Dr.Neethu-Your Skin Doctor

 HIRSUTISM 📌Definition - Excess terminal hair in a woman that occurs in a male pattern 📌 Sites - beard, moustache, chest 📌 May occur with or without a detectable increase in androgens EPIDEMIOLOGY 📌 Incidence-5–10% women 📌 Age-Usually after the onset of puberty 📌 If ectopic androgens - can occur at any age 📌 Ethnicity-More common in whites Pathogenesis 📌 The major androgens in females:- *Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) *Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) *Androstenedione *Testosterone *DHT DHEA-S, DHEA, and androstenedione - proandrogens 📌 These hormones exert their androgenic effects only after conversion to testosterone 📌 Sebaceous glands contain enzymes that help in testosterone synthesis: 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 📌 Testosterone is converted in the hair follicle to 5-dihydrotestosterone by the enzyme 5-α reductase CAUSES OF HIRSUTISM 1) Hyperandrogenic hirsutism *Polycystic ovarian syndrome (72–82%) *Androgen secreting tumours (