Overview
The amount of hair a woman or children–especially girls entering into puberty–has varies greatly from one person to the next. Usually women and children have fine hair that grows on the upper lip, chin, abdomen, back and chest. When the hair in these areas becomes courser and darker, she has a condition referred to as hirsutism, according to Medline Plus. Another form of excessive hair growth that can occur anywhere on the body of women and children is hypertrichosis, according to the Merck Manual.
Causes
Causes of hirsutism vary, but the most common causes include polycystic ovary syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome, oversensitivity to androgens (male hormones), tumors of the ovaries or adrenal gland, heredity and medications like hormones, anabolic steroids and danazol, according to Familydoctor.org.
Hypertrichosis typically results from a systemic illness or certain drugs, advises the Merck Manual. Diseases that might lead to hypertrichosis include advanced HIV infections, hypothyroidism, malnutrition, porphyria cutanea tarda (a metabolic disorder) and dermatomysositis. Drugs like minoxidil (Rogaine), phenytoin (Dilantin), and cyclosporine (Neoralsandimmune) might also cause hypertrichosis.
Symptoms
In addition to excess hair growth, many women and girls approaching puberty who suffer from hirsutism also might acne, deepening of the voice, increased muscle mass and smaller breast size, advises Familydoctor.org.
Diagnosis
Most forms of excessive hair growth result from medical conditions, but some have no identifiable cause. Doctors must determine if a medical condition might be causing hirsutism or hypertrichosis, or if the excessive hair growth poses only cosmetic concerns. They look at a person’s medical history, including menstrual cycle patterns, family history of certain diseases, onset of symptoms and medication use, according to the Mayo Clinic. The doctor also might complete a physical examination to determine the extent of excess hair growth and to evaluate other signs of excess androgen production. Blood tests can help determine the level of certain hormones, like testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), says Medline Plus. Doctors might even perform ultrasounds and CT (computerized tomography) scans to determine if you have any tumors.
Medical Treatment
The treatment of excessive hair growth in women and children depends on patient preferences and root causes. Some patients look to have hair removed as part of their treatment, and electrolysis and laser therapy are effective treatments for removing excess hair, according to the Mayo Clinic. Oral medications associated with hirsutism and hypertrichosis include oral contraceptives (like birth control pills) or anti-androgens like Aldactone (spironolactone). Some doctors also prescribe topical creams like eflornithine (Vaniqa). Noticeable results can take a month or more to appear.
Home Treatments
Various home treatments might help reduce, temporarily eliminate or lighten excessive hair growth. Shaving, plucking, waxing, or using hair removal creams can be done, and overweight women and children might reduce their hair growth by reducing their weight, advises Medline Plus. Bleaching or dying the hair can make it less noticeable.
