But with hirsutism, the hair can grow rapidly and often there are other symptoms present including acne or alopecia. While it is imperative to seek medical attention to rule out diseases such as polycystic ovarian disease, hirsutism can be treated for those bothered by excess hair. In addition to oral contraceptives, spironolactone is currently being used by doctors with much success in treating hirsutism. Spironolactone acts by decreasing production of and blocking the effects of androgens in areas of the body that men typically grow body or facial hair. Another temporary solution in treating unwanted hair that has gained popularity in recent years is the use of lasers.
Most lasers work by using light to generate heat, which then destroys the surrounding hair follicle.
Patients who undergo laser hair removal typically require several treatments to remove the unwanted hair. Some people simply make better candidates for laser hair removal than others. Another possible future treatment for hirsutism is finasteride, a drug currently approved by the FDA in treating hair loss in men. Although finasteride is not FDA approved for women yet, preliminary studies being conducted in Europe show promising results. Finasteride works by blocking the formation of male hormones responsible for body and facial hair while allowing scalp hair to grow normally.