Hairiness Assessment Questionnaire

Why: to determine if acute or chronic.

Why: e.g. hirsuitism is the excessive hair growth in androgen dependent hair patterns (i.e. face, chest, areola, abdomen, lower back, inner thighs and external genitalia), especially in women; may be present in normal adults as an expression of an ethnic characteristic or may develop in children or adults as a result of an endocrine disorder; hypertrichosis is excessive hair growth also in area that are not androgen sensitive.

Why: hirsuitism may be present in normal adults as an expression of an ethnic characteristic.

Why: e.g. causes of hirsuitism include Cushing's syndrome, adrenal tumors, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, some ovarian tumors, polycystic ovarian syndrome, insulin resistance, obesity, prolactinoma; medical conditions that may be associated with hypertrichosis include porphyria, epidermolysis bullosa, trismy 18, post-head injuries, fetal alcohol syndrome, malnutrition, anorexia nervosa.

Why: e.g. some medications may cause hirsuitism including testosterone, anabolic steroids, some birth control pills; some medications may cause hypertrichosis including phenytoin, minoxidil, diazoxide, cyclosporine, oral corticosteroids, streptomycin.

Why: e.g. male pattern scalp hair loss, acne, deepened voice, increased muscle mass, enlarged clitoris, increased libido, change in personality - these symptoms would suggest an ovarian tumor, an adrenal tumor or adrenal hyperplasia, chromosome mosaicism, true hermaphroditism (rare).

Why: may suggest Cushing's syndrome or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Why: may suggest polycystic ovarian syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, prolactinoma, ovarian or adrenal tumor.

Why: e.g. acne, male pattern baldness, obesity, heavy periods or sparse periods, infertility, hirsuitism.

Why: e.g. weight gain especially central abdominal, change of appearance, moon-like face, thin skin, easy bruising, excessive facial hair growth, acne, muscle weakness, lack of or rare menstrual periods, poor libido, depression, psychosis, insomnia, frequent urination, excessive thirst.

Why: e.g. mainly affect girls, skin pigmentation (isolated dark brown to light brown patches which tend to remain on one side of the midline), early puberty, ultimate short stature, localized bone pain, deformities or fractures, headache, seizures, hearing loss, early underarm and pubic hair growth.

Why: e.g. refusal to maintain normal body weight, loss of more than 25% of original body weight, intense fear of becoming fat, preoccupation with calorie counting, avoidance of all carbohydrate, fainting, excess soft body and facial hair.