Hirsutism

1. Hirsutism • Hirsutism is a common disorder, which affects up to 10% of women between the age of 18 and 45 years. • defined as the presence of excessive terminal hair in androgen-dependent areas of a woman´s body • differentiated from hypertrichosis, which is usually familial in nature and associated with an endocrine dysfunction  - such as thyroid dysfunction - or with medications such as phenytoin or minoxidil. • Hypertrichosis is excessive growth of thin vellus (nonpigmented) hair at any body site, and is not androgen dependent.

2. Hirsutism • Caused by increased androgen action on hair follicles, excessive production of androgen. • May be a result of increased levels of circulating androgens or increased sensitivity of hair follicles to normal serum levels of androgens. • develop thick, pigmented hair (terminal hair) as opposed to nonpigmented and thin hair (vellus hair) which is normally seen in these areas. • often a source of psychological discomfort

3. Skin Tags • A skin tag is a common, acquired benign skin growth that looks like a small piece of hanging skin. Skin tags are often described as bits of skin- or flesh-colored tissue that projects from the surrounding skin from a small, narrow stalk. (may vary in appearance) • Common areas; neck, underarms, eyelids, and under the breasts (especially where underwire bras rub directly beneath the breasts) and groin folds. • Although tags are generally acquired (not present at birth) and may occur in anyone, more often they arise in adulthood. • Much more common in middle age and they tend to increase in prevalence up to age 60, but they can occur in children around the neck and underarms. • Since they are thought to arise more readily in areas of skin friction or rubbing, tags are also more common in overweight people.

4. Skin Tags • Hormone elevations, like those seen during pregnancy, may increase the formation of skin tags, skin tags are more frequent in pregnant women. • benign condition not directly associated w/ any major medical conditions • Removal; scissors, freezing (liquid nitrogen), and burning (medical electric cautery at physician's office). • small tags may be removed easily w/out anesthesia, larger growths may require local anesthesia (injected lidocaine) • topical anesthesia cream prior to the procedure may be desirable in areas with a large number of tags. • Dermatologists, family physicians, and internal medicine physicians can treat, occasionally an ophthalmologist is needed to remove tags very close to the eyelid margin.