Psychosocial and financial impact of facial hair among female patients of hirsutism: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Literature on psychosocial impact, financial burden, and worry in hirsute females with facial hair is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To assess psychosocial impact and financial burden, worry among females with hirsutism.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional, questionnaire based observational study, 50 females with hirsutism having facial hair were interviewed and provided with questionnaires examining the psychosocial impact and financial burden. Psychosocial impact in participants was assessed by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire, and the financial burden was evaluated using a composite financial burden score. Self-reported financial worry was also calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 50 completed DLQI surveys and financial burden surveys were taken for analysis. The mean DLQI of 50 hirsute females was 15.98 ± 5.79. The mean value of financial burden score was 0.98 ± 1.45, and financial worry was 1.5 ± 0.90. There were 16% of total hirsute females who commonly used trimming/ shaving and Laser therapy as a treatment modality followed by 12% females who did not use any treatment modality for their facial hair. There were 10% females who used waxing and followed by 6% who used a combination of waxing, trimming, and bleaching for managing facial hair. The financial burden impact of laser therapy was significant (p = 0.013) among all treatment modalities.

CONCLUSION

The present study concludes that hirsutism poses a very large effect or psychosocial impact on hirsute females with a significant financial burden with laser therapy as compared to other treatment modalities.