Written by Jessica Patella, ND. Women with mild to moderate hirsutism who applied fennel gel 3% for 6 months had a significant 22.7 % reduction in thickness of hair growth compared to placebo.
Hirsutism is male patterned, thick hair growth in women (1, 2). The hair growth typically occurs on the face, neck and back (2). Hirsutism can be due to genetics or excessive male hormones such as testosterone in females (2). Treatment is typically long-term and troublesome (2) due to side effects of hormonal treatments (1,3). Recent research has found that fennel gel can decrease the thickness of hair in women with mild to moderate hirsutism (1).
Fennel is an herb that is native to the Mediterranean (4). Fennel is most often used in cooking and used for digestive issues (4). One of the main chemicals in fennel acts as an estrogen and therefore was considered for balancing estrogen and testosterone in women with hirsutism (4).
The recent research included 44 women 15-45 years of age with mild to moderate hirsutism with hair growth limited to the upper lip, chin and cheek (1). The women were randomly divided into the fennel gel 3% group (n=22) or a placebo group (n=22). The women applied the fennel gel or placebo gel to the area of hair grown on their upper lip, chin and cheek for 24 weeks (1).
Thickness of the hair was measured via microscope and measured to the micrometer. After 24 weeks, there was a significant reduction in the thickness of hair in women who used the fennel gel 3%. The hair thickness was reduced from 97.9 +/- 31.5 to 75.6 +/- 26.7 microns (P<0.001). The reduction of 22.3 microns (22.7%, 95% CI 5.5-39.9) was noticed in women using fennel gel (paired t-test, p<0.01). There was no significant change in women in the placebo group.
In conclusion, fennel gel 3% was shown to decrease hair thickness in women with mild to moderate hirsutism (1). Future research should include women with severe hirsutism and for a longer period of time to determine if hair thickness would continue to decrease.
Source: Akha, Ozra, et al. “The effect of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) gel 3% in decreasing hair thickness in idiopathic mild to moderate hirsutism, A randomized placebo controlled clinical trial.” Caspian journal of internal medicine 5.1 (2014): 26.
Posted November 2, 2015.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
References:
- Akha O, et al. The effect of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) gel 3% in decreasing hair thickness in idiopathic mild to moderate hirsutism, A randomized placebo controlled clinical trial. Caspian J Intern Med 2014; 5(1):26-29.
- Hirsutism. Mayo Clinic.
- Martin KA, et al. Evaluation and treatment of hirsutism in premenopausal women: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinal Metab 2008: 93:1105-20.
- Fennel. WebMD.
