We came across the word Hirsutism and had no clue what it means. So we did some research and digged a bit deeper into it . We found out what it means (excessive and increased hair growth on female humans) and that especially Asian woman are affected, so we thought we give some answers here in the health section. Some of the questions we asked:
1. What is hirsutism, how common is it and what causes it?
2. Which drugs can cause hirsutism?
3. What other things can lead to excessive hair?
4. What drug treatments are available for hirsutism?
5. And what about electrolysis and laser hair removal?
Answers
1. The presence of terminal hair (long, coarse, and pigmented) in women and girls, in a male androgen sensitive pattern. It affects 5 to 15 per cent of women of reproductive age. Androgens, principally testosterone (from the adrenal glands and ovaries), increase hair growth by converting fine, unpigmented vellus hair to terminal hair in androgen sensitive areas such as the face, chest and abdomen. (from Latin hirsutus = shaggy, hairy)
2. Some combined and progestogen-only oral contraceptives, anabolic steroids and sodium valproate.
3. Acne and/or a male balding pattern may indicate raised androgen levels, to which being overweight can contribute. Reduced or absent menstruation and hirsutism may indicate polycystic ovary syndrome (POS), which causes excessive androgen production.
4. Combined oral contraceptives containing the anti-androgen’s drospirenone (in Yasmin) or cyproterone (in Dianette); metformin for POS; eflornithine cream, a hair growth enzyme inhibitor.
5. Both processes remove hair for longer than cosmetic methods such as depilatory creams, but only small areas can be treated at a time (eg 25 to 100 hairs per 15 to 60 minute electrolysis session). Treatment is uncomfortable and even painful. Electrolysis should permanently eliminate hairs but there can be up to 25 per cent regrowth. Hair regrows, although less vigorously, after about six months following laser treatment. Both processes are expensive.
The laser hair removal sounded most interesting to us, and we found out that this even comes in “Do It Yourself” packs these days. But be warned. Specialists and dermatologists warn not to do laser hair removal the DIY way, since only professionals know how to do it right.
But what exactly is laser hair removal?
Epilation by laser was performed experimentally for about 20 years before it became commercially available in the mid 1990s. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) epilators, though technically not a laser, use xenon flash lamps that emit full spectrum light. Laser and light-based methods, sometimes called phototricholysis or photoepilation, are now most commonly referred to collectively as “laser hair removal”. One of the first published articles describing laser hair removal was authored by the group at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1998. The efficacy of laser hair removal is now generally accepted in the dermatology community, and laser hair removal is widely practiced. It takes multiple treatments to be successful, and each treatment should be followed by a break of at least 3 or more weeks.
Are there any risks with laser hair removal?
Of course there are, that’s why you should let a professional do it in case you decide to give it a try. Risks include the chance of burning the skin or discoloring dark skin with the laser, hypopigmentation (white spots), flare of acne, swelling around the follicle, scab forming, and purpura.
So hopefully this can give you a little insight and helps with making the right decision. Finding a good dermatologist to analyze your hair and skin might be a good first step before going to a good laser hair removal center 
