Disease Symptoms

Wolfman syndrome is another term for hypertrichosis. Hypertrichosis is a dermatological condition which determines an excessive hair growth for a particular skin area (where hair does not usually grow). In some patients the disease may be congenital while in others the onset of the disease may be later, even in their adult lives.  Depending on the patient's age and hair growth pattern hypertrichosis may be classified. Depending on the surface of the body affected hypertrichosis may be generalized (it affects multiple sites or all the body) or localized (abnormal hair growth on a certain area or only a few sites, of a reduced surface). Depending on the age of onset, these two types may also be divided into congenital (the disorder was present at birth) or acquirea (which developed in time).


Generalized congenital hypertrichosis is a very rare condition of which fewer than 75 cases have been documented. This is a genetic disease determined by the addition or deletion of DNA fragments on chromosome 17. In this form of the disease the baby presents at birth the normal lanugo hairs ( long, light colored silky hairs which grow on all embryos in the womb ) but instead of falling in the first several months after birth, the hair remains on the baby's body, except the soles and the palms and the hair growth does not reduce in time. The hair density is increased on the face and shoulders.  In congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa (a variant of the previously mentioned disorder) the hair is also lanugo type and the patients are usually normal or with mild dental malformations; but the disease's most disturbing aspect (the excessive hair growth) may reduce in time. Both this forms have in common gingival hyperplasia associated with dental malformations (fewer teeth, abnormal teeth eruption). The infants with these two diseases will aldo have a higher frequency of spina bifida.

Another form of congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa is a hair growth pattern called Brachmann de Lange which is associated with mental retardation and growth delay. In this form of hypertrichosis the pilosity decreases in time.

Acquired generalized hypertrichosis is almost always a sign of an underlying or developing internal malignant process or it may be triggered by the exposure to chemical substances (in these circumstances the hair falls after the exposure ends). Acquired generalized hypertrichosis may also be caused by porphyries.

In localized congenital hypertrichosis the abnormal hairgrowth affects just one or a few sites, especially the back, ears and elbows (hypertrichosis cubiti). When affecting the back, hypertrichosis may suggest neural or spinal abnormalities. The infants with diabetic mothers will have excessive hair in the ear area.

Localized acquired hypertrichosis defines a category of transient hypertrichoses determined by a variety of causes such as trauma, sunburns, inflammation which transform the short, soft, non-pigmented hairs (vellus hairs) into coarse, pigmented terminal hairs as a response to the irritating factors. In this category are also included trichomegaly (excessive growth of the eyelashes) and Becker's nevus (excessive hair growth and pigmentation on the shoulders, determined by injuries and sunburns.)