Werewolf syndrome - hypertrichosis in women, men and child, signs and treatment

Previously, such people were driven in fairs and booths, demonstrating as an attraction. They were called the “man-wolf”, “human man”, “man-cod”, thereby emphasizing their external similarity with animals fully covered with hair, often considered them werewolves and bypassed the tenth road.

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Today we are talking about them as people subjected to a disease with hypertrichosis, expressed in excess hairs on the most unexpected parts of the body.

Hypertrichosis syndrome

Hypertrichosis - the disease that is also called emphasus syndrome, and it is expressed in an excessive amount of hairline on the surface of the human body.
Hypertrichosis can capture as a large surface of the body, including face, legs, arms, So localize in a separate area - all this depends on the reasons caused by the disease.
Hypertrichosis is either inherited (it is called congenital), or is acquired throughout life for various reasons, which will be discussed just below.
The disease can manifest itself in a severe degree - in this case, abnormal phenomena can affect and jaws, when the child either erups the teeth, or they do not at all erupted at all. Fortunately, a similar severity of the disease is extremely rare, and doctors and scientists still have not been able to find out exactly what genetic defects cause similar mutations.
Hair covering body, face or limbs, Depending on the place in which place they grow, have different density, color and thickness, the degree of their rigidity and the speed with which they grow are different.

Signs of hypertrichosis

The clinical manifestations of the disease with hypertrichosis are an excessive hairline on the body, as well as on the face, and, equally, this phenomenon can be inherent in both representatives of the strong and weak half of humanity.
If Inborn hypertrichosis, That hair covers the whole body of a person, excluding the feet and palms. Especially vividly hair is expressed in the field face, shoulders, Very often - a hypertrichosis of the auricle. The hairs can grow tens of centimeters (this applies to the face).

At pushkoy hypertrichosis in infants Cleaning the body of the body with light hairs, excluding the limbs. Then the hair falls out (this occurs by about a year), but the growth begins already on the limbs.
Exists and focal hypertrichosis, In which, in individual parts of the body, affected by some pathology, black hard hair grows.
The hypertrichosis expressed in the prepubertite period is expressed hair growth in the temples, where do they spread to the forehead. The presence of thick eyebrows, long dark hair at the top of the back, on the arms and legs - These are the signs of this type of hypertrichosis.
Hypertrichosis can be acquired as a result of taking individual drugs, and it affects the type of drug limbs, face area. With secondary hypertrichoses (acquired as a result of diseases such as liver porphyria, anorexia, celiac disease, juvenile dermatomyositis, oncology, AIDS, etc.), may also appear. excess hair growth on the face, body and limbs.
Thus, a sign of hypertrichosis is excessive hairiness of body areas, which are characterized only growth of fluffy hair.

Hypertrichosis gene in humans

Hypertrichosis is mainly mentransmitted by Y-chromosomes in adhesion to the floor. If we talk about the innate generalized hypertrichosis, then it is a rather rare disease of autosomal dominant etiology.
Its discovery dates back to the 16th century and a mutation of the 8th chromosome, which is also called, is called as a reason percentric inversion. The disease can be transmitted to both the next generation and through the generation.
There is also a version that speaks of X-scented inheritance of the disease, since in medicine, the case of transferring the father of the mutant gene is described only to daughters, while not one of the sons became the carrier of the disease. Also, the causes of the manifestation of congenital fluffy hypertrichosis are not fully found out, since the main version put forward by researchers indicates an autosomal dominant path that is transmitted to which the disease is transmitted, but, as in any rule, there are exceptions: there are certain cases of diseases that contradict the main version.
No pathologies of genetic origin were revealed as well as changes in the endocrine system. It was only established that congenital hypertrichosis can manifest itself if he is subject to both his parents and both at once.

What are the types of hypertrichosis?

Hypertrichosis has several types - depending on the time of appearance, distinguish between congenital and acquired disease.
From the scale of the hair coating of body areas - focal, captivating local areas, and generalized, which spreads on a large surface of the body.
There are differences in which area is struck - elbows, neck, ear shells, spine departments and so on.
Another division into species depends on how the disease has appeared. Either without an obvious cause, or it arose against the background of another pathological state.

As for the acquired hypertrichosis, it can also be generalized, and in turn is divided into the following types of etiology:

Drugprovoked by the reception of certain drugs.
Secondary, which appears as a consequence of another disease acting as a background for the development of hypertrichosis.
Pushkoye, the background for which cancer usually acts.
Focal, which occurs in places of constant friction or squeezing, or in the presence of inflammation, which has passed into a chronic one (as a rule, in such cases, the hair is quite troubled by ordinary regular shaving or hair removal).
Traumaticmanifested as a result of a injury or burn, as well as on the face as a result of the fact that the hairs are constantly plucking, or due to poor-quality shaving-as a result, hair follicles are activated, and terminal hair is actively growing to replace the thin and bright fluffy hair, which are much tougher And darker.

In the case of local hypert Theitrichosis, certain individual parts of the body are affected by increasing. The main types of hypertrichosis classified by the basis of localization.

So, if hypertrichosis is localized in:

Breast zone, which is also covered with hair, like wool.
On the lower back - Here, as a rule, long black hair grows, which resemble a bundle, by the way, they are called, a bundle of Faun.
Nevus - a kind of “birthmark”, from which dark hard hair grows - can be localized on almost any part of the body.

In addition, both men and women can be affected in men and women, ear shells. And one more point, with hypertrichosis, grinding is excessive even in ordinary places, for example, on the pubis or in the axillary hollows, and this is typical for representatives of both sexes.

The causes of hypertrichosis

The causes of the disease are mainly associated with the above types of hypertrichosis, since they are the basis for classification.

So, hypertrichosis can be caused by such reasons as:

Inborn mutation, developing due to problematic pregnancy or infectious disease, which was transferred by the expectant mother during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Reception of individual drugs.
Thyroid disorders And in general, the endocrine system.
Certain conditions or diseases that cause symptomatic hypertrichosis, for example, alcoholism, nervous exhaustion, traumatic brain injuries, etc.
Skin damage as a result injuries or burn.
Hair follicles can activate their growth as a result of the development of a malignant tumor.

And, of course, the cause of congenital hypertrichosis is a genetic mutation, affecting the next generations.

Hypertrichosis in men

The most common place in men in men is back, shoulders and arms, often also occurs with a hairline of the ear shells. Experts consider such abundant hair growth with a kind of atavism, and, most often it manifests itself at the birth of a boy.
Causes of hypertrichosis in men Almost all of the above are, and in this regard, it is essentially not different from the female. The only thing that affects the intensity of the disease is a larger number of male hormones in the body, unlike female. This is more contributing to the abundant growth and spread of hair throughout the body and in the face, at the same time preventing the growth of hair on the head.
Also, in men, such a phenomenon as Fleeping eyebrows, which is one of the localizations of hypertrichosis, Which in this case is called limited.
And, in addition, men become more often victims of traumatic hypertrichosis Due to the constant shaving, which can cause skin irritation.

Hypertrichosis in women

Hypertrichosis in women, largely coinciding with male, has a characteristic only for the weaker sex localization, namely, they begin to grow mustache or beard Which, in principle, is not inherent in women whose body is normally dominated by female hormones that contribute to hair growth just not on the face or body, but on their heads.
In addition, the type of hair growth is possible, characteristic of men, when the pubic hair does not grow with a triangle, as usual, but take romboid shape. More often in this case they talk about hirsutismbut also hypertrichosis can be expressed in this way.
The most frequent places of localization of hypertrichosis in women are nasolabial folds and chin, hands, chest, as well as genitals. The disease can appear at any age, both in youth and during menopause against the background of hormonal restructuring of the body.
Promotes to tighten hair and their abundant growth and methods used by women: depilation, shaving, plucking individual hairs.

Hypertrichosis in a child

The first hair that appears in a child who is still in the womb is called Lanugo and is essentially a original fluff, which usually falls already by the 36th week of the development of the fetus, but if the birth is premature, then the fluff may be present at the newborn.
Then the body is covered with fluffy hair, thin and light, almost without pigment content. And especially hard, thicker than ordinary, and dark color, the hair is called core.
So, if a child is born, covered with lanugo hair, then they usually fall out over time, but it is possible to preserve them focal growth Due to certain malformations, and then a thorough examination and treatment are required.
In a child who develops rapidly and grows, is possible harvesting forearms and legsthat does not apply to pathologies. Representatives of some nationalities can grow actively bitch hair (for example, among gypsies, Jews or Caucasians) is also considered the norm.
It is important to determine the cause of the premature hair growth in girls in those places that are characteristic of the action of sex hormones, these include pubic zone, inner hips, armpits, stomach and chest.
Then a parallel examination is necessary for both the endocrinologist and the gynecologist to determine whether this fact is the result of a hypertrichosis, or is caused by violations in the endocrine system.
And, of course, it is important to determine whether growth is the result of taking glucocorticoids and other drugs. If the cause of hypertrichosis in children is not determined by external factors, doctors talk about Idiopathic hair hair, which is determined by the scale of the ferrimon-Hallway, evaluating the growth of hair on one or another area of \u200b\u200bthe face or body according to the four-point system.
In case the number of points exceeds 7, they talk about hormonal disorders.

Hypertrichosis of the ears

Such localization of the disease is characteristic of both women and men. It can also be hereditary or acquired Under the influence of external factors or other pathologies. The most frequent causes of the occurrence of the ears hypertrichosis, in addition to the hereditary factor determined genetic mutation, It is the transformation of epithelium tissues into cells that contain hair follicles.
In addition, there are a number of other causes that are common for hypertrichosis - injuries, surgical interventions, malignant neoplasms, pathological conditions during pregnancy, taking drugs, mechanical.
Usually, if there is little hair, more careful ear hygiene is enough, if there is too much hair and they continue to grow intensively, the doctor’s intervention is necessary.

Signs of the beginning hypertrichosis of the auricle are the following:

Hair thicken in the auricle.
Hard hairs appear in the middle of the ear.
The hair growth zone increases.
A person begins to experience discomfort.

It is also necessary to carefully trace if the baby was born with a small bristle on his ear, whether it fell out of the first few months after birth. If not, you need to see a doctor.
In addition, age also plays an important role - the older the person, the greater the risk of hair hair hair. In order to determine the reason for the follicles activated, it is necessary to examine not only increased areas, but also the state of the body in general.
Among the methods that you can deal with the problem, if it is insignificant - hairy cutting off and removing them with tweezers. These are not the most reliable ways, since they can lead to mechanical damage to the ear itself and to the transformation of the hairs into more stringent ones. Better cope with hair removal methods photo and laser hair removal.
The first is carried out exclusively on dark hair and is quite long, the second affects the hair follicles and can solve the problem dramatically. It is not excluded hormonal treatment, Which is carried out exclusively with the appointment of a doctor and under his constant control.

Treatment of hypertrichosis

Like any treatment, the fight against hypertrichosis It is primarily aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease. Therefore, treatment methods vary.
So, if hypertrichosis is provoked by disorders in the work of the endocrine system, then the underlying disease is first treated. If the treatment is performed on the basis of taking hormonal drugs, then in the case of a hypertrichosis developing under their effects, the drug is replaced by its analogue.
Before starting treatment, consultation of such specialists as endocrinologist and dermatologist, and women should also visit the gynecologist at the same time.
And, of course, one of the most effective methods of treating hypertrichosis remain laser and photoepilation, the use of chemical depilation agents, the effect of intense impulse light. Among medications, doctors distinguish Eflornitin, who takes part in the process of hair growth.

Diseases associated with excess hair growth include hirsutism, which is often confused with hypertrichosis. You should know that the first disease is inherent only to women, and it is manifested by the growth of hair characteristic of the male type. The second disease, hypertrichosis, can manifest itself in both men and women, and at any age.

Family with hypertrichosis

The most famous family case of hypertrichosis is Members of the Gonsalvus familywhich lived in the XVI century. Father, Petrus Gonsalvus, from childhood was perceived as a man-rage and it was in this capacity that was taken at the age of 10 at the servants of the French king Henry II. He was married with an ordinary woman who was not subject to hypertrichosis, but of the seven children born in this marriage, four also inherited the disease.
Their portraits were written by artists of that time, the best minds of France and Italy argued about the causes of the disease and its heredity.
Another family - Averee, Living in our time in Mexico. Hesus, who is usually called Chui. He, like his sister, as well as cousins \u200b\u200bwere born with hypertrichosis. Chui himself became the father of three daughters, who were born by different women, and at the same time all the girls inherited their father's disease.

This chain with Heses’s great -grandmother began, and in total during this time, 30 members of the Averez family were born and live with a similar diagnosis. The film has been shot about the family-and this is not surprising, because out of 50 people who have a hypertrichosis, 30 are members of the A Asheve family in the history of registration of the disease.

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