Werewolf Syndrome, also known as Hypertrichosis, is a very rare condition where a person grows an unusual amount of hair all over their body. The name “Werewolf Syndrome” comes from how people with this condition can sometimes look like the mythical creature werewolves due to thick hair on their face and body. This condition can affect both men and women and there are two main types, congenital (present at birth) and acquired (develops later in life).
Causes and Symptoms
Hypertrichosis usually produces one of three types of hair:
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Vellus hair is very short and soft, growing almost anywhere on the body, except places like the soles of your feet, the backs of your ears, your lips, your palms, or on scars. This hair may or may not have color.
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Lanugo hair is the soft, fine hair that babies are born with. Normally, this hair falls off soon after birth. But in people with hypertrichosis, lanugo may stay on the body unless it is removed.
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Terminal hair is thick, long, and dark. It’s the kind of hair that usually grows on your scalp or other areas after puberty.
Hypertrichosis can also be linked to other symptoms, like dental problems. Some people may have missing teeth or very large gums. The causes of hypertrichosis depend on the type. People with congenital hypertrichosis are born with the condition. This happens when certain genes that control hair growth get turned back on while the baby is still in the womb. Scientists still don’t know exactly why this happens.
Acquired hypertrichosis, which appears later in life, can happen for many reasons. These include:
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Malnutrition or not getting enough nutrients
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Eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa
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Certain medications, such as hair growth drugs, steroids, and some drugs used to suppress the immune system
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Cancer or changes in cells
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Autoimmune or skin diseases
Treatment
There is no treatment for the congenital version, which people are born with. Most treatments focus on removing the extra hair. There are many short-term options, like shaving, waxing, plucking, chemical hair removal, and bleaching. While these can help for a little while, the hair usually grows back quickly. These methods can also cause skin irritation and aren’t always easy to do on certain parts of the body.
For longer-lasting results, people can try electrolysis or laser hair removal. Electrolysis uses tiny electrical charges to destroy individual hair follicles. Laser hair removal uses a laser to target many hairs at once. These treatments can sometimes permanently remove hair, but they often require multiple sessions to work well.
How does this relate to engineering?
Engineers play a role in researching the causes and creating technologies to treat this condition. An example would be that engineers could be involved in developing new techniques for hair removal or designing devices for monitoring the effects of treatments. Engineers, specifically biomedical engineers, have designed laser technology to treat hypertrichosis.
Related stories:
https://www.osmosis.org/answers/hypertrichosis
https://www.healthline.com/health/hypertrichosis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534854/
https://www.verywellhealth.com/hypertrichosis-4705533
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