Most men sport some kind of facial hair, whether it is a beard, moustache, goatee or sideburns.
Speaking today at Academy '99, the American Academy of Dermatology's summer scientific meeting in New York, dermatologist Amy McMichael, M.D., Wake Forest University, discussed the latest treatment options for hirsutism and the causes of this distressing disorder. Hirsutism is caused by the overproduction of androgens, which are the hormones responsible for masculine qualities in either sex. While all women normally have some facial hair, hirsutism is characterized by excessive or rapidly growing hair in traditionally male areas of the body. If hirsutism is accompanied by other symptoms such as acne, amenorrhea, deepening of the voice, increased muscle mass or loss of breast tissue, this may signal a hormonal abnormality. But women with unusual hair growth that is accompanied by other symptoms need to consult their dermatologist because it could be a sign of a more serious, underlying illness.