Hirsutography: Photographic Measurement of Linear Hair Growth in Hirsute Women During Comparison of Anti-Androgen Treatments

In 1991, a study demonstrated that a photographic method for measuring linear hair growth was reliable and reproducible for use in a clinical setting. The study involved 41 hirsute women who were treated with anti-androgens. Group A, consisting of 21 women, received spironolactone and Ovysmen for 6 months, while Group B, with 20 women, was treated with cyproterone acetate and ethinyloestradiol for the same duration. Results showed a significant reduction in hair growth, with Group A experiencing a 29% decrease and Group B a 37% decrease. Additionally, the Ferriman Gallwey score, which assesses hair growth severity, dropped by 39% in Group A and 43% in Group B. No significant difference in treatment response was found between the two groups. This photographic method was deemed useful for managing hirsutism in women.