Congenital Hypertrichosis Lanuginosa Treatment & Management

  • Author: Sarah K Taylor, MD; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 17, 2012
 

Medical Care

  • The use of eflornithine (Vaniqa cream), 13.9% or hair removal by means of repeated shaving, depilatory methods (eg, chemical, electric methods), or bleaching can improve congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa (CHL) patients’ appearance.
  • Older techniques of hair removal are mentioned in the literature; these rarely used techniques include diathermy and radiation therapy.
  • Clinicians should consider the use of antidepressant medications in patients with psychological sequelae, including depression.
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Surgical Care

  • Laser hair removal has been proposed as a treatment option, although there are conflicting reports regarding the proposed efficacy of lasers in removing the vellus hairs in congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa.
  • Littler found a 40-80% reduction in unwanted hair using the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser after the application of a topical carbon-based solution. This therapy may be a well-tolerated method of hair removal in children because the lower fluences required resulted in decreased associated pain during treatment.
  • Vashi et al suggest that because of the difference in the penetrance of laser light into nonpigmented hair versus pigmented hair, laser therapy may not be effective in unpigmented lanugo or vellus hairs .[20]
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Consultations

  • Genetic consultation may be indicated for the family members of patients with congenital hypertrichosis or Ambras syndrome.
    • Congenital hypertrichosis lanuginosa and Ambras syndrome may have an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance; however, an association with a genetic defect has not been demonstrated in all patients.
    • Belengeanu et al describe 2 siblings with purported Ambras syndrome born to normal parents and propose that these patients might represent either an autosomal recessive pattern or germline mosaicism.[38]
  • Psychiatric evaluation may be indicated in patients in whom the physical findings of the syndrome cause psychological morbidity.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Sarah K Taylor, MD  Staff Physician, Kimbrough Dermatology, Ft George G Meade

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.

Specialty Editor Board

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.

Michael J Wells, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine

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.

Jeffrey P Callen, MD  Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), 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; Celgene Honoraria Safety Monitoring Committee

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

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

Additional Contributors

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

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Family of Petrus Gonzales, who lived in the 16th century.
Patients in well-documented cases of Ambras syndrome. (A) Daughter of Petrus Gonzales. (B) Grandson of Schwe Maong. (C) Adrrian Jepticheff. (D) Fedor.
 
 
 
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