Hypertrichosis

Hypertrichosis
Other namesWerewolf syndrome
Petrus Gonsalvus, "’The Hairy Man’", as illustrated by Joris Hoefnagel in his Elementa Depicta
SpecialtyDermatology

Hypertrichosis (sometimes known as werewolf syndrome) is an abnormal amount of hair growth over the body.[1][2] The two distinct types of hypertrichosis are generalized hypertrichosis, which occurs over the entire body, and localized hypertrichosis, which is restricted to a certain area.[1] Hypertrichosis can be either congenital (present at birth) or acquired later in life.[3][4] The excess growth of hair occurs in areas of the skin with the exception of androgen-dependent hair of the pubic area, face, and axillary regions.[5]

Several circus sideshow performers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as Julia Pastrana, had hypertrichosis.[6] Many of them worked as freaks and were promoted as having distinct human and animal traits.

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  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference juliapastrana was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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