Hirsutism is the excessive hairiness on women in those parts of the body where
terminal hair does not normally occur or is minimal — for example, a beard or chest hair. It refers to a male pattern of body hair (
androgenic hair) and it is therefore primarily of
cosmetic and
psychological concern. Akin to the modern day
hypertrichosis (
werewolf syndrome) or the historical figure
wild man. Hirsutism is a
medical sign rather than a
disease and may be a sign of a more serious medical condition, especially if it develops well after
puberty. The amount and location of the hair is measured by a
Ferriman-Gallwey score.