Hypertrichosis, also known as werewolf syndrome, is a condition characterized by excessive hair growth anywhere on a person’s body. It can affect both women and men, but it’s extremely rare.
What is the cause of hypertrichosis?
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.
What causes hair growth all over body?
Hormones called androgens are the main reason that body hair develops. Doctors refer to androgens as male hormones, though both men and women produce them. When the female body produces too many androgens, it may develop more body hair than is typical.
What is werewolf syndrome?
Werewolf syndrome is medically known as hypertrichosis. It is a disorder that is characterized by excessive body hair. Typically the entire body with the exception of the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet are covered in dense hair, which can resemble fur.
What is Ambras syndrome?
Ambras syndrome is a very rare type of hypertrichosis lanuginosa congenita, a congenital skin disease characterized by excessive hair growth on the entire body, with the exception of the palms, soles, and mucous membranes.
Is there a cure for hypertrichosis?
Hypertrichosis has no cure, and you can’t do anything to prevent the congenital form of the disease. The risk of certain forms of acquired hypertrichosis may be lowered by avoiding certain medications, such as minoxidil.
Can stress cause facial hair growth?
The short answer is yes – stress can affect facial hair growth, indeed not just upon the face, but also elsewhere on the body in places that you would not ‘normally’ expect to see it.
How can I permanently stop hair growth?
The only treatment that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) describe as permanent is electrolysis. Another method of hair removal that provides long lasting results is laser hair removal. However, some people need touch-up sessions to maintain the results.
Why do I have so much hair on my body female?
Why do women grow excessive or unwanted hair? Women develop excessive body or facial hair due to higher-than-normal levels of androgens, including testosterone. All females produce androgens, but the levels typically remain low. Certain medical conditions can cause a woman to produce too many androgens.
What does hirsutism look like?
Hirsutism is stiff or dark body hair, appearing on the body where women don’t commonly have hair — primarily the face, chest, lower abdomen, inner thighs and back. People have widely varying opinions on what’s considered excessive.
What is Trichonodosis?
Trichonodosis is characterized by knotted hair on the distal portion of the hair shaft. This may be spontaneous or secondary to mechanical factors like vigorous scratching or combing the hair. Trichonodosis may be associated with abnormal scalp and body hair growth.
Is lycanthropy a real disease?
Clinical lycanthropy is a very rare condition and is largely considered to be an idiosyncratic expression of a psychotic episode caused by another condition such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or clinical depression.
What is it called when your born with no hair?
Hypotrichosis is the term dermatologists use to describe a condition of no hair growth.
What is it called when you are covered in hair?
Hypertrichosis is an abnormal amount of hair growth over the body. The two distinct types of hypertrichosis are generalized hypertrichosis, which occurs over the entire body, and localized hypertrichosis, which is restricted to a certain area.
What is hypertrichosis lanuginosa?
doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2011.137. Congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa (CHL) is a rare disorder, with fewer than 50 cases reported in the literature. It is characterized by excessive lanugo hair present at birth covering the entire body surface except the mucosae, palms, and soles.