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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffTreatment for hirsutism often involves a combination of self-care methods, hair-removal therapies and using medications.
Hair-removal therapies include:
- Electrolysis. This type of therapy involves inserting a tiny needle into each hair follicle and emitting a pulse of electric current to damage and eventually destroy the follicle. Electrolysis results in permanent hair removal, but the procedure can be painful. Some numbing creams may be spread on your skin to reduce this discomfort. Side effects include lightening or darkening of the treated skin and rarely, scarring.
- Laser therapy. Laser therapy is a procedure in which a beam of highly concentrated light (laser) is passed over your skin to disable the hair follicles and prevent hair from growing. Individual sessions can last from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the size of the area being treated. After treatment, some people experience long periods without hair regrowth, while others may need occasional touch ups to remain hair-free. The laser method for hair removal can be uncomfortable — you may feel a sensation like hot cooking grease spattering on your skin. Laser therapy may cause redness and swelling; it can also cause burns and color changes in your skin. Laser treatments are expensive.
Medical therapies to treat hirsutism include:
- Oral contraceptives. Birth control pills or other hormonal contraceptives, which contain the hormones estrogen and progestin, treat hirsutism by inhibiting androgen production by your ovaries. Oral contraceptives are a common treatment for hirsutism in women who don't want to become pregnant.
- Anti-androgens. These types of drugs block androgens from attaching to their receptors in your body. The most commonly used anti-androgen for treating hirsutism is spironolactone (Aldactone).
- Topical cream. Eflornithine (Vaniqa) is a prescription cream specifically for excessive facial hair in women. It's applied directly to the affected area of your face and helps slow new hair growth but doesn't get rid of existing hair. Eflornithine may take up to two months to work, and hair growth returns to pretreatment levels within eight weeks of discontinuing the medication. Side effects may include stinging, tingling or a skin rash.
After beginning a medication for hirsutism, it usually takes a month before you notice a significant difference in hair growth. If you and your doctor aren't able to find a medication that works well for you, he or she may recommend that you see a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist).
References
- Hirsutism (excess hair). American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/hormone/210.html. Accessed Nov. 14, 2008.
- Bulun, S, et al. Physiology and pathology of the female reproductive axis In: Kronenberg HM, et al., eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: W.B. Saunders; 2008.
- Evaluation and treatment of hirsutism in premenopausal women: An Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. Chevy Chase, Md.: The Endocrine Society. http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/93/4/1105. Accessed Nov. 14, 2008.
- Chang J, et al, eds. The Hormone Foundation's patient guide to the evaluation and treatment of hirsutism in premenopausal women. The Hormone Foundation. http://www.hormone.org/Resources/Patient_Guides/upload/Hirsutism_Patient_Guide.pdf. Accessed Nov. 14, 2008.
- Hirsutism. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch124/ch124c.html?qt=hirsutism&alt=sh#sec10-ch124-ch124c-989. Accessed Nov. 14, 2008.
- Hormones and the skin. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/media/background/factsheets/fact_hormones.html. Accessed Nov. 14, 2008.
- Azziz R. Hirsutism. In: Goldman L, et al., eds. Goldman: Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:1853.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.4woman.gov/faq/polycystic-ovary-syndrome.cfm. Accessed Nov. 14, 2008.
