Hair growth disorders are common, and are often a source of anxiety. Whether an individual suffers from a hair loss disorder or problems associated with excessive hair growth, most physicians are aware that a hair growth disorder may be a sign of an internal disorder.
Androgen excess can produce both hair loss and hirutism.
Androgens originate in females in the ovaries or adrenal glands or by the peripheral conversion of androgen steroids. The onset of androgen excess is at puberty, 9-16 years old. Laboratory testing for androgen excess includes testing for both ovarian, adrenal and pituitary hormones. Androgen drugs given for other medical disorders can induce androgen excess and should be stopped. The endocrine factors contributing to hirsutism and androgenetic alopecia are controllable, but not usually curable.