Doctor provides hirsute women tips on how to keep hairy issues in check

Obesity and being overweight are factors contributing to excessive hairiness in women — a condition known as hirsutism, which is very common among women of Middle Eastern, European and South Asian stock. For this, Canadian Specialist Hospital obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Rehana Moin suggested nine ways for women to maintain proper weight according to their height and weight. These ways, “which may help lower levels of androgens,” are: — Eat foods rich in antioxidants, like fruits such as blueberries, cherries and tomatoes, as well as vegetables like squash and bell peppers. — Avoid refined foods such as white breads, pastas and, especially, sugar. — For protein, eat more of lean meats, cold-water fish, beans and soy or tofu (if not allergic to it), than red meats. — Use olive or vegetable oils. — Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids found in processed foods, some margarines and commercially-baked products such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, doughnuts. — Avoid alcohol and tobacco. — Drink between six and eight glasses of filtered water daily. — Eat herbs to streng-then and tone the body systems. — Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. Androgens are male hormones, whose high levels in women are said to cause hirsutism, found to affect eight per cent of women all over the world, mainly from the Middle East, Europe and South Asia, Moin told The Gulf Today in a recent interview. She said the main symptom of hirsutism is excessive growth of coarse and dark hair patterns around the stomach, breasts and upper lips of women. Half of the hirsute women have been discovered to have high amounts of androgen due to Cushing Syndrome, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, tumours on the adrenal glands or ovaries and medicines that activate hair growth, she added. Cushing Syndrome is the hormonal disorder due to the high levels of cortisol, the high steroid hormone, whose release is triggered by stress. Moin pointed out that the signs and symptoms of Cushing are obesity, hypertension, diabetes and thinning skin. The specialist with over 25 years of experience, explained that while treatments are available through oral medications, surgery and cosmetic hair removal techniques, the condition, may be resolved through diet and nutrition as two of the factors that trigger it are “lifestyle and eating habits.” “A very positive step is to eat a balanced diet and to indulge in enough exercise that can help control weight,” Moin said. Meanwhile, in a 2010 interview, dermatologist-laser specialist Dr Radha Lachhiramani, noted that since 2007, and based on her patient profile, hirsutism in the UAE in general, and particularly in Dubai, is equally prevalent among adolescents and adults. She explained that hirsutism may start at the age of puberty due to genetics. Like Moin, Lachhiramani then stressed the importance of lifestyle and dietary changes. She was optimistic that the number of hirsute women may decrease if the problem on obesity is addressed. Her nutrition and dietary recommendations include wholegrain breads, brown rice, oats, beans and lentils, hummus, sweet corn, fruits, berries, low fat milk and yoghurt. Lachhiramani included tofu and other soy products as well as lentils and flax seeds that contain phytoestrogens to keep the androgen levels low, if the underlying cause of hirsutism is hormonal disorder.