Werewolf syndrome facts

Many diseases and disorders can affect the human body since it is very sensitive despite its immune system, which is the body’s natural defense mechanism. Some diseases or disorders are quite common, but some are very rare. One of those rare disorders that can affect the human body is werewolf syndrome, which is medically called hypertrichosis.

It is an unusual genetic disorder, which is marked by the abnormal growth of hair on the body. This abnormal growth may be restricted only to one area and it is considered to be localized werewolf syndrome.

On the other side, if the hair abnormally grows all over the body, then it is considered to be generalized werewolf syndrome. Hypertrichosis can be divided into two types: congenital (or present at birth) hypertrichosis and acquired hypertrichosis.

Types of Congenital Werewolf Syndrome

When babies are born with abnormal hair growth, it is referred to as congenital werewolf syndrome. There are several types of congenital werewolf syndrome, such as hypertrichosis lanuginosa, generalized hypertrichosis, terminal hypertrichosis, localized hypertrichosis, nevoid hypertrichosis, circumscribed hypertrichosis, and several others.

Congenital hypertrichosis lanuginose is marked by lanugo hair appearance all over the newborn baby’s body, except on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Lanugo hair is fine and soft and usually light-colored. Many hairs develop from the same follicle.

In the case of generalized hypertrichosis abnormal hair appears on the face and upper body parts in males, while in females, hair grows asymmetrically. When the growth of an extremely pigmented terminal hair occurs all over the body, it is congenital terminal hypertrichosis.

Localized hypertrichosis refers to the abnormal growth of hair only in some areas of the body. The unusual hair growth on the upper extremities represents circumscribed hypertrichosis, while extreme hair growth on an isolated area refers to nevoid hypertrichosis.

Types of Acquired Werewolf Syndrome

Acquired hypertrichosis develops later in life because of various reasons. The most common types of acquired werewolf syndrome are: acquired hypertrichosis lanuginosa, acquired generalized hypertrichosis, acquired patterned hypertrichosis, and acquired localized hypertrichosis.

In the normal individual, hair follicles are enclosed in the skin with the exception of the palms, soles, and lips. Hypertrichosis is defined as an excessive growth in body hair beyond the normal variation compared with individuals of the same age, race and sex and affecting areas not predominantly androgen-dependent. The term hirsutism is usually reserved for patients, mainly female, who show extensive hair growth in androgen-dependent areas and with male pattern distribution.

Hypertrichosis is classified in different subgroups according to age of onset (congenital or acquired), extent of distribution (generalized or circumscribed), site involved (elbow, neck, lumbosacral region) and to whether isolated or associated with various abnormalities.
The incidence of CGH is unknown, but held to be essentially rare. The incidence is notably higher when the hypertrichosis is one of several signs involved in a complex syndrome. In this case, the incidence of CGH is related to the single condition associated with it.
CGH in its most common form is idiopathic in the absence of underlying endocrine or metabolic disorders. It is assumed to be related to an excess of stimulation of the hair follicles with normal levels of androgen-like hormones.
Diagnosis of CGH is performed at first glance, but a detailed review of patient history and an in-depth physical examination are necessary to determine the presence of other abnormalities beyond the cutaneous manifestation. Particular attention should be given to the presence of other anomalies in particular the face, eyes, teeth, hearth, kidneys, bones, and extremities, and at the same time, to obesity and intellectual disability.
Congenital generalized hypertrichosis is a clinical sign of different disorders. The distribution of hair is usually precocious and rarely progressive. The prognosis is related to the pathological events associated with the hair disorder, in particular to the epilepsy and cardiac or renal anomalies.
There are different approaches to the treatment of excess hair, including: 1) cosmetic procedures; 2) intense pulsed light source and laser treatment; 3) pharmacological treatment. It should be underlined that not all the treatments are effective over the long term, and the choice of therapy should be made taking into consideration such aspects as the location of the excess hair, its association with complex anomalies and the age of the patients.

✓ Fact confirmed: Congenital generalized hypertrichosis: the skin as a clue to complex malformation syndromes Piero Pavone, Andrea D. Praticò, Raffaele Falsaperla, Martino Ruggieri, Marcella Zollino, Giovanni Corsello & Giovanni Neri; 05 August 2015

All the types of acquired werewolf syndrome have the same characteristics as corresponding congenital werewolf syndrome types. They just appear later in life.

Unfortunately, the medicine that can stop abnormal hair growth is still not found, although certain drugs can slow down the rate of hair growth. Electrolysis is a method that can be able to stop it completely, but the doctor should be consulted about it.