Hormones are the signalling molecules that regulate the physiology of the body. These are also known as chemical messengers. Hormones are secreted from the endocrine glands. The unwanted facial hair manifested if these endocrine glands secrets too much or too few hormones. Unwanted facial hair is a common problem experienced by women.
- SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- CAUSES OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- DIAGNOSIS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- TREATMENTS FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- PROGNOSIS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- COMPLICATIONS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR AND AYURVEDA
- NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- HOME REMEDIES FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- YOGA FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Hirsutism – excess hair growth in the face
- Male like hair distribution in the face
- Excess hair growth in other parts of the body
- Associated with acne, deepening voice etc.
CAUSES OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Hormonal imbalance
- Genetics
- Hormone therapy
- Certain medications
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Androgen secreting tumours
- Cushing’s syndrome
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
Due to the above-mentioned causes, the endocrine gland produces excess or fewer hormones leads to the symptoms of hormone imbalance. The symptoms may vary based on the type of hormone imbalance. Unwanted facial hair also occurs due to androgenic and non-androgenic factors. Hirsutism is attributed either to increased production or increased sensitivity of the hair follicles to circulating androgen. In the majority of patient’s hirsutism should be considered as a sign of conditions like endocrinopathies and neoplasms. The exception is idiopathic hirsutism, also called simple or peripheral hirsutism.
DIAGNOSIS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Diagnosis through clinical features
- Blood tests – to measure the level of hormones (testosterone, FSH)
- Pelvic ultrasonography (USG) can be done to detect an ovarian neoplasm or a polycystic ovary.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) of the adrenal region
TREATMENTS FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Non-pharmacological physical methods of temporarily removing hair by shaving, plucking, waxing, bleaching, or permanent hair reduction by electrolysis and photo epilation, etc
- Treatment for underlying pathology
- Androgen receptor blocking drugs
PROGNOSIS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Unwanted facial hair is manageable with medications. If the hormonal imbalance is untreated leads to complications.
COMPLICATIONS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Psychological distress
- Hormonal imbalance adversely affects the normal physiology of the body
UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR AND AYURVEDA
- In Ayurveda unwanted facial hair is managed based on the ‘Ati loma chikilsa’.
NIDANA- AYURVEDIC CAUSES OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Excess consumption of incompatible food
- Suppression of natural urges.
- Janma krita – congenital
- Hyper or hypo functioning of agni
PURVAROOPAM- AYURVEDIC PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Unwanted hair in the face and other parts of the body
SAMPRAPTI – AYURVEDIC PATHOGENESIS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
Hyper or hypo functioning of jataragni affects dhatu agni leads to symptoms of hormone imbalance like unwanted hair
LAKSHANA- AYURVEDIC SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
The associated symptoms include:
- Ati loma – excess hair growth
- Ksheena – weakness
- Karsya – weight loss
- Sthoulya – weight gain
- Atygni – excess hungry
- Agnimandyam – anorexia
- Mental irritations
- kesh patana -hair loss or balding
AYURVEDIC PROGNOSIS OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Yapya roga – symptoms are manageable with Ayurvedic medicines
CHIKITSA- AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
AYURVEDIC SAMANA TREATMENT FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Kanchanara guggulu – for glandular diseases (grandhi roga)
- Treatment for agnimandhya
- Treatment for ati loma – lomashatana chikilsa (bahirparimarjana)
- Paste prepared by pounding two parts of Sankha Bhasma (calcium carbonate) and one part Haritala (Yellow Orpiment) processed with Sukta (vinegar) acts as hair depilator
- Application of the paste of haridra (turmeric)
- 2 parts of Sankha (calcium carbonate), 1 part of Haritala (Yellow Orpiment), half part Manahshila (realgar) and 1 part Sarjika kshara (an alkali) made into a paste with water and applied externally
- Lomasathana Tailam for external application
AYURVEDIC SHODHANA TREATMENT FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- NASYA-Ksheerabala
COMMONLY USED AYURVEDIC MEDICINES FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
Internal administration for grandhi roga and symptoms of unwanted facial hair
- Kanchanara guggulu
- Swayamagni bhasma
- Drakshadi kashaya
- Sarivasava
- Vyoshadi guggulu
- Guduchyadi kashaya
HOME REMEDIES FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Exercise regularly – to control hormonal imbalance
- Take an appropriate quantity of fluids
DIET AND BEHAVIOUR FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Avoid food items that produce dosha imbalance like cold and dry food, hard to digest. Because dosha imbalance aggravates the symptoms.
- Avoid more oily foods, junk foods
- Consume a balanced diet
YOGA FOR UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Nadi Shuddi Pranayam – calms the mind and gets relief from mental irritations associated with hormone imbalance
The patient needs to be seated in a meditative posture with the head and spine erect, with the body relaxed. The patient has to close his one nostril (e.g. left nostril if using the right hand and vice versa) with the thumb and exhale completely through the other nostril. Again, he will have to breathe in deeply through the other nostril while the opposite nostril is still closed with the thumb.
- Savasana – relaxes the body and mind
RESEARCH PAPERS OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF UNWANTED FACIAL HAIR
- Ayurvedic Drugs in the Management of Hirsutism (Avanchita Roma) – A Review
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