Hypertrichosis

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"Werewolf syndrome" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Clinical lycanthropy.

Hypertrichosis (also called Ambras syndrome) is an abnormal amount of hair growth over the body;^[1][2] extensive cases of hypertrichosis have informally been called werewolf syndrome,^[3] because the appearance is similar to the werewolf. The two distinct types of hypertrichosis are generalized hypertrichosis, which occurs over the entire body, and localized hypertrichosis, which is restricted to a certain area.^[1] Hypertrichosis can be either congenital (present at birth) or acquired later in life.^[3][4] The excess growth of hair occurs in areas of the skin with the exception of androgen-dependent hair of the pubic area, face, and axillary regions.^[5]

Several circus sideshow performers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as Julia Pastrana, had hypertrichosis.^[6] Many of them worked as freaks and were promoted as having distinct human and animal traits.