Prepuberal hypertrichosis L68.-

Generalized, for the respective body part untypically strong hair, in diffuse androgen-independent. Hair-biologically, a transition from vellus hair to terminal hair takes place.

There are no exact data on the incidence of prepubertal hypertrichosis; probably not rare; familial occurrence possible.

One study showed a slight increase in peripheral 5alpha-reductase activity in patients with a normal androgen profile (Gryngarten M et al. 2000)

Conspicuously thick and dark hair in the area of forehead, eyebrows, back, shoulders and upper extremities, deep hairline at the temples, intercapular hair vertebrae and strong hair on the elbows.

Clinical picture with the typical androgen-independent distribution pattern of terminal hair.

Symptomatic, shaving, depilation, wax removal, laser depilation. Remark: During mechanical depilation, e.g. wax removal, there is a risk of transformation of vellus hairs into terminal hairs.

Hpertrichosis persists throughout life. An increase in hypertrichosis is to be expected especially in men with dark skin type.

1. Barth JH et al (1988) Prepubertal hypertrichosis: normal or abnormal? Arch Dis Child 63:666-668.
2. Gryngarten M et al (2000) Clinical assessment and serum hormonal profile in prepubertal hypertrichosis. Horm Res 54:20-25.
3. Hernandez MI et al (2014) Hormonal profile and androgen receptor study in prepubertal girls with hypertrichosis. Int J Pediatr Endocrinol 6:doi:10.1186/1687-9856-2014-6
4. Trüeb RM et al (1994) Prepubertal hypertrichosis. Switzerland Med Wschr. 124: 595-560