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What is lanugo?
From about the third month of pregnancy, a fine down called lanugo begins to cover parts of the fetal body, until it is completely wrapped at the start of the fifth month. In line with the vernix, it is responsible for protect in utero the baby’s fragile skin from external aggressions, forming a barrier between the epidermis and the aqueous environment represented by the amniotic liquid.
It usually comes off and goes away at the end of the pregnancy, which is why premature babies are often covered with this fine down usually unpigmented, except on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet which remained hairless.
However, we note that some infants born at term also have lanugo. No need to worry, these hairs are not a sign of poor health and vary from newborn to newborn. They will protect the sensitive skin of your baby during his first days of life, against possible external aggressions and other environmental factors such as dust for example.
When does the lanugo disappear?
We note that the lanugo is particularly present on the back, shoulders, legs and arms of infants. It will go away naturally a few days to a few months after giving birth, as your baby’s skin changes and matures.
No need to intervene to make the lanugo disappear more quickly. There is nothing else to do but wait for the hairs to fall out. While the thickness and color of the down may vary depending on the genetic heritage of the child, lanugo and the time it will take to disappear are in no way a sign of increased or abnormal hair growth in the growing baby.
Lanugo: a natural phenomenon not to be confused with hirsutism or hypertrichosis
While the down from birth is normal and completely natural, the reappearance of hair growth in the child after the disappearance of lanugo can be worrying in some cases.
THEhypertrichosis, also called “werewolf syndrome”, is characterized by an increase in hair growth on already hairy parts of the body. This pathology is most often caused by a hormonal imbalance, the taking of certain drug treatments, or even being overweight.
Another possibility ishirsutism. This pathology results in the excessive development of hair in women on areas generally devoid of hair, such as the neck, upper lip, face or even the chest. A phenomenon which is also generally explained by a hormonal imbalance and too much production of androgens.
If in doubt, do not hesitate to consult a dermatologist who can quickly make a diagnosis and suggest an appropriate treatment.