Mayo Clinic also states that half of women with hirsutism exhibit elevated androgen (male hormones) levels, while the other half suffer from it due to genetics or ethnic make-up. Potential conditions that cause high androgen levels include polycystic ovary syndrome (caused by excessive sex hormones), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (abnormal production of steroid hormones), tumors and certain medications. Regardless of the cause, your doctor can help you develop a plan to control or eliminate this frustrating and embarrassing problem.
Instructions
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Consult your doctor for an evaluation and diagnosis. Your doctor will likely perform a physical exam, as well as run blood tests to determine whether elevated androgen levels contribute to or cause your excessive hair growth.
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Follow your doctor's treatment for any underlying medical conditions he suspects may be causing the hirsutism. If testing reveals high androgen levels, you may be offered birth control pills or anti-androgens, which will help decrease your body's estrogen production.
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Use appropriate hair removal methods to alleviate the condition. While waiting for medications or treatments to take effect, you will probably want to continue shaving, waxing, bleaching, plucking or using a depilatory cream on unwanted hair.
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Consider electrolysis or laser hair removal if no underlying medical condition appears to cause the hirsutism or if medications do not improve the problem. Electrolysis, in which a small electrically charged needle destroys the hair follicle, offers permanent hair removal, but can be painful and expensive for large areas. Laser hair removal utilizes a laser beam to disable the hair follicle and to slow or eliminate hair growth; it can also be uncomfortable and expensive.
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Tips & Warnings
Tell the doctor about any medication you regularly take; some medications can cause excessive hair growth.
If taking medication, such as birth control pills or anti-androgens, you can often expect to see improvement in one to two months, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Excessive facial hair can often be treated by using Vaniqa (Eflornithine), a prescription topical cream. Keep in mind that when discontinuing this medication, your hair growth will resume to pre-treatment levels.
Birth control pills and anti-androgens carry the risk of strong side effects such as headaches, nausea, mood swings and bloating/weight gain. Make sure you talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of using these medications prior to beginning treatment.
