By Ahsan Farooq Khan
Updated: August 7, 2024
4 minutes
Lanugo, a term not heard that often in our daily conversation, is a significant aspect of human development. In this article, we will be telling you about lanugo, its purpose in human biology, the factors that contribute to its presence, and how it can be treated when required or if it is even necessary to treat lanugo.
Table of Contents:
What is Lanugo?
Lanugo refers to light, suede, delicate, and unpigmented hair that covers the bodies of developing fetuses in a mother’s womb. Lanugo begins to appear roughly at 16-20 weeks of gestation, all over the body though the lips, palms, nails, genitalia, and soles of the feet are exempted since they do not contain hair follicle germinative. While most babies shed lanugo before birth, some newborns may still exhibit it at delivery. Premature babies are more likely to retain lanugo compared to those born at full term (39 weeks). However, regardless of when your baby is born, lanugo typically disappears naturally without the need for intervention. This hair is usually shed before birth, although premature babies may still retain it at the time of delivery. Lanugo can sometimes be seen in a newborn baby but can also persist until the infant months, although this is rather unusual.
Function of Lanugo
During pregnancy, the growing fetus is enclosed in a sac which is surrounded by amniotic fluid to afford protection and a shock-absorber effect. Their skin is naturally covered with vernix, which is a waxy substance that resembles cheese, protecting it from the amniotic fluid and preventing friction. Apart from that, lanugo plays a role in protecting the skin and helps in the selection of vernix to stick on a baby’s skin.
Hence, during fetal growth and development, lanugo has multiple uses. It majorly plays a role in maintaining the fetus’s temperature by providing insulation. Additionally, it has a protective function, as under its cover, the fragile fetal skin is shielded from the amniotic fluid in which the fetus floats.
Causes of Lanugo
Even though lanugo is a normal aspect of fetal growth, its persistence beyond birth can be suggestive of any underlying medical condition as well such as certain eating disorders or certain tumours or cancers. We will be discussing those conditions shortly. One of the most common causes of the persistence of lanugo is prematurity. Babies born prematurely often retain lanugo due to their underdeveloped skin and other physiological systems. In some cases, however, lanugo may persist in full-term babies as well.
Medical conditions that may be associated with the presence of lanugo include:
1. Anorexia Nervosa: Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by extreme calorie restriction and individuals having this condition may develop lanugo as their body struggles a great deal to conserve heat and energy.
2. Hormonal Fluctuations and Imbalance: Several people suffer from certain hormonal disturbances that are connected to thyroid or adrenal gland diseases, and may develop lanugo at any age.
3. Malnutrition: Severe malnutrition can be an important cause of the growth of lanugo as the body attempts to retain heat and preserve energy.
Treatment of Lanugo
The management of lanugo is therefore based on identifying and treating the underlying cause of the condition. If lanugo is a normal phenomenon of fetal development or if present in premature babies, then it may not require treatment as the hair comes off on its own in the first couple of weeks after birth and it is important for protection as well as aforementioned.
However, if the lanugo hair remains beyond the infancy period, or if it is associated with conditions such as anorexia nervosa or any other disease that is related to hormonal imbalance, then it requires to be treated. In such cases, it is imperative to understand that the focal treatment should be oriented toward the underlying medical condition. This might include dietary advice, treatment of eating disorders, hormone replacement therapy, or any other treatment depending on the recommendation of a physician. Hence, it requires professional assistance and it can be treated with the use of a range of disciplines with the specialist doctor’s help depending on the cause of the condition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, lanugo is a fine, soft hair that covers the bodies of developing fetuses in the womb. While it serves important purposes during fetal development, its persistence beyond birth can sometimes be indicative of underlying medical conditions. Treatment of lanugo depends on its underlying cause and may involve addressing nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, or other medical issues, whatever be the culprit cause. If you know someone who is experiencing persistent lanugo, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional preferably a dermatologist for proper evaluation and management to get a tailor-made treatment plan suited to meet your requirements. A dermatologist is going to identify and involve various other specialists to manage this condition effectively.
