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In case you were wondering, “werewolf syndrome” is an unfamiliar discovered disease that is actually called hypertrichosis. It is a condition of excessive body hair that affects mostly the upper body, limbs, and face. The hair is usually thick, unwanted, and can also grow in small patches.

There are different types of this condition such as congenital hypertrichosis, which is unpigmented, fine, soft hair that grows excessively and persists through life. Naevoid hypertrichosis is where an abundance of hair grows thickly in one spot or place, with normal hair surrounding it.  Acquired hypertrichosis occurs on a individual after birth, unlike the other types of this disease, which usually occur before birth.

Congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa
This is a very rare syndrome with only about 50 cases reported worldwide since the Middle Ages. The condition is characterised by excessive hair growth on a child at birth. Most of the body is covered with lanugo hair, which is an unpigmented, fine, soft and silky hair that covers the foetus and which is usually shed at around 8 months gestation and replaced with fine vellus hair and terminal scalp hair in preparation for birth. In congenital hypertrichosis, lanugo hair continues to grow and this excessively long fine hair persists throughout life.

Naevoid hypertrichosis
This is an unusual form of hypertrichosis where a solitary circumscribed area of terminal hair growth occurs. It is not usually associated with any other diseases, except if it arises as a faun-tail on the lower back, when it may indicate underlying spina bifida. Naevoid hypertrichosis can occur at birth or appear later in life. An example of naevoid circumscribed hypertrichosis is the presence of a solitary and very bushy eyebrow.

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