57
Hypertrichosis and Hirsutism
Hypertrichosis
• Three mechanisms of hypertrichosis are generally recognized:
• Rx: treat underlying condition, if possible, otherwise see Table 57.2.
Table 57.2
Treatment options for hypertrichosis and unwanted hair.
Epilation technique results typically last longer than those of depilation. Chemical depilatories work by dissolving hair shafts, specifically by breaking disulfide bonds.
* More effective than calcium thioglycolate but more irritating and odiferous.
** These epilatory methods are operator-dependent and have the potential for permanent hair removal results.
IPL, intense pulsed light.
Generalized Hypertrichosis
• The presence of lanugo hair, excess vellus hair, or terminal hair on most of the body.
• An approach to a patient with generalized hypertrichosis is presented in Fig. 57.1.
Fig. 57.1 Approach to the patient with generalized hypertrichosis. Acquired hypertrichosis lanuginosa occasionally may involve only the face.
Localized Hypertrichosis
• Congenital localized hypertrichosis is usually related to an underlying hamartoma or occurs at a specific anatomic site (Table 57.1; Figs. 57.2–57.6).
