Can an ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor help reduce the rate of hair growth?

Question

Hello doctor,

My face is getting hairy on my upper lip, the side of my face, and my cheeks. At first, I thought they were blackheads, but then when I looked closer, I noticed that they were hair. As time passed, they became more noticeable. My pores are also large, and I always get acne. I am taking a birth control pill due to my hormonal imbalance. What can I do to get rid of these problems?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have seen your query and understand your concern.

Based on your description, it seems you may have hirsutism, which is the development of unwanted hair in a male pattern on the body. In females, this can manifest as hair growth on the chest, face, and limbs, often accompanied by hair loss from the scalp. Hirsutism can sometimes be associated with menstrual irregularities, such as polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), which should be ruled out through ultrasonography and hormone profiling.

If abnormalities in hormones or PCOD are detected, they should be treated to achieve a permanent cure for hirsutism. You can also consider using Eflornithine hydrochloride cream twice daily on the affected areas after hair removal, as this can reduce the rate of hair growth. This contains 13.9 % Eflornithine hydrochloride, which blocks the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase needed for hair growth. To use this cream, apply it to the affected areas of the face and under the chin twice a day, with at least eight hours between applications, a few hours after trimming. This will help reduce the rate of hair growth. Alternatively, you may explore permanent hair reduction methods like diode or IPL (intense pulsed light) laser treatments.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.