Hypertrichosis 1242240 221276768 2008-06-23T20:39:01Z Nayeryouakim 1245230 {{Mergefrom| Hypertrichosis lanuginosa | Talk:Hypertrichosis#Merge proposal |date=November 2007 }} {{Cleanup|date=May 2007}} {{DiseaseDisorder infobox | Name = Hypertrichosis | ICD10 = {{ICD10|L|68||l|60}} | ICD9 = {{ICD9|704.1}} | }} '''Hypertrichosis''', '''congenital generalized Hypertrichosis''' or '''werewolf syndrome''' is a medical term referring to a condition of excessive body [[hair]]. '''Werewolf syndrome''' comes from the characteristics of a mythological [[werewolf]] of which the person is completely covered in [[hair]] or [[fur]]. It can be generalized, symmetrically affecting most of the torso and limbs, or localized, affecting an area of skin. The hair does not usually cover the eye area, hands or the feet.It may be mild or severe. In most cases, the term is used to refer to an above-average amount of normal body hair that is unwanted and is an aspect of [[human variability]]. In medical practice, once generalized hypertrichosis has been distinguished from [[hirsutism]], it is most often considered a [[human variability|variation of normal]], primarily resulting from [[genetics|genetic]] factors. Although the statistic has been cited that this only occurs for 1 out of 10 billion people,<ref>[http://news.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/0,,91251-1316213,00.html SKY NEWS ARTICLE - a child with hypertrichosis from India, out of ~6.5 billion people in the world, makes for an average of 1 in 340 million.<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 19 people alive today have hypertrichosis. ==Body hair== {{Human hair}} Nearly all the skin of the human body except palms of hands and soles of feet is covered with hair. The density of the hair (in hair follicles per square centimeter) thickness of the hair, color of the hair, speed of hair growth, and qualities such as curliness, vary from one part of the body to another, and from one person to another. All of these features have strong genetic determinants, as demonstrated by the heritability of these qualities. Doctors generally distinguish scalp hair, vellus hair, and androgenic (terminal) hair. Scalp hair is the hair on the head. Its absence is termed "[[baldness]]." [[Vellus]] hair is the hair on the rest of the body which has not been stimulated and transformed by [[sex hormone]]s. [[Androgenic hair]] is the hair that greatly increases in heaviness and rate of growth with [[puberty]]. ==Vellus hair== Even children are covered with fine [[vellus]] hair, varying in density, length, and heaviness, but usually white due to a lack of pigment. A slight genetic variation or variation in hormone signalling can turn this vellus hair into full thickness hair. Pigmented thick hair may grow from a scar, possibly because in the process of growing a scar, the vellus hair follicle is triggered into growing as a thicker pigmented hair follicle.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} Also, thick, pigmented hair is noted to grow on the skin near the site of a spinal injury. It is the ordinarily vellus hair follicle responding to a signal even though there is no scar, callous, or other change to the skin. == Duck down == With yet another minor genetic variation, a single hair follicle may start producing a bunch hairs, which remain in a bundle at the base, but split apart if it grows long enough, and this resembles duck down. This is most common in male facial hair. == Androgenic hair == [[Image:Annie Jones.jpg|left|150px|thumb|[[Annie Jones]], who suffered from [[hirsutism]].]] The [[hair follicle]]s on much of the body respond to [[androgen]]s (primarily [[testosterone]] and its derivatives). Generally, the rate of hair growth increases and the heaviness of the hairs increases in direct proportion to the androgen levels. However, different areas respond with different sensitivities. As puberty progresses, the sequence of appearance of sexual (androgenic) hair reflects the gradations of androgen sensitivity. The pubic area is most sensitive, and heavier hair usually grows there first in response to androgens. The following regions also respond to androgens, in order of decreasing sensitivity: [[axilla]]ry and [[perianal]] areas, [[sideburns]], [[moustache|above the upper lip]], peri[[areola]]r areas, chin and [[beard]] areas, arms and legs, [[chest hair|chest]], shoulders, buttocks, back, and [[abdominal hair|abdomen]]. It is the hair in these areas that appears earlier or grows to excess in disorders of excess androgen (e.g., [[precocious puberty]], late-onset [[congenital adrenal hyperplasia]], and [[polycystic ovary syndrome]]). ==Vellus hair and hypertrichosis== When the unwanted or excessive hair occurs in other places, and especially in other sequences of appearance, it is rarely due to a disorder of androgen excess. For example, it is not unusual for a young girl to be taken to a [[pediatric endocrinologist]] because her mother is distressed by the heaviness of the girl's arm and leg hair, but this condition is never due to a disorder of androgen excess if pubic hair has not appeared. Most hypertrichosis is genetic, but a small number of unusual systemic disorders can sometimes increase vellus hair. Some drugs (e.g., [[diazoxide]], [[diphenylhydantoin]], and [[minoxidil]]) and [[toxin]]s (e.g., [[Mercury (element)|mercury]]) can induce generalized hair growth as well. Unusual hypertrichosis can also be caused by untreated infection, or by [[malnutrition]]. For this reason, it is an occasional sign of [[anorexia nervosa]]. ==Severe hypertrichosis== Severe hypertrichosis is quite rare, almost certainly due to unknown genetic defects, and can result in excessive or animal-like hair on both face and body. Some of these people have been displayed in [[carnival]] sideshows with names such as "dog-boy" or the "[[bearded lady]]." [[Fedor Jeftichew]], [[Stephan Bibrowski]] and [[Annie Jones]] are well known examples. Most of the people recently featured in the media with hypertrichosis are from the Aceves clan of Loreto, Zacatecas, Mexico, some of whom have immigrated to the United States. Many of them have worked for circuses. The brothers Victor Ramon "Danny" Ramos and Gabriel "Larry" Ramos have worked as acrobats. Their cousins, [[Jesus "Chuy" Aceves]], and his sister, Lili, have worked in sideshows. ==Localized hypertrichosis== In some cases an area of skin can react to repeated trauma or to some other asymmetric stimulus (such as wearing of a [[Orthopedic cast|cast]]) with increased hair growth. ==Treatment== In the vast majority of cases, hypertrichosis is a cosmetic problem. The treatments range from camouflage (e.g., [[hair decoloration|bleaching]] with [[hydrogen peroxide]]), to temporary removal by [[waxing]], or permanent removal by [[electrology|electrolysis]] or [[laser]] destruction of hair follicles. ==Cultural references== * An episode of ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation|CSI]]'', (first aired [[January 5]] [[2006]]) featured the murder of a man with hypertrichosis. His sister had the same syndrome, though it affected her more severely. * This condition was also used as the basis for the character of Tara in the film ''[[Wolf Girl]]''. * In the novels ''Black Notice'', ''The Last Precinct'', and ''Blowfly'' by [[Patricia Cornwell]], the character Jean-Baptiste Chandonne suffers from congenital hypertrichosis. * In the novel ''The Lion Woman'' by [[Erik Fosnes Hansen]], the character Eva Arctander has congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa. * The film ''[[Human Nature (film)|Human Nature]]'' features a woman, played by [[Patricia Arquette]], who suffers from severe hypertrichosis. * The film ''[[Fur (film)|Fur]]'' (starring [[Nicole Kidman]] as [[Diane Arbus]]) features an invented character called Lionel (played by [[Robert Downey Jr.]]) who has severe hypertrichosis. He typifies the kind of freakishness which inspired Arbus to make people living on the fringes of society the subjects of much of her photographic work. * "Colonel Doctor" from the TV series "Scrubs" is believed to have Hypertrichosis which caused him to grow a beard at the age of nine. ==See also== *[[Hirsutism]] *[[Hair]] *[[Facial hair]] *[[Chest hair]] *[[Abdominal hair]] *[[Pubic hair]] *[[Jesus "Chuy" Aceves]] ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Dermatology]] [[Category:Body hair]] [[Category:Hair-related diseases]] [[de:Hypertrichose]] [[fr:Hypertrichose]] [[it:Ipertricosi]] [[he:היפרטריכוזיס]] [[nl:Hypertrichose]] [[no:Hypertrikose]] [[pt:Hipertricose]] [[sv:Hypertrichosis]] [[zh:先天性遗传多毛症]] [[Jesus "Chuy" Aceves]]