Are you noticing excessive hair growth over your body? We call it Hirsutism. Hirsutism is more than just an aesthetic issue. It could be an indicator of a much bigger health problem.
5 Causes of Hirsutism
- Hormonal Imbalance: Hormonal imbalances, particularly elevated levels of male hormones such as testosterone, can cause hirsutism. There are other conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome and congenital adrenal hyperplasia, that can cause increased amounts of male hormones leading to hirsutism.
- Medications: Certain medications like anabolic steroids, corticosteroids, and danazol can cause or exacerbate hirsutism by directly affecting hormone levels.
- Insulin Resistance: Insulin resistance is often associated with conditions like PCOS and obesity, which can lead to elevated insulin levels in the blood. This can stimulate androgen production in the ovaries and adrenal glands, contributing to hirsutism.
- Idiopathic Hirsutism: In some cases, the exact cause of hirsutism cannot be identified, leading to a diagnosis of idiopathic hirsutism. It is believed that subtle hormonal imbalances or increased sensitivity of hair follicles to androgens may play a role in these cases.
- Cushing’s Syndrome: Cushing’s syndrome is a condition in which the body produces excessive cortisol, leading to excess hair growth.
