Hair growth, excessive

Excessive hair growth (hirsutism) and acne also may be present owing to relative androgen excess compared with low estrogen levels. 

In women who take AASs, the surge in male hormones exerts a profound effect on a delicate hormonal balance. Due to the higher testosterone levels from AAS use, breast size and body fat decrease, skin becomes coarse, voice deepens, and the clitoris enlarges. Menstrual periods become irregular and sterility may result. Also, women may develop excessive hair growth on the chest and face but lose scalp hair. As steroid use continues, some of these effects may be permanent. For both sexes, increases and decreases in sex drive have both been reported. 

Hirsutism in women is characterized by an excess androgen-depen-dent hair growth distribution pattern, which is normally associated with men. Dihydrotestosterone has also been implicated in hirsutism in women. The activity of 5oc-reductase in genital skin of hirsute women has been demonstrated to be higher than that of normal women (Ser-rafini et al., 1985 Miles et al., 1992). Moreover, a recent study in hirsute women demonstrated a significant correlation between 5a-reductase activity in the skin and hirsutism score (Miles et al., 1992). 

Idiopathic hirsutism is the occurrence of excessive male-pattern hair growth in women... 

The common side effects of long-term corticosteroid therapy are summarized in Figure 27.13. [Note Increased appetite is not necessarily an adverse effect, since it is one of the reasons for the use of prednisone in cancer chemotherapy.] The classic Cushing-like syndrome—redistribution of body fat, puffy face, increased body hair growth, acne, insomnia and increased appetite—are observed when excess corticosteroids are present. Increased frequency of... 

A particular feature of minoxidil is excessive hair growth (7), which occurs in about 70% of patients who take oral minoxidil, usually within 2 months of the start of therapy. Severe hypertrichosis, unacceptable even to men, has comphcated the otherwise successful antihypertensive treatment of six patients after renal transplantation, for which ciclosporin was also used. Since hypertrichosis has also been described with ciclosporin, there may be an additive pharmacodynamic interaction (8). 

Vitamin A is used for treatment of acne and other skin disorders. It helps to maintain epithelial tissue, eyes, hair, and bone growth. Excess vitamin A causes a toxic effect. Vitamin A is stored in the liver for up to 2 years and can result in inadvertent toxicity. Vitamin A-caused birth defects can occur if greater than 6000 international units (IU) are taken during the pregnancy. 

He also had excessive hair growth (hirsutism). About 1 year later, serum cholesterol levels for all three were raised, but clinical laboratory tests showed no other abnormalities. These chemists had been synthesizing 2,3,7,8-TCDD, an activity that poses the greatest hazard of exposure for chemists. 

In a study of women with idiopathic hirsutism (excessive male pattern hair growth in women with normal levels of serum androgens), involving topical application of a cream containing 1 or 2% fennel ethanol extract daily for 8 or 12 weeks, a dose-dependent reduction in hair diameter was observed. The authors of the article indicated that estrogenic activity of fennel was responsible for this reduction (Javidnia et al. 2003). 

A cream containing 2% of the ethanolic extract of fennel was effective in reducing excessive hair growth in women diagnosed with idiopathic hirsutism. ... 

Integumentary system—petechiae, ecchymosis, decreased wound healing, hirsutism (excessive growth of body hair), and acne ... 

This drug reduces the growth of facial hair in idiopathic hirsutism or hirsutism that is secondary to androgen excess... 

The balance between excess and insufficient zinc is important. Zinc deficiency occurs in many species of plants and animals, with severe adverse effects on all stages of growth, development, reproduction, and survival. In humans, zinc deficiency is associated with delayed sexual maturation in adolescent males poor growth in children impaired growth of hair, skin, and bones disrupted Vitamin A metabolism and abnormal taste acuity, hormone metabolism, and immune function. Severe zinc deficiency effects in mammals are usually prevented by diets containing >30 mg Zn/kg DW ration. Zinc deficiency effects are reported in aquatic organisms at nominal concentrations between 0.65 and 6.5 pg Zn/L of medium, and in piscine diets at <15 mg Zn/kg FW ration. Avian diets should contain >25 mg Zn/kg DW ration for prevention of zinc deficiency effects, and <178 mg Zn/kg DW for prevention of marginal sublethal effects. 

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