Hypertrichosis By: Clayton Garner

Hypertrichosis, also known as Ambras syndrome or Werewolf syndrome, is excessive hair growth over and above the normal for the age, sex, and race of an individual. Hypertrichosis can develop all over the body or can be isolated to small patches. Hypertrichosis may be congenital (present at birth) or acquired (arises later in life). There are a few types of Hypertrichosis: Congenital lanuginosa, congenital terminalis, Naevoid, and Acquired. Congenital Hypertrichosis lanuginosa is a very rare syndrome with only about 50 cases reported worldwide since the Middle Ages. The condition is characterized by excessive hair growth on a child at birth. Most of the body is covered with lanugo hair, which is an unpigmented, fine, soft and silky hair that covers the fetus and which is usually shed at around 8 months gestation and replaced with fine vellus hair and terminal scalp hair in preparation for birth. In congenital Hypertrichosis, lanugo hair continues to grow and this excessively long fine hair persists throughout life. Congenital terminalis is a variation of congenital Hypertrichosis. This condition involves all over body hair growth, but the hair is fully pigmented terminal hair and the condition is almost always associated with gingival hyperplasia (teeth defects). Naevoid is an unusual form of Hypertrichosis where a solitary circumscribed area of terminal hair growth occurs. It is not usually associated with any other diseases, except if it arises as a faun-tail on the lower back, when it may indicate underlying spina bifida. Naevoid Hypertrichosis can occur at birth or appear later in life. An example of naevoid-circumscribed Hypertrichosis is the presence of a solitary and very bushy eyebrow. Acquired hypertrichosis describes excess hair growth that develops in an individual after birth. The hair is usually unpigmented vellus hair or may involve pigmented terminal hair. Excess hair growth may be localized to a particular area or generalized and covering all hair-bearing areas of the body. The cause of Hypertrichosis is unknown. Congenital Hypertrichosis is believed to be a genetic disorder that is inherited or occurs as a result of spontaneous mutation. Acquired Hypertrichosis lanuginosa sometimes occurs in people who at a later stage are diagnosed with a cancer of some form. Other possible causes of Hypertrichosis include: metabolic disorders, drugs or chemicals, anorexia nervosa. Localized Hypertrichosis may occur after application of medication, minor abrasions or injury requiring a plaster cast, infections, and vaccinations. The signs and symptoms of Hypertrichosis include… excessive hair growth. Treatment of Hypertrichosis is basically hair removal

Sources

§  http://dermnetnz.org/hair-nails-sweat/hypertrichosis.html
§  http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/h/hypertrichosis/symptoms.htm

§  http://www.hypertrichosis.com