How to Explain Werewolf Syndrome

Hypertrichosis is a condition also known as Werewolf Syndrome. This syndrome is a very misunderstood disorder of excessive, unwanted body hair. Nearly all of the skin on the body is covered with hair except the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Babies may be born with the congenital form of the syndrome or individuals may acquire the disorder later in life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Understand that hypertrichosis is a very misunderstood disorder of unwanted hair all over the body. It is usually a genetic disorder that is inherited or occurs as a spontaneous mutation.
2. Realize that Werewolf Syndrome is rare, affecting 1 in about 340 million people.
3. Learn that certain drugs can cause an increase in hair growth and that some excessive hair growth is related to cancer. Some drugs that may cause excessive hair growth include Diazoxide, oral Phenytoin, Ciclosporin and Minoxidil. Also untreated malnutrition as seen in anorexia also can cause unusual hair growth. These conditions are known as acquired hypertrichosis.
4. Know there is no cure for Werewolf Syndrome. The only treatment is cosmetic. The hair may be bleached or temporarily removed by waxing or permanently removed by methods such as electrolysis or laser destruction of the hair follicles.
5. Explain that the condition of hypertrichosis is usually always associated with teeth defects and excess gum growth. This is one reason individuals with hypertrichosis are referred to as werewolves, wolf-men and ape-men.

Tips & Warnings

• Discovery of hypertrichosis was made in 1648 when an entire family including a man, two daughters, his son and his grandchild were affected with Werewolf Syndrome. In 1984 a family in Mexico reported 24 members with hypertrichosis, with five generations affected.