Are too many hairs, a disease?

Are too many hairs, a disease?
Our company does not leave us much choice: as women, we can have hairs or be presentable, not both. In this context, one understands that the hairs in excess can be a true handicap. With what are they due? How to get rid some?

There exist two types of hairs

Certain hairs are not under hormonal dependence and appear on the arms and the legs (in the two sexes). The others push under the effect of the secretion of the hormones androgens (male hormones of which testosterone, which is also normally produced at the woman but in small quantity). They push at the time of puberty, under the armpits and on the level of the pubis. At the man, they also appear on the level of the beard and the moustache, on the chest and the shoulders, in the bottom of the back (furrow interfessier), on the inner face of the thighs, the back of the hands and the feet. In the young girls, a certain pilosity can settle under the navel, around the nipples, towards the interior of the thighs, with sometimes also a sleeping bag above the lip or between the centres.
It should be noted that to the menopause, the hormonal modifications can give place to an increased production of androgen involving the appearance of hairs in zones typically male (bores and moustache in particular). The insulin excess can be also accompanied by an excess of pilosity (insulin would stimulate the production of androgen by the ovaries).

Which are the limits of the normal?

But attention, which has occurred of the hairs is variable and depends in particular on genetic factors and the ethnic origin (Mediterranean region). The concept of excess of hair or hyperpilosity can also sometimes be subjective: it strongly depends on our esthetic values which, currently, preach the glabrous bodies clearly.

The hirsutism is easier to define. It is started when the pilous follicules (cells from which the hairs push) are subjected to an excess of hormones androgens or are hypersensitive with the androgens. However, the limit between a severe hyperpilosity and a hirsutism is not easy to trace, except if the hirsutism is accompanied by other demonstrations like acne, a alopécie, rules irregular or signs of masculinisation (change of voice, development of the muscular mass…).

Which are the solutions?

A hormonal proportioning is generally practiced, as well as an echography of the ovaries and glands surrenaliennes (bodies which secrete the androgens).
Side treatment, if the person is under oral contraception, one proposes to him another pill (Diane 35® or credits) which slows down the androgenic production of the ovaries. Attention however, by slowing down the production of the androgens (testosterone), Diane35® decreases also the desire, which is particularly awkward in the young girls of 15-20 years at the beginning of the love life…
The effects of these hormonal treatments are not immediate (it is necessary more than 6 months to observe them) and are translated into term of limitation of the growth of the hairs, from where interest of the other types of treatments which consist in destroying the hairs.
Beside the provisional techniques (discoloration with hydrogen peroxide, depilation with wax, depilatory cream, razor), laser depilation makes it possible to obtain durable results. It is advisable to be addressed to a dermatologist. One hopes approximately 3 to 6 meetings according to surface to be treated and the importance of pilosity.