New developments in the treatment of hypertrichosis

Facial hypertrichosis and hirsutism may cause severe cosmetic and psycholog ic problems. In the following, new developments in the treatment of hypertr ichosis will be presented. Permanent depilation by photothermolysis is curr ently the most promising treatment. A new topical treatment of hypertrichos is is eflornithine cream. It inhibits the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase wh ich is essential for the rapidly dividing cells of the hair follicle. Furth ermore, other methods of hair removal such as plucking, waxing, chemical de pilation by thioglycolates, electrolysis, thermolysis and systemic therapie s of hirsutism will be discussed.