[Hirsutism. Diagnosis and therapy]

Increased hair growth represents a severe problem for many women. In rare cases an adrenal or ovarian cause can be detected which can be treated specifically. Drug-induced hirsutism and other rare syndromes must be excluded. Idiopathic hirsutism is to be assumed if no clear-cut evidence for ovarian or adrenal disease can be found. Idiopathic hirsutism can be treated symptomatically with anti-androgens. However, after anti-androgen withdrawal hirsutism often recurs, necessitating additional cosmetic therapy.