Excess Body Hair

Alternate Names : Abnormal Hairiness, Excess Hair Growth

What are the treatments for the condition?

There are many ways to remove excess hair. These include shaving, waxing, and bleaching, which often need to be repeated. Electrolysis permanently destroys hair follicles with electricity. If inherited factors are the cause, no other treatment is needed, and most people choose no treatment at all.

Other causes of excess hair need to be treated. People with tumors or cancer may need surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. People with drug-induced hair growth may want to stop taking the drug. People with anorexia nervosa usually need psychotherapy. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are often given oral contraceptives for treatment.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Bleaching, waxing, and electrolysis may irritate the skin. All medications can have side effects. For example, oral contraceptives can cause nausea, bloating, and an increased risk of blood clots such as deep venous thrombosis. Other side effects depend on the drugs used. Surgery carries a risk of infection and bleeding.

What happens after treatment for the condition?

Individual outcomes depend on the cause of the excess body hair and the treatment given. If excess body hair is inherited, people who get electrolysis are "cured." People who choose to shave or wax the areas may need to repeat these treatments for life.

If there is another underlying cause, the treatment and its after-effects depend on the cause.

How is the condition monitored?

People can monitor their body hair and the response to treatment at home. More monitoring may be needed for an underlying cause.