How to Reduce Cortisol & Hirsutism

Hirsutism is ultimately the presence of "male-pattern hair growth" in that of a female. In women, this condition is often linked to excess androgens and cortisol produced from the adrenal cortex as well as the ovaries. It prompts hair growth on the face, chest and back, like that seen in men. While this is a fairly troubling condition, there is a course of treatment that can reduce the signs of hirsutism.

Things You'll Need

• Birth control pills Anti-androgens Eflornithine cream

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Consult with your physician. This would be the first step to setting in place the proper course of treatment for hirsutism.

• 2

  Get a prescription for birth control pills. Many times, the use of birth control can actually reduce the level of androgens produced within the body, thereby lessening the growth of hair on the face, chest and back.

• 3

  Begin taking something called an anti-androgen, such as aldactone. This would work similar to a birth control pill, except instead of reducing the level of androgens, it will change the way it is used in the body and stop the growth of "unwanted" hair. This course of treatment is ideal for women not wanting to use birth control pills.

• 4

  Use an eflornithine cream on the affected areas. This type of topical solution actually slows the growth of hair. However, any existing hair will still remain, so this is really more of an adjunct treatment than anything else.

• 5

  Consider starting a course of electrolysis to remove the unwanted hair. This is a permanent solution to hair removal caused by hirsutism, but you may still want to consider using another form of treatment.