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. The American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. American Academy of Dermatology, 1999.