Are You Bothered By Excess Hair?

By Shivani Narasimhan, MD

Are you bothered by excess hair in places where it shouldnt be and not enough in places where is should? If so, read on
Many women suffer from hirsutism (excess hair on the face, chin, around nipples, mid-abdomen and upper or lower back.) and alopecia (too little hair on the scalp). Acne can often accompany these problems as well. Some women are too shy or embarrassed to discuss the problem with their physicians or are simply unaware that it might be a medical issue. If you have discussed these issues, you might have been told that its “normal”, “ethnically appropriate” or “simply part of aging”. It is possible that there may be a hormonal imbalance which often can be easily treated. The hormone in question is an excess of testosterone.
Women make low levels of testosterone as part of their normal hormonal milieu. This testosterone is produced from ovaries and the adrenal glands. When there is an excess, one might notice coarse, thick, stubborn hair on the face, chin, upper chest, around the nipples, mid to lower abdomen, upper and lower back. Excess testosterone can also cause facial acne and hair loss at the scalp. Furthermore, the excess in testosterone is often part of a bigger problem PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). PCOS has been associated with any or all of the following irregular, painful menses, skipping menstrual cycles, excess sweating, infertility, difficulty carrying a pregnancy past the first trimester, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevated blood glucose, diabetes and increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
The good news is that effective treatments are readily available once the diagnosis is made. Making the diagnosis is often the challenging part of this picture. Talk to your health care provider or seek the consult of an Endocrinologist. An Endocrinologist is a medical doctor who specializes in hormonal imbalances, diabetes and thyroid abnormality. Endocrinologists use cutting edge technology and treatments to address a variety of endocrine issues.
Beautiful skin and hair are important, but that beauty and health have to start from the inside.