Treatment of Hypertrichosis in men in Germany
Best hospitals and doctors for hypertrichosis in men treatment in Germany
Leading hospitals
Cost for treatment
Hypertrichosis (werewolf syndrome) is defined as excessive hair growth anywhere on the body in men and women. It is important to distinguish this condition from hirsuties in men as this diagnosis is not characteristic of men. Such a condition can be diagnosed only in women with excessive hair growth on androgen-dependent body areas. The main treatment of hypertrichosis in men in Germany is the removal of unwanted hair. You can travel to this country to get a good and long-term result and undergo your therapy without any complications and discomfort.
Content
If hypertrichosis has developed a second time, then the treatment of the underlying disease is carried out. If successful, hair growth will slow down. The fight against congenital hypertrichosis comes down to hair removal using a laser or other techniques.
You can undergo your treatment in one of the following hospitals: University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Hospital Neuperlach Munich, or University Hospital Rechts der Isar Munich.
You do not have to take care of the organization of your trip because the Booking Health specialists will do everything for you. They will help you to make your appointment with the desired specialist, help you to choose a clinic and a doctor, if necessary, and tell you about possible treatment options. You can easily apply for a medical visa as all the required documents will be translated into German for you. During your treatment, you can contact your personal coordinator for any questions.
Causes of hypertrichosis
There are different types of hypertrichosis. The condition can be localized and generalized: in the first case, hair grows intensively in some areas of the skin only and, in the second one, throughout the body. Depending on the origin of the disease, hypertrichosis can be congenital and acquired, and according to the type of hair, the condition can be vellus or terminal.
There are hundreds of known causes of hypertrichosis in men. The main ones are as follows:
- congenital diseases, including hereditary ones;
- intake of drugs;
- hormonal imbalances.
Hypertrichosis can be one of the manifestations of cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, HIV and many other pathologies.
Diagnostics
German doctors determine the presence of hypertrichosis in men during a clinical examination. In the future, diagnostics aim to identify its causes. Healthcare professionals use the following examinations:
- trichoscopy;
- hormone tests;
- ultrasound scans to assess the state of the internal organs and endocrine glands;
- genetic counseling;
- karyotyping;
- molecular genetic diagnostics.
Treatment
The causes of hypertrichosis can sometimes be eliminated. For example, patients may stop taking drugs that have caused increased hair growth or control the disease that has caused hypertrichosis. However, the cause cannot be eliminated in most cases. In such situations, the essence of treatment is the direct removal of unwanted hair in one way or another.
Lasers and light sources. Doctors in Germany often use laser and light-emitting treatments, depending on a patient's Fitzpatrick skin type. 755 nm alexandrite laser, 1064 nm Nd:Yag laser, diode laser, intense pulsed light and electrolysis are the main technologies and methods.
A moving diode (800-810 nm), a long-pulse Q-switch Nd:Yag with or without topical carbon solution, and intense pulsed light (590-1200 nm) can be used in children with congenital hypertrichosis, including neonates. Anesthesia is rarely required. Hair removal over large areas of the body usually requires several procedures.
Electrosurgical epilation. This technique can be applied to adults only. The method is very effective and provides good long-term results, but the procedure lasts a long time, and there is a risk of inflammation of the follicles and scarring. Pigmentation is possible.
Chemical depilation. The technique uses a solution containing salts of thioglycolic and thiolactic acids. They act on keratin, damaging the hair roots. The technique can be used in adult men. In children, this can only be used for local hypertrichosis. Chemical depilation is effective but has its disadvantages: an unpleasant odor and irritating properties of drugs.
Bleaching. This procedure is suitable for people with fair skin only. Hair becomes invisible as it becomes discolored. As a rule, a 6% hydrogen peroxide solution is used for bleaching.
Topical therapy with eflornithine. The drug blocks the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase. As a result, the anagen phase is reduced, and hair growth slows down. The cream is used twice a day, and the improvement can be seen after 1-2 months. The treatment is stopped if there is not the slightest result after 6 months. With the desired result achieved, the therapy should be continued, and after its cancellation, the hair begins to grow again after about 2 months. The technique can be combined with laser treatment. This can often be used in areas where hair cannot be removed completely with laser radiation. The drug is not suitable for children under 12 years old.
Other options for dealing with excess hair include the following:
- shaving;
- haircut;
- plucking;
- waxing.
You are welcome to use the Booking Health service to undergo your diagnostics, treatment or rehabilitation in one of the German hospitals. We will select the best clinics in Germany for you and arrange your trip. When making your appointment through the Booking Health service, the cost of treatment will be more favorable than when contacting a medical center directly. The price will be lower due to the lack of additional fees for foreign patients. Our specialists will book hotel and airline tickets for you, meet you at the German airport and take you to the clinic by car.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Sergey Pashchenko. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
Sources: