What is hirsutism?

• A. Terminal hair growth in women caused by excessive male androgens
• B. Excessive hair growth in women due to stress
• C. Hair color change due to sun
• D. Growth of hair on the scalp

Answer: (A)

Hirsutism is excessive terminal hair growth in women in places where men typically have more hair, driven by high levels of male hormones (androgens). Terminal hair is the thicker, darker hair you’d see on the face, chest, back, abdomen, or thighs, not the fine baby-fine hair called vellus. This pattern signals hyperandrogenism and can be linked to conditions like PCOS, certain adrenal disorders, or medication effects. In laser hair removal practice, recognizing hirsutism helps set expectations about potential regrowth if androgen levels aren’t addressed, so treatment may need to be longer or part of a broader medical plan. The other options don’t describe this specific pattern or cause: stress-related hair changes aren’t defined as hirsutism, sun exposure changes hair color rather than growth pattern, and scalp hair growth is a normal pattern rather than excessive hair in male-like areas.