Hypertrichosis
Treating Hypertrichosis The Right Way
Hypertrichosis is a medical condition that results in the
excessive growth of terminal hair in areas where hair seldom
presents. Do not confuse hypertrichosis with hirsutism though.
Hirsutism is a condition where excessive thick and dark hair
growth is experienced in most of the male areas of hair growth.
Hypertrichosis may be present all over the body, or it could
be confined to isolated patches. Some cases of Hypertrichosis
are congenital, which means you are born with it, and other
cases may appear any time during your lifetime (acquired).
Congenital Hypertrichosis
Congenital Hypertrichosis is a rare condition where there
have been only 50 verified cases since the Middle Ages. When
a fetus is growing in the womb, it is usually covered by a
fine layer of uncolored hair called "lanugo". After
the eighth month of development, the hair will usually fall
off and replaced by a layer of "vellus" or body
hair and the traditional terminal scalp hair.
However, for the case of Congenital Hypertrichosis, the lanugo
hair continues to grow and it stays on the body after birth
and throughout the patient's lifetime. A variation of this
condition is called Congenital Hypertrichosis Terminalis.
In this case, the lanugo hair becomes colored, or pigmented,
and remains on the body after birth. People who have this
condition will generally look like werewolves or ape-men.
There is another variation of Congenital Hypertrichosis which
is known as Naevoid Hypertrichosis. Under this condition,
there is usually one area on the body where the excessive
hair is found. This condition has also been known to happen
after birth, so it is not always congenital.
Acquired Hypertrichosis
Acquired Hypertrichosis happens after birth at any time.
The symptoms of this condition include the presence of unpigmented
vellus hair or it may manifest itself as pigmented terminal
hair. In either cases, the excessive hair may cover the entire
body, or it could be localized to one area such as the eyebrows.
Causes of Hypertrichosis
No one can be sure of the real causes. Some theories say
that it is a genetic disorder which is either inherited, or
caused by the spontaneous mutation of genes. There are many
cases where acquired Hypertrichosis Lanuginosa is found in
people who are later diagnosed with cancer. Cancer-related
Hypertrichosis usually causes a fine growth of hair which
is normally confined to the face, nose, and eyelids. Some
researchers also think that Hypertrichosis may be caused by
certain metabolic disorders and by drugs such as oral phenytoin
and ciclosporin.
Hypertrichosis Treatments
Similar to hirsutism, hair removal techniques are the best
available treatment for the affected individuals. These hair
removal treatments include:
1. Shaving is a good way to treat the affected areas, do
it regularly to remove the hair and to avoid stubble.
2. Using Depilatories or hair removal creams after testing
your skin's reaction by applying a small dab to the inside
of your wrist and wait for at least 24 hours to see if you
are allergic to it.
3. Bleaching products can be used to make the hair less visible.
Just like depilatories, you could experience a reaction, so
always test a small amount as a test and wait 24 hours.
4. Use electrolysis treatments to kill the hair follicles,
or laser treatment which uses a laser beam to kill the follicles.
However, these treatments are expensive and can only be done
by the professionals. The obvious side effects may include
rash, skin discoloration, and scaring. Home electrolysis kits
are generally ineffective.
Unfortunately, there are no medications which can be prescribed
so, if you suffer from Hypertrichosis, all you have to do
is to pick your favorite hair removal technique to solve your
problems.
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