Hypertrichosis

Excessive, non-androgen-dependent hair growth in areas not typically hairy for age, sex, and ethnicity. Unlike hirsutism, which represents excess androgen-dependent male-pattern hair growth in women.

Causes

• Medication-related causes

  • Minoxidil

  • Cyclosporine

  • Phenytoin

• Malignancy: Paraneoplastic syndrome --> excessive hair growth

• Hypothyroidism

• Severe malnutrition: Anorexia nervosa

• Chronic skin inflammation

• Prolonged topical corticosteroid use

• Application of occlusive materials (e.g., casts or dressings)

• Idiopathic acquired hypertrichosis

• Genetic predisposition without an identifiable syndrome

• Congenital causes

  • Congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa

  • Ambras syndrome

  • Cantú syndrome

  • Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome