DEAR DR. DONOHUE: You recently wrote about a woman concerned with losing her hair. I have the opposite problem. I am 43 and have a mustache and goatee, and I must shave daily. The hair on my legs also grows rapidly. What are the treatments for this condition? – D.S.

ANSWER: Some of what I say applies only to premenstrual women, but most can be applied to women of all ages.

Many women experience hair growth in places where it is a male feature – the face, chin, neck or chest. Hair growth in those areas (and often robust leg-hair growth) depends on the influence of male hormones or on hair follicles that are extremely sensitive to low levels of male hormones. Tracking down the cause of the overly abundant supply of the hormone determines the proper treatment.

One common condition is polycystic ovary syndrome, which, in its full expression, features large, cystic ovaries, menstrual irregularities, acne, infertility and the failure to ovulate. Male-pattern hair growth is another feature.

Tumors of the ovary or adrenal gland that produce male hormones are a rare but other possible cause. So are thyroid gland disorders and a condition called the metabolic syndrome, in which blood pressure is elevated and blood sugar is high, as are blood triglycerides. However, the greatest number of women with the problem fall into the “idiopathic” category, meaning no cause can be found.

Shaving is one solution. It doesn’t make hair grow faster or thicker. Creme bleaches, chemical hair removers, electrolysis and laser treatments are other answers. Weight loss, when applicable, can lower male-hormone levels. Birth control pills are another way to blunt male-hormone action. So is the blood pressure medicine spironolactone. Vaniqa cream doesn’t get rid of existing hair, but it prevents new hair growth.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Last week I was told I have a mild case of macular degeneration. I would love to know more about it. The doctor never explained anything to me. I just turned 70 in May. – W.G.

ANSWER: Macular degeneration is one of the most common vision problems facing elderly people. More than a million new cases are discovered yearly in North America, and usually they occur in people older than 60.

The macula occupies a small, central position on the retina, the lining of the back of the eye. The retina processes incoming images into messages that can be understood by the brain and be visually perceived. The macula, no larger than a small-case o, is responsible for central vision, the kind needed to read, sew, drive a car and watch television. Degeneration of the macula blurs print and creates haziness and grayness in the visual field. If degeneration progresses, a blind spot appears in the center of vision. Vision off to the side, however, remains.

Being told you have macular degeneration is upsetting, but it should not leave you totally demoralized. Doctors could tell huge numbers of 70-year-olds that they have mild macular degeneration. It is not a prediction of blindness. For many, vision loss is quite slow, and they are able to cope with it well. Low-vision clinics can provide people with all sorts of visual aids, like magnifying lenses, to help them continue fine work.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: A member of my family has vitiligo on her hands and forearms. It has begun to appear on her feet. She is only in her 40s and fears it might get increasingly worse. Is there anything she can do to reverse the process? – F.M.

ANSWER: Melanocytes are pigment-containing skin cells that give the skin its color. In vitiligo, the immune system turns its guns on melanocytes, and they disappear. The result is patches of white skin. Why this happens is a question not yet answered. In a very few individuals, vitiligo is associated with another illness, like Addison’s disease, thyroid gland problems, ulcerative colitis, pernicious anemia, diabetes or lupus. Addison’s disease is an adrenal gland malfunction.

The course of vitiligo is unpredictable. It can remain stationary, or it can progress. If it does progress, it often does so slowly.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Do people get the same amount and value of vitamins in cereal as they would get from a vitamin pill? – N.S.

ANSWER: You get the amount of vitamin that’s printed on the nutrition label. The vitamins in cereal are just as good as vitamins in a pill, as are all food vitamins.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.