Excessive hair growth (hirsutism)

Hirsutism is where women have thick, dark hair on their face, neck, chest, tummy, lower back, buttocks or thighs. See a GP if it's a problem for you. It might be caused by a medical condition that can be treated.

Causes of hirsutism

Hirsutism is linked to hormones called androgens. It can happen if the level of these hormones increases or if your body becomes more sensitive to them.

The most common cause is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is a condition affecting the ovaries that can also cause symptoms such as acne and irregular periods.

Sometimes there's no obvious cause.

Rarely, hirsutism can be caused by:

• certain medicines
• using anabolic steroids
• other hormonal conditions like Cushing's syndrome and acromegaly
• a tumour affecting your hormone levels

Treatments for hirsutism

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)
• taking a contraceptive pill if you've not been through the menopause yet – this can help control hormone levels

If these have not helped after 6 months, your GP may refer you to a specialist. They may recommend other medicines to control your hormone levels.

Longer-lasting hair removal

There are treatments that can get rid of unwanted hair for longer than the things you can do at home. But they're not usually permanent.

They're also not usually available on the NHS and can be expensive.

The 2 main treatments are:

• electrolysis – where an electric current is used to stop your hair growing
• laser hair removal

Make sure you research these treatments before trying them. They both have risks and the results are not the same for everyone.