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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 1996 | Volume
: 62
| Issue : 4 | Page : 268 |
Body hair distribution of women attending endocrine OPD
AC Ammini
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Correspondence Address:
A C Ammini
PMID: 20948081
How to cite this article:
Ammini A C. Body hair distribution of women attending endocrine OPD. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 1996;62:268 |
| To the Editor, | |  |
There is no difference in the number of hair follicles per unit area of face in individuals of different races, yet there is difference in extent and degree of growth of hairs in androgen sensitive areas.[1] Apart from racial factor, hormonal status also alters the body hair distribution. There is scarcity of data on body hair distribution among Indian women.[2]
We assessed body hair distribution in 611 randomly selected female patients attending Endocrine OPD. Among women not complaining hirsutism significant hair growth was present in 17.16% on upper lip, 7.87% on chin, 1.22% on chest, 2.8% on lower back, 2.10% on upper abdomen, 4.2% on lower abdomen, 3.32% on arms, 6.82% on thighs, 30.92% on forearms and 40.92% on legs. Significant hirsutism (Ferriman Gallwey score more than 9) was present in 84 (13.73%) cases, of them only 40 (7.55%) sought medical help for this. They had moderate to severe hirsutism (score 19.17+52). Complete diagnostic evaluation was possible in 63 of the 84 cases. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) (including classical, late onset and heterozygous state) was the commonset cause (26.94%), followed by polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) and hypothyroidism (17.64% respectively). Idiopathic hirsutism was present in 11.11% cases. 12.70% had drug-induced hirsutism (glucocorticoids, anti-epileptics, anti-psychotic and progestinal preparations). Acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome, ovarian tumour and prolactinoma were present in 6.35%, 4.76%, 1.59% and 1.59% patients respectively.
We concluded from this study that women from Delhi seek medical help for hirsutism only when it is of considerable severity. Among women with moderate to severe hirsutism contrary to previous Indian reports [3,4] prevalence of CAH is quite high.
| References | | |
| 1. | Jakubovie HR, Ackerman BA. Structure and function of skin. In: Moschella SL, Hurley HJ, eds. Dermatology. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Company, 1985:46-55.  |
| 2. | Shan PN. Human body hair- a quantitative study. Am J Obst Gynae 1957;73:1255. |
| 3. | Mittal A, Ammini AC, Godbole MM, Khurana ML, Desh Raj, Karmarker MG, Ahuja MMS. Late onest adrenal hyperplasia in North Indian hirsute women. Horm Res 1988; 30:1-4. |
| 4. | Khandekar S, Lata V, Dash RJ. Circulating androgens in hirsutism. J Asso Phys India 1989; 37:632-5. [PUBMED] |
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