Hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth) is a disease that manifests itself in excessive hair growth in certain areas of the skin that are not typical for such an area: above the lips, on the abdomen, chest, arms, back and chin. This disease can occur some time after birth and form in adulthood. It is not harmful to he alth, but it is considered an aesthetic defect. And yet, hypertrichosis - what is it, how does it manifest itself? This will be discussed later in the article.
How hair grows
"Vegetation" on the head and body is a completely natural phenomenon for any person. During intrauterine maturation of the fetus, hair growth goes over the entire exterior of its skin. As a rule, by the stage of birth, these hairs disappear, and later they are replaced first by vellus, and then by terminal ones.
Every person has vellus hair: they cover his body, grow on the face of women and children. Such hairs are normally soft and light, their length does not exceed 1.5 mm. Terminal hair is also considered the norm, but they differdifferent structure: darker and harder.
How hormones affect their growth
Androgens largely affect the hair follicles, because they determine the frequency of loss, growth and structure of the hairline. If there are any disruptions with hormones in the body, then hypertrichosis may appear in women. Photo below.
Androgens can affect hair follicles throughout the body, but some of them are insensitive to these hormones - for example, vellus hair, eyelashes and eyebrows. Some, on the contrary, have very good sensitivity. It is the influence of androgen that motivates the change of soft pubic hairs in children to hard ones during puberty.
Such hormones also have an effect on the growth of hair on the face and head in men, but they have their own specifics. For example, in males, an excess of testosterone can lead not only to an increase, but also to hair loss. It should also be noted here that the formation of hair follicles in the back area in men is not always a problem of hypertrichosis. In all people, the performance of these hormones is carried out in different ways. Hence the conclusion that some have little hair, while others have a lot.
Hypertrichosis: signs
Such a disease develops in stages, that is, the manifestations progress progressively. The patient begins to notice that the intensive growth of vellus hairs dominates, while they grow over the entire surface of the body.
However, there are other symptoms that significantly reduce the quality of life. With inherited hypertrichosis, the malaise is considered incurable, and it begins to develop immediately after birth. Increased hairiness in the baby spreads in the lumbar region, and tufts of long hair can be seen along the entire spine.
Even in children, hypertrichosis is inherited as a sign of irritability, nervousness, appetite disorders, restless sleep and bad mood. Caring parents need to pay special attention to such changes in the child's behavior by immediately making an appointment with the local pediatrician.
The acquired nature of this disease also has its manifestations, which make themselves felt by increased hair growth in the sternum, nasolabial folds, on the limbs and pubis. In addition, hair also grows on birthmarks, in moles, representing a clear cosmetic defect. If you remove such "vegetation" on your own, then the signs of the disease can only get worse. So, neither the use of wax, nor laser hair removal, as well as other cosmetic measures without advance therapy is indicated and even contraindicated.
Types of diseases
Hypertrichosis - what is it really? This is a very unpleasant disease, which also has its own varieties. In terms of symptoms, degree and areas of hair growth, such a disease can be divided into 2 main types:
- solid hairiness or general hypertrichosis;
- disease of certain areas of the body or localhypertrichosis.
Total hair loss
Hairs grow all over the human body. Often this type of disease is congenital. This happens because the germinal black hair is not replaced by light vellus, but continues to form. In some cases, such "thickets" can reach up to 10 cm in length.
Hypertrichosis of some parts of the body
This type of disease is divided, in turn, into subspecies:
- Lumbar hypertrichosis in women and men. Soft, long and dark hair grows in the lumbar region. Along with this, neurological signs and spinal fusion (spinal dysraphia) can often be observed.
- Birth defects - nevi, abundantly covered with hairs. Such birthmarks can be light and black, reach different contours and sizes. There is the concept of Becker's melanosis, and this disease manifests itself in the form of a nevus of huge volumes. The malaise is characterized by a skin lesion of an unchanged form, which pigments already in old age.
- Prothoracic (presternal hypertrichosis) - hair growth in the chest area.
What are the causes of the disease?
First of all, it must be taken into account that the malaise is acquired at various periods of life or congenital. You can consider the main prerequisites for the formation of the disease:
- Hypertrichosis in children and adults as an indicator of cancer. Werethere have been cases when a patient several years before the discovery of a malignant tumor had excess hair growth in certain areas of the body. This expression is associated with the mechanism of "revival" of hair follicles under the influence of various changes in the body.
- Genetic factor. During the development of the fetus, viral and bacterial infections can appear), which provoke genetic mutations. The structure of epithelial erythrocytes changes - they are transformed into cells with hair follicles. A simple gene is replaced by a mutated one, and as a result, hypertrichosis begins in women. The photo below shows the disease.
- Exposure to certain medications. It is believed that such an ailment can be caused by taking penicillins, cephalosporins, corticosteroids and streptomycins. The disease is formed as a side effect of the drug. In addition, under the influence of various substances used in medicinal purposes and enhancing the blood circulation of the skin (therapeutic mud, mustard, hormonal ointments, paraffin), its injuries appear.
- Hypertrichosis - what is it, and what other causes exist? It can also be a sign of other ailments: anorexia nervosa, mental disorders, fetal alcohol syndrome, porphyria, a consequence of craniocerebral injuries, dermatomyositis, defects in the development of the skeletal system (collapse of the vertebral arch).
- Excessive hair growth can be detected due to injuries to various areas of the body or permanentthermal, mechanical irritation of the skin. In particular, the disease can form as a result of various burns, shaving, cryotherapy, at the site of scars, depilation, and more. There is even the concept of traumatic hypertrichosis, which appears in some areas of the skin, while in other places there are no symptoms of excessive hair growth.
Diagnosis
Such a disease requires an integrated approach, where therapy should begin with a visit to a dermatologist, endocrinologist and gynecologist - these experts give their opinions. After this, it is imperative to perform a biochemical blood test, which will determine the patient's hormonal background, as well as the stage of the underlying pathological process. If congenital hypertrichosis dominates, the photo of which is shown below, then already by laboratory analysis it is possible to draw a conclusion about the predominant disease of the endocrine system.
Additionally, the doctor should make a visual examination and find out in detail the anamnesis of a characteristic disease. Complaints of the patient testify to the main disease in the body. Special instrumental examinations are not needed. Once a correct diagnosis has been made, therapy should begin as soon as possible.
Hypertrichosis: treatment
The goal of drug therapy is to eliminate the causes of increased hair growth. To do this, you should follow all the instructions of a specialist who will prescribe symptomatic, hormonal and substitution treatment. The selection of hormonal drugs should be made on an individual basis.mode, and dosage adjustment will protect against severe he alth problems, as well as exacerbation of side effects.
In addition, certain cosmetic measures are necessary to prevent and eliminate increased hairiness. You can also remove hair with the help of electric hair removal, specific depilatory products, shaving and bleaching preparations. It is forbidden to remove them with a laser or wax, as such procedures only increase the symptoms.
However, experts advise electric hair removal, because they consider this method the most popular and effective. If the event becomes too painful, then it is allowed to perform it under local anesthesia.
One way or another, the clinical conclusion is quite favorable, however, it is recommended to treat hypertrichosis (what it is already known to readers of this article) in a timely manner.
