Merck Manual

Please confirm that you are a health care professional

honeypot link

Hirsutism and Hypertrichosis

By

Wendy S. Levinbook

, MD, Hartford Dermatology Associates

Reviewed/Revised Jun 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
View PATIENT EDUCATION
Topic Resources

Hirsutism is the excessive growth of thick or dark hair in women in locations that are more typical of male hair growth patterns (eg, mustache, beard, central chest, shoulders, lower abdomen, back, inner thigh). The amount of hair growth that is considered excessive may differ depending on ethnic background and cultural interpretation.

Hypertrichosis is a separate condition. It is simply an increase in the amount of hair growth anywhere on the body. Hypertrichosis may be generalized or localized.

Men vary significantly in amount of body hair, some being quite hairy, but rarely present for medical evaluation.

Pathophysiology of Hirsutism and Hypertrichosis

Hair growth depends on the balance between androgens (eg, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEAS], dihydrotestosterone [DHT]) and estrogens. Androgens promote thick, dark hair growth. Testosterone stimulates hair growth in the pubic area and underarms. Dihydrotestosterone stimulates beard hair growth and scalp hair loss.

Hirsutism can be due to an

  • Increase in circulating androgen levels

  • Enhanced end organ response to androgens

Hirsutism typically results from abnormally high androgen levels as a result of increased production of androgens (eg, due to ovarian or adrenal disorders) or increased peripheral conversion of testosterone to DHT by 5-alpha-reductase. Free androgen levels also can increase as a result of decreased production of sex hormone–binding globulin, which can occur in a variety of conditions, including hyperinsulinemia, hyperprolactinemia, and in androgen excess itself. However, the severity of hirsutism does not correlate with the level of circulating androgens because of individual differences in androgen sensitivity of the hair follicle.

Hirsutism also may be the result of increased end organ response to normal plasma levels of androgens and manifest as a familial phenomenon in people of Mediterranean, South Asian, or Middle Eastern ancestry. Hirsutism in pregnancy and menopause is due to temporary, physiologic fluctuations in androgen levels.

When caused by increased androgen levels, hirsutism is often accompanied by virilization, which may manifest as loss of menses, increased muscle mass, voice deepening, acne, androgenetic alopecia Etiology Etiology , and clitoromegaly.

Hypertrichosis involves nonandrogenic hair growth.

Etiology of Hirsutism and Hypertrichosis

There are a number of causes of hirsutism (see table Some Causes of Hirsutism Some Causes of Hirsutism Some Causes of Hirsutism ).

Overall, the most common cause is

Table
Table

Evaluation of Hirsutism and Hypertrichosis

History

History of present illness should cover the extent, location, and acuity of hair growth as well as the age of onset.

Review of systems should seek symptoms of virilization and review menstrual and fertility history. Symptoms of causative disorders should be sought, including polyuria (diabetes), bingeing and purging (eating disorders), and weight loss and fevers (cancer).

Past medical history should specifically seek known causative disorders such as endocrine disorders, adrenal or ovarian pathology, and cancer.

Family history should inquire about excess hair growth in family members.

Physical examination

The presence of excess coarse and dark hair growth should be assessed at multiple sites, including the face, chest, lower abdomen, back, buttocks, and inner thigh. Signs of virilization should be sought, including

General physical examination should note signs of potentially causative disorders:

  • The general habitus should be examined for fat distribution (particularly a round face and accumulation of fat at the base of the neck posteriorly).

  • The skin should be examined for velvety, black pigmentation on the axillae and neck and under the breasts (acanthosis nigricans), and striae.

  • The eyes should be examined for extraocular movements and the visual fields should be assessed.

  • The breasts should be examined for galactorrhea.

  • The abdomen (including pelvic examination) should be examined for masses.

Red flags

The following findings are of particular concern:

  • Virilization

  • Abrupt appearance and rapid growth of excess hair

  • Pelvic or abdominal mass

Interpretation of findings

Excess hair growth beginning after use of an anabolic steroid or other causative drug (see table Causes of Hypertrichosis Causes of Hypertrichosis Causes of Hypertrichosis ) in an otherwise healthy female is likely due to that drug.

Symptoms and signs sometimes point to other underlying diagnoses (see table Interpreting Findings in Hirsutism Interpreting Findings in Hirsutism Interpreting Findings in Hirsutism ).

Table

Abrupt onset of hirsutism or hypertrichosis may portend cancer. The abrupt onset of hirsutism may be due to adrenal, ovarian, or pituitary tumors or from ectopic hormone production from other types of tumors. Hypertrichosis lanuginosa (malignant down) is fine hair growth that appears over the entire body over a short period of time, although it can be localized to the face. It can be present in patients with several types of cancers including lymphoma and lung, breast, uterine, colorectal, and bladder cancer. Less commonly, it can be present in those with systemic diseases such as hyperthyroidism, AIDS, or undernutrition or with certain drugs.

Testing

Diagnostic testing in men with no other signs of illness is unnecessary.

Women should have laboratory measurement of serum hormone levels, including the following:

  • Free and total testosterone

  • DHEAS

  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH)

Depending on clinical findings, androstenedione and/or prolactin levels may also be measured.

High levels of testosterone accompanied by a normal level of DHEAS indicate that the ovaries, and not the adrenal glands, are producing the excess androgen. High levels of testosterone accompanied by moderate elevations in DHEAS suggest an adrenal origin for the hirsutism.

Imaging

Pelvic and abdominal ultrasonography and/or CT or MRI should be done to rule out pelvic or adrenal cancer, particularly when a pelvic mass is suspected, when the total testosterone level is > 150 ng/dL (5.2 nmol/L) or > 100 ng/dL (3.5 nmol/L) in postmenopausal women, or when the DHEAS level is > 700 mcg/dL (19 micromol/L) or > 400 mcg/dL (10.8 micromol/L) in postmenopausal women. However, the majority of patients with elevated DHEAS have adrenal hyperplasia rather than adrenal carcinoma.

Patients with signs of Cushing syndrome or an adrenal mass on imaging studies should have 24-hour measurement of urine cortisol levels.

Treatment of Hirsutism and Hypertrichosis

  • Treatment of underlying disorder

  • Topical treatments

  • Hormonal treatment

The underlying disorder should be treated, including stopping or changing causative drugs.

Treatment for hirsutism itself is necessary only if the patient finds the excess hair cosmetically objectionable. Patients with androgen-dependent hirsutism require a combination of hair removal and antiandrogen therapy.

Nonandrogen–dependent excess hair growth, such as hypertrichosis, is treated primarily with physical hair removal methods.

Topical treatments

There are several techniques.

Depilatory techniques remove hair from the surface of the skin and include shaving and over-the-counter depilatory creams, such as those containing barium sulfate and calcium thioglycolate.

Epilation involves removing intact hairs with their roots and can be achieved via mechanical means (eg, tweezing, plucking, waxing) or home epilating devices. Permanent epilation techniques, including electrolysis, thermolysis, and laser epilation, can result in more long-term hair removal but often require multiple treatments.

As an alternative to hair removal, hair bleaching is inexpensive and works well when hirsutism is not excessive. Bleaches lighten the color of the hair, rendering it less noticeable. There are several types of commercial hair-bleaching products, most of which use hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient.

Topical eflornithine, applied twice daily, slows the rate of hair growth and, with long-term use, may increase the amount of time between hair removal treatments.

Hormonal treatment

Hirsutism resulting from androgen excess usually requires long-term therapy because the source of excess androgen rarely can be eliminated permanently. Hormonal treatments include

  • Oral contraceptives

  • Antiandrogenic drugs

  • Sometimes other drugs

Oral contraceptives in standard doses often are the initial treatment for hirsutism caused by ovarian hyperandrogenism. Oral contraceptives reduce ovarian androgen secretion and increase sex hormone–binding globulin, thereby decreasing free testosterone levels.

Antiandrogenic therapy is also used and can include finasteride (1 to 5 mg orally once/day) or spironolactone (25 to 100 mg orally 2 times a day). These drugs are contraindicated in women of childbearing age unless contraception is used because they may feminize a male fetus.

Corticosteroids are used when necessary to suppress adrenal androgen production. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (eg, leuprolide acetate, nafarelin, triptorelin) can be used for severe forms of ovarian hyperandrogenism under the direction of a gynecologist or endocrinologist.

Key Points

  • Hirsutism may be familial, and the degree of hair growth may vary with ethnicity.

  • Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most frequent cause of hirsutism.

  • Virilization suggests an androgenic disorder that requires further evaluation.

  • Abrupt onset of hirsutism or hypertrichosis may indicate cancer.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Drug Name Select Trade
Anatrast, Bar Test , Baricon, Baro Cat, Barobag, Baropaque, Baropaque AC , Barosperse, Barotrast, CAT Pak , CheeTah, Digibar 90, Digital HD, E Z Cat , E Z Disk, E Z HD, E Z Paque, Enhancer, Entero H , Entrobar, Entroease, Epi-C , Esophotrast, Exacta II , E-Z-AC, E-Z-Paste, Flo-Coat , HD-200, HD-85 , Intropaste, Liqui-Coat HD, Liquid E Z Paque , Liquid Polibar , Liquid Polibar Plus, Liquid Sol-O-Pake , Medescan, Opti Up, Polibar, Prepcat, Readi Cat, Readi Cat 2, Scan-C, Sol-O-Pake, Stomach Barium Air Contrast , Stomach Barium Single Contrast, Tomocat , Tonojug Tonopaque, Tonopaque , Top Cat, Ultra R, VoLumen
ESKATA, HYLAMEND
Vaniqa
Propecia, Proscar
Aldactone, CAROSPIR
CAMCEVI, Eligard, Fensolvi, Lupron, Lupron Depot, Lupron Depot-Ped, Viadur
Synarel
Trelstar, Trelstar Depot, Trelstar Depot Plus Debioclip, Trelstar LA, Trelstar LA Plus Debioclip, Triptodur
View PATIENT EDUCATION
NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
quiz link

Test your knowledge

Take a Quiz! 
iOS ANDROID
iOS ANDROID
iOS ANDROID
TOP