Hair growth in areas considered to be male-pattern hair areas is a really annoying condition for women and requires treatment. These areas are above the lip, above the jawbone and cheeks, above the rib cage and around the belly.
The midline between the groin and the belly, the inner surfaces of the legs, the back, the hips and the groin. In fact, everyone has more or less hair in these areas. But the problem is that the hair in the "male pattern hair areas" has grown and darkened in a way that attracts attention and creates aesthetic problems. In such a situation, where symptoms suggestive of other hormonal imbalances are often observed, it is important to consult a doctor, especially for women of reproductive age.
General Information About Feathers
The hairs that cover our body consist of a structure called hair follicles. The distribution and density of hair on our body is actually genetically determined. There are hair follicles in all areas of our skin covering our body. While some of these hair follicles produce hair that is invisible to the naked eye, some of them produce visible hair and create a pattern of hair growth that is less or more visible on the body depending on factors such as gender, race, age, and hormonal status. Hair follicles constantly produce hair in line with the signals received by hormones, and this hair remains in that area until it falls out or is cut off on its own. The hormones that govern hair follicles are a group of hormones called androgens (better known as "male hormones"). In fact, these hormones are also produced at lower levels in women. Androgens are produced mainly in the ovaries and adrenal glands in women and are released into the blood from there.
What Causes Hair Growth?
When the secretion of "male hormones" increases for any reason, more hormones reach the hair follicles. This excess hormone causes increased hair production in women's male-type hair areas, which are normally at rest, and mild or severe hair growth symptoms occur depending on the degree of hormone production. When male hormones stimulate the resting hair follicles, the hairs formed are dark and hard, and once the hair follicle starts producing, it continues this production non-stop. The most common condition that increases male hormone production in women is polycystic ovary. In this condition, which develops on the basis of ovulation disorder, the ovaries secrete large amounts of male hormones, and in addition to menstrual irregularities, signs of hair growth often occur. For more detailed information about polycystic ovary, please Click here.
Relatively rare conditions that increase hormone production are disorders of the adrenal gland, which are usually inherited. Some thyroid gland diseases, pituitary gland diseases and cysts or masses that secrete hormones can also cause hair loss problems in women. Some medications used continuously are another factor that can cause hair growth problems in women. Excessive hair growth is sometimes caused by medications such as danazol, anabolic steroids, cortisone, progesterone, phenytoin, diazoxide, cyclosporine, streptomycin and minoxidil, which are recommended and used by physicians for various reasons. Some of these have androgen effects, and some are drugs that directly stimulate hair growth. Hair growth due to medications is usually not permanent and regresses within a few months after the medication is discontinued. Much more rarely, overactivity of a gland called the pituitary, which regulates the hormone secretion of the adrenal glands and ovaries, can also lead to hormonal diseases such as Cushing's and acromegaly, and excessive hair growth as a symptom of these diseases. Excessive secretion of a hormone called prolactin (milk hormone) by the pituitary gland, hypothyroidism and obesity are also among the causes of hair growth.
In some cases, hair growth may occur even though hormone levels are normal. This is a condition caused by hair follicles being sensitive to even low levels of hormones. In such cases, other than hair growth, no other signs of hormonal imbalance occur. In addition to increased hair production in women's skin areas that are sensitive to excess male hormones, another problem is acne, which occurs due to increased oil production.
Diagnosis and Treatment Procedures
Hair growth is a situation that should always be taken seriously. The first thing to do after the medical evaluation is to determine whether the hormone levels are high and, if the levels are high, where the high levels come from. If hormone levels are high, different hormonal treatment methods that suppress the source are applied. It is common for hormone levels to be normal, and in this case, various medications or hair removal methods are used to eliminate the symptom. It should not be forgotten that since it is difficult to ensure that the hair follicles that have started producing disappear, this treatment can only prevent the growth of new hairs.