Werewolf Syndrome Explained: Why Some People Experience Excessive Hair Growth In Their Bodies

Werewolf syndrome, or hypertrichosis, leads to excessive hair growth anywhere in the body.

Werewolf Syndrome

Both sexes can be affected by werewolf syndrome. However, it extremely rarely happens. The condition can start at birth or develop later on.

The excessive and abnormal growth of hair could end up covering the person's body or face. It may also build up in small patches.

Hypertrichosis has different types. These include congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa, congenital hypertrichosis terminalis, nevoid hypertrichosis, hirsutism, and acquired hypertrichosis.

Congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa starts at birth as the normal lanugo of a baby. However, rather than disappearing after a couple of weeks, the hair continues to grow in different parts of the baby's body.

Similarly, congenital hypertrichosis terminalis also begins at birth. This persists through the person's life. The typically long and thick hair may cover the body and face of the person.

On the other hand, nevoid hypertrichosis refers to any kind of excessive hair growth that builds up in a specific area. There are cases where more than one hair patch could be present.

Hirsutism is another form of hypertrichosis that women specifically experience. It leads to thick and dark hair growth in areas where hair is not usually present. This may include the back, chest, or face.

Acquired hypertrichosis may develop later in one's life. It also leads to two other hair types aside from lanugo. These are terminal hair or vellus hair. The hair could build up in small patches or on all areas of a person's body where hair grows.

What Causes Hypertrichosis?

The causes of werewolf syndrome are not well understood. However, there is a disease form that apparently runs among families.

Congenital hypertrichosis could be due to the reactivation of specific genes that could trigger hair growth. Such genes behind the excessive hair growth could have shut down as evolution went on. Through an unknown case, the genes could have been turned on during the baby's prenatal development.

Acquired hypertrichosis, on the other hand, could have several possible causes. When excessive hair growth can be found in random patches or anywhere in the body, it could be due to malnutrition, cancer, diet or an eating disorder, porphyria cutanea tarda (wherein the skin is extremely light-sensitive), or certain drugs.

When hypertrichosis surfaces in specific body parts, it may have developed from temporary plaster cast use, lichen simplex (a chronic condition of the skin that leads to itchiness and repeated scratching), and higher vascularity.

Werewolf Syndrome Treatment

The syndrome itself does not have any cure. Its congenital form also cannot be prevented. For acquired hypertrichosis, risk could be lowered through the avoidance of some medications like minoxidil.

Treating werewolf syndrome mainly focuses on hair removal through different short-term and temporary approaches, including waxing, shaving, plucking, chemical epilation, and hair bleaching.

Long-term treatments may include laser surgery and electrolysis. In such cases, hair loss may end up permanent, though undergoing a few sessions could be necessary.

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