Association between Skin Type and Idiopathic Hirsutism: A Case Control Study

Background: Hirsutism is a medical condition characterized by presence of excessive terminal (coarse) hair among females in androgen-dependent areas. psychological well-being of females is negatively influenced by hirsutism. Poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of hirsutism. However, hirsutism is found to exist without any underlying cause and is known as idiopathic hirsutism (IH). Studies have shown correlation between skin type and hirsutism among PCOS cohorts; however, no such relationship is known to exist between skin type and idiopathic hirsutism. Objective: To determine association between skin type and idiopathic hirsutism. Study Design: Case control study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Dermatology, HIT Hospital Taxila from 1st March 2019 to 29th February 2020. Methodology: 118 cases and 133 controls were included in study after informed consent. Skin type was determined by Fitzpatrick skin type (FST) rating scale ranging from I to IV. Modified Ferriman-Gallwey (mFG) visual four-point scale was used to quantify hirsutism into mild, moderate and severe. Results: Mean age of cases and controls was 31.01 +/- 9.5 years and 28.01 +/- 9.7 years respectively. Seventy four (62.7%) of cases and 88 (66.2%) controls had type III skin type. Eighty (67.8%) had mild (8-15) hirsutism. Statistically insignificant (P<0.05) association was found to exist between skin type and idiopathic hirsutism and severity of hirsutism. However, a statistically significant {P<0.05) association existed between hirsutism and BMI. Conclusion: Idiopathic hirsutism is found to have no association with skin type III or IV among Caucasians. However, this finding needs further investigation involving diverse population including representation from all skin types (I and II)