The most commonly used anti-androgen for treating hirsutism is spironolactone (Aldactone, CaroSpir). The results are modest and take at least six months to be noticeable. Possible side effects include menstrual irregularity.
Hirsutism is a common disorder that usually can be treated successfully with medication. Following medical treatment, electrolysis or laser treatment can be used to permanently reduce or remove any remaining unwanted hair.
Another study found that spearmint tea lowered androgen levels in women who had PCOS. Lavender and tea tree oils may reduce mild hirsuitism without a known cause. One preliminary study found that applying lavender and tea tree oils locally on the skin could improve the condition. These oils are for topical use only.
Weight loss is often the first step in treating hirsutism. Losing even 5% of your body weight can lower your androgen levels and stop excessive hair growth.
As women enter their 30s and 40s, the level of androgens in the body naturally dip, and hirsutism treatment may no longer be needed. Hair removal and birth control are considered the best treatment options for hirsutism in conventional medical management.
If you have hirsutism, your GP may suggest: losing weight if you're overweight – this can help control hormone levels. things you can do at home to remove or lighten the hair – such as shaving, waxing, plucking, hair removal creams or bleaching. a prescription cream to slow hair growth on your face (eflornithine cream)
Estrogen-progestin contraceptive pills, rings, and patches lower the levels of androgens produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. They are usually the first choice for the treatment of hirsutism, and between 60 and 100 percent of females with hirsutism will notice improvement when taking these medications.
While estrogen can help thin hair, it cannot completely reverse facial and body hair growth.
Hirsutism symptoms such as unwanted hair growth and balding worsen with age. The most important findings are that metabolic parameters worsen in overweight women with PCOS, increasing their risk for life-long health issues beyond menopause.
Hirsutism is the presence of excess male-pattern hair growth in women and is commonly caused by an imbalance of hormones.
But some women with hirsutism don't have PCOS or any other cause that can be found. Their hormone levels are normal, and so are their menstrual cycles. These women may have been born with hair follicles that are more sensitive to androgens. Hirsutism may also occur in some women who have diabetes or who are obese.
Obesity. Being obese causes increased androgen production, which can worsen hirsutism.
The direct effect of zinc on hirsutism was investigated in a randomized, double-blinded study, and it was shown that after taking 50 mg zinc supplement per day for 8 weeks, hirsutism scores of 48 patients with PCOS decreased significantly [8].
Anti-androgens.
The most commonly used anti-androgen for treating hirsutism is spironolactone (Aldactone, CaroSpir). The results are modest and take at least six months to be noticeable. Possible side effects include menstrual irregularity.
Androgen-suppressing medication. Such drugs, including finasteride (Proscar®) and flutamide (Eulexin®), and spironolactone (Aldactone®), can treat mild cases of PCOS facial hair effectively. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. They reduce androgen production in the ovaries.
Hirsutism results from excess production of androgens, often from ovarian or adrenal sources. It is typically associated with a metabolic syndrome like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), but can be idiopathic or medication-induced.
Additionally, low estrogen levels can cause it because estrogen helps the liver produce a protein that binds testosterone and prevents it from affecting the hair follicles. This is why women going through menopause often notice some increased facial hair.
If PCOS is the underlying cause of hirsutism, losing weight may help because weight loss can naturally reduce the amount of androgens your body produces. During treatment, patience is important. It may take up to a year for noticeable results and as long as four years to achieve maximum results.
Eflornithine is used to slow the growth of unwanted hair on the face in women, usually around the lips or under the chin. Eflornithine works by blocking a natural substance that is needed for hair to grow and is located in your hair follicle (the sac where each hair grows).
Anti-androgens help your body make and use fewer male hormones. Eflornithine (Vaniqa) is a face cream that slows hair growth where you apply it.
AAE , including acne and hirsutism , is very treatable with progesterone and a medicine called spironolactone that blocks androgen receptors on the hair follicle s.
Some examples include eating a healthful diet, stopping smoking, and getting regular exercise. Doctors can also prescribe treatments to reduce chin hair in females. For example, birth control pills can help balance hormone levels by reducing androgen production.
Natural antiandrogens are used mostly to either decrease testosterone synthesis (white peony, licorice, and spearmint) or reduce DHT level by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase (red reishi, saw palmetto, and Camellia sinensis).