Laser Hair Removal for Hirsutism

Usually, the prime reason for undergoing laser hair removal is for fashion reasons, however, for many women, excess body hair, or hirsutism, can be a debilitating condition which has a terrible affect on their mental well-being and even their ability to function normally in society.

Too much hair in the wrong places can be emotionally devastating for many women, especially in our present day society which prizes smooth, apparently hairless skin, so dealing with the unwanted body hair can become of major importance.

Hirsutism can occur in men or women, but normally it is only in women where it is considered a major problem. It is estimated that 5-10% of women have some form of hirsutism - women who have hirsutism can have thick, dark hair on their face, chest, abdomen or back. This thick hair is different from the fine "baby" hair which covers much of the body, or the hair that some women have on their upper lip, chin, breasts or stomach..

Hirsutism in women is commonly caused by excessive levels of androgenic (i.e. male) hormones, such as testosterone, androstenedione, and DHEA. It is normal for women to have some testosterone, but when they have too much, hirsutism can result. Male hormones such as testosterone stimulate hair growth, increase size and intensify the growth and pigmentation of hair.

The following are some of the conditions that may increase a woman's normally low level of male hormones:

  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Cushing's disease
  • Tumors in the ovaries or adrenal gland (cancer)
  • Certain medications
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
  • Insulin resistance

In the past, the only option was shaving, but this leads to stubble and a thicker looking regrowth, and inevitable cuts. Depiliatory creams can be used in some areas, but tend to irritate the skin and are not suitable for sensitive skin areas.

Plucking and waxing (which is basically plucking a large area in one go) aren't recommended for women who have hirsutism because they make the hair grow faster by increasing the blood supply to the follicle - the opposite result of what is wanted!

Electrolysis can get rid of hairs permanently, but each hair has to be treated one at a time, so it is not usually a good option in cases of hirsutism, where there is usually a large area to be treated.

Laser hair removal, on the other hand, can remove large areas of unwanted hair almost painlessly, so is ideal for treating hirsutism. The laser light damages the hair follicles so that unwanted hair falls out and is prevented from growing back. It is less effective on blonde, red or white hair, and on dark-skinned women - light skinned women with dark hair get the best results. You will need several treatments over a period of weeks. Laser hair removal is not 100% permanent - some regrowth will occur needing further treatments, but the hair that regrows is much weaker and finer than the original.

Although it is a relatively new treatment, the signs are that laser hair removal is the best option in tackling the terrible problems caused by hirsutism. Because the technology is still evolving, different clinics will be using different methods, each having advantages and disadvantages, so you should contact several different laser hair removal clinics to compare costs and find out which would be better for your particular circumstances.