eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Adnexa

Congenital Hypertrichosis Lanuginosa: Follow-up

Author: Sarah K Taylor, MD, Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center
Coauthor(s): Kenneth J Galeckas, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Staff Dermatologist, Director, Laser and Cosmetic Clinic, Intern and Medical Student Coordinator, Department of Dermatology, National Naval Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jun 18, 2009

Follow-up

Further Inpatient Care

  • Further inpatient care is not necessary for patients with congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa (CHL).

Further Outpatient Care

  • Patients with hypertrichosis may elect to undergo laser treatment for hair removal.

Inpatient & Outpatient Medications

  • Vaniqa cream may be helpful for retarding the growth of unwanted hair.

Complications

  • Compliance issues are the major complications in patients with congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa. Inconvenience, cost, and the patient's dissatisfaction with the appearance of the hair, may influence his or her compliance with a hair removal regimen.
  • Psychological sequelae may occur because of the presence of unwanted hair.

Prognosis

  • In congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa, hair growth occurs until an average patient age of 2 years. Afterward, hair regresses during adolescence .19
  • In Ambras syndrome, patients are described as having increased hair growth throughout their lifetime.

Patient Education

  • Patients should be aware that hypertrichosis may have a genetic component, and therefore may be inherited by subsequent generations.
  • Patients should be aware that the genetic basis for congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa has not been identified, but the overall health of individuals with hypertrichosis is good.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Medicolegal concerns include the misdiagnosis of alternative syndromes, potential adverse effects of medical therapy, and adverse effects of laser therapy.
  • Lack of appropriate genetic counseling in families with children with congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa or Ambras syndrome can expose a physician to a liability.
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors, Abby S. Van Voorhees, MD, and Analisa Halpern Vincent, MD, and previous Chief Editor, William D. James, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Congenital Hypertrichosis Lanuginosa

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Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Congenital Hypertrichosis Lanuginosa
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Multimedia: Congenital Hypertrichosis Lanuginosa
References
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Further Reading

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Keywords

congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa, CHL, congenital hypertrichosis universalis, hypertrichosis universalis, hypertrichosis lanuginosa universalis, hypertrichosis disorders, hypertrichosis syndromes, Ambras syndrome, persistent hypertrichosis universalis, hirsutism, dog-men, hair-men, human Skye terriers, ape-men, werewolves, Homo silvestris, hypertrichosis of the dog-men, lanugo hair

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Sarah K Taylor, MD, Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Kenneth J Galeckas, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Staff Dermatologist, Director, Laser and Cosmetic Clinic, Intern and Medical Student Coordinator, Department of Dermatology, National Naval Medical Center
Kenneth J Galeckas, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and Association of Military Dermatologists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Leonard Sperling, MD, Chair, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Leonard Sperling, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Jeffrey P Callen, MD, Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine
Jeffrey P Callen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and American College of Rheumatology
Disclosure: Amgen Honoraria Consulting; Abbott Honoraria Consulting; Electrical Optical Sciences Honoraria Consulting; Centocor Honoraria Consulting; Genetech Honoraria Consulting; Celgene Honoraria Consulting

CME Editor

Glen H Crawford, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital
Glen H Crawford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of USAF Flight Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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