98 citations
,
July 2011 in “Fertility and Sterility” An mFG score of 5 or more indicates above-normal hair growth in Southern Chinese women.
67 citations
,
September 2008 in “Dermatologic therapy” Hirsutism is excessive hair growth in women often caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome, and identifying the cause is important for managing associated health risks.
47 citations
,
August 2000 in “Endocrine Reviews” The document concludes that more research is needed to understand excessive hair growth in women with normal hormone levels and regular ovulation.
40 citations
,
January 2003 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Finasteride effectively reduces hair growth in women with polycystic ovary syndrome or idiopathic hirsutism.
20 citations
,
January 2012 in “International Journal of Trichology” Most cases of excessive hair growth in women are caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome and are linked to higher free testosterone levels.
10 citations
,
December 1995 in “Journal of women's health” Finasteride reduces hair growth in women with hirsutism and works better with electrolysis.
10 citations
,
May 1995 in “Journal of General Internal Medicine” Most women with excessive hair growth have PCOS; treatment varies and focuses on preventing new hair, with electrolysis as the only permanent removal method.
6 citations
,
November 1993 in “Contact dermatitis” Spironolactone in anti-acne cream can cause allergic skin reactions in some people.
4 citations
,
January 2015 in “Journal of drug assessment” Finasteride gel effectively and safely reduces hair thickness in women with excessive hair growth.
39 citations
,
October 2018 in “Aesthetic surgery journal” Injectables can feminize or masculinize a transgender person's face, but more research is needed for best practices.
35 citations
,
July 2007 in “Dermatologic clinics” Facial dark spots can be caused by the sun, genetics, makeup, or medicine, and are diagnosed by patient history and skin tests.
18 citations
,
June 2010 in “Current medicinal chemistry” Treating hirsutism in women often requires a mix of medications and cosmetic methods for best results.
6 citations
,
July 2013 in “Acta Clinica Belgica” The document concludes that combination therapy is most effective for treating excessive hair growth in women with idiopathic hirsutism, and more research is needed to understand the condition.
4 citations
,
November 2011 in “Archives of Dermatology” The photographic method for measuring facial hair density is reliable and valid but needs further testing on different hair densities and skin colors.
3 citations
,
January 2010 in “Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy” No treatment fully stops excessive hair growth in women, but various methods can help manage it effectively.
1 citations
,
August 2013 in “Springer eBooks” Birth control pills and anti-androgen medications help manage hair growth, acne, and hair loss in women with PCOS.
7 citations
,
January 2014 in “Case reports in endocrinology” A woman's excessive hair growth was caused by a rare benign tumor in her adrenal gland, which was successfully removed.
288 citations
,
June 2009 in “Human reproduction update” The modified Ferriman-Gallwey method is a useful tool for diagnosing hirsutism.
169 citations
,
August 2004 in “Baillière's best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology/Baillière's best practice and research in clinical obstetrics and gynaecology” Lower doses of treatments for hirsutism and acne in PCOS are effective and cause fewer side effects.
75 citations
,
November 2007 in “Clinical endocrinology” Certain medications including flutamide, spironolactone, and others effectively reduce excessive hair growth in women, especially when combined with lifestyle changes.
64 citations
,
May 2003 in “Journal of health psychology” Women with excess body hair feel psychological distress influenced by societal beauty standards, but distress isn't directly linked to the amount of hair.
51 citations
,
November 2011 in “Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology” About 13% of women had idiopathic hirsutism and 8.5% had polycystic ovary syndrome in a group of Iranian women.
39 citations
,
May 2011 in “European Journal of Clinical Investigation” Hirsutism can be caused by various conditions besides PCOS, and it's important to treat the underlying issue and manage symptoms with medication and cosmetic approaches.
39 citations
,
August 2004 in “International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics” Finasteride and CPA-EE2 equally reduce hirsutism, but affect hormone levels differently.
37 citations
,
December 2007 in “International journal of clinical practice” Hirsutism is excessive male-pattern hair growth in women, often caused by hormonal imbalances, and requires ongoing treatment to manage.
32 citations
,
July 1999 in “Fertility and Sterility” Finasteride and flutamide both reduce hair growth, but finasteride has fewer side effects.
28 citations
,
May 1986 in “Clinics in endocrinology and metabolism” New compounds may soon be tested to treat excessive hair growth in women.
23 citations
,
February 2014 in “Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology” Low-dose finasteride reduces excessive hair growth in teenage girls safely and affordably.
19 citations
,
September 2004 in “Reviews in gynaecological practice” Effective hirsutism management requires identifying the cause, combining new and traditional treatments, and setting realistic expectations for patients.
15 citations
,
August 1998 in “Australasian journal of dermatology” The document concludes that various cosmetic and drug treatments are available for hirsutism, and some new drugs show promise.