Seeing a baby born with thick hair will provide its own happiness for parents. However, what if fine hair also grows on other parts of the body, such as the back, arms and legs? This fine hair is commonly referred to as lanugo.
Lanugo is the fine hair that grows on the body of the fetus while it is still in the womb. This unpigmented (colored) lanugo usually begins to grow when the fetus is five months old (around 19 weeks). By birth, some of this fine hair will fall out. But in some cases, fine hair can still be carried away until the baby is born.
In general, lanugo functions as a protector of the fetal body so that it is not submerged in amniotic fluid, regulates fetal body temperature, protects the fetal body, and facilitates waxy substances (vernix) adhere to the skin of the fetus. Lanugo is more commonly seen in babies born prematurely.
Can Lanugo in Babies Be Cured?
Basically, the appearance of fine hair in babies is not a medical condition to worry about. The reason is, this condition is a biological response of the fetus when it is in the womb. The growth of lanugo in this baby is not something that requires special medical treatment. Babies will shed fine hair naturally a few days or weeks after birth. Keep in mind that scrubbing a baby's skin with lanugo is not an effective way to remove fine hair.
If this is still done, it can cause the baby's skin to become red, dry, and peeling. Let the fine hair on your little one's body disappear by itself. However, if fine hair appears around the spine, immediately consult a pediatrician. It may not be lanugo, but a sign of a more serious neurological disorder.
Lanugo in Adults
If fine hair is still growing in some parts of an adult's body, this could be a sign of a more serious health condition.
Excessive growth of fine hair in the body of adults is known as hypertrichosis lanuginosa. This condition is characterized by the growth of fine hair around the eyebrows, forehead, ears, and nose of adults. Most causes of hypertrichosis lanuginosa in adults are unknown.
This condition is often associated with certain medical conditions, such as malnutrition, eating disorders (anorexia), hyperthyroidism, HIV/AIDS, genetic disorders, and cancer. In addition to being related to disease, this condition is also thought to be caused by excess hormone production in cancer tissue and side effects of certain drugs, such as cyclosporine, phenytoin, interferon, spironolactone, and corticosteroids.
The treatment given depends on the severity of the patient with hypertrichosis lanuginose and the causative factors. Some common treatments that can be done, such as:
- Use of eflornithine creamThe use of this cream aims to slow down excessive hair growth.
- Method waxingWaxing You can also use it as an alternative to removing fine hair on the body of adults. However, before doing so, consult your dermatologist.
- Dermatology laser methodThis method is often used to remove tattoos and remove birthmarks. In addition, the laser method is also known to remove fine hair that grows in adults.
Patients with hypertrichosis lanuginosa caused by nutritional deficiencies, will disappear by themselves after undergoing nutritional therapy and special dietary recommendations from a nutritionist. However, if the fine hair on the body does not go away, consult your dermatologist immediately. The doctor will conduct a complete medical examination to determine the exact cause of the growth of fine hair on your body.
