Hirsutism - Excess Body Hair

Hirsutism - Excess Body Hair


Hirsutism: Anatomy of a hair

Please subscribe to receive our FREE women's health newsletter.
STAY UP TO DATE on the important issues affecting YOUR HEALTH.
First Name:
Family Name:
Email:
Profession:
Country:
Age:
Home
Women's Health Update Blog
Abortion
Amenorrhoea - Absent Periods
Birth Control
Bladder Symptoms
Cancer in Women
Diet / Weight Loss
Dysmenorrhoea
Ectopic Pregnancy
Female Sexual Problems
GUESTBOOK
HRT Risks & Benefits
Hysterectomy
Infections
Infertility
Medication - Drugs
Menopause
Menorrhagia Heavy Periods
Miscarriage
Painful Sex - Dyspareunia
Pap Smear Test
PCOS
Pelvic Pain
PMS- Premenstrual Syndrome
Pregnancy & Childbirth
Vaginal Discharge
Vaginal Prolapse
Viagra, Libido and Sex Drive.
The Author
Consultations
Contact Us

Each hair is formed from a hair follicle in the skin and each follicle lives for about three years. A hair consists of a column of dead cells derived from the living hair follicle. There is a central medulla, which contains the coloured melanin, and a hard external cuticle. Sebaceous glands are connected to the follicle. The sebaceous glands and the hair follicles are sensitive to the circulating androgens (masculinising sex hormonesQ 2. 9). Acne and excess body hair may be associated with increased levels of androgens.

Our skin is covered by hair follicles but those in the typical male distribution are sensitive to androgens which increase the hair production, and oestrogens (female sex hormones) which decrease it. These sex hormones are carried in the blood on a protein called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). Androgens decrease the amount of circulating SHBG and oestrogens increase the SHBG. If there is less SHBG, more of the androgen is free (unbound to protein) and available to act on the hair follicles. (SHBG).


Back Home Up Next

See Also:

Hirsutism

Alopecia

Do you have an unanswered women's health question?

Please let us have your general question on our NEW FORUM / MESSAGE BOARDS facility and we will try to answer it for you. I am sure that you will appreciate that we cannot offer advice on the management of an individual's specific problem.

 

 

Please subscribe to receive our FREE women's health newsletter.
STAY UP TO DATE on the important issues affecting YOUR HEALTH.
First Name:
Family Name:
Email:
Profession:
Country:
Age:
 

DISCLAIMER

The aim of this web site is to provide a general guide and it is not intended as a substitute for a consultation with an appropriate specialist in respect of individual care and treatment.

Thank you for your visiting us at 2womenshealth.com.

This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London.

I do hope that you find the answers to your questions in the patient information and medical advice provided. If you still have unanswered questions, please consider entering them into one of our forums and I will try to assist you.

Hirsutism - Excess Body Hair

?