• Question: What causes Congenital Hypertrichosis Lanuginosa (Human Werewolf Syndrome)? I have heard that it may be casused by a genetic mutation. Is there any method to treat the current generation who have this syndrome? (- i.e. people already infected, not their future generations)

    Asked by tpgovind to Chris, Kay, Kerstin, Lorna, Liv on 23 Mar 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Chris Needham

      Chris Needham answered on 23 Mar 2010:

      I’ve no idea!

    • Photo: Kerstin Zechner

      Kerstin Zechner answered on 23 Mar 2010:

      Hi! Yes, there are two ways you can get it. Either by inheriting it from a parent, or you can acquire the disease later in life. This will most likely occur in cancer patients or people suffering from anorexia. At the moment, as far as I’m aware, there are no real medical treatments, only cosmetic hair removal, which isn’t the best solution.

    • Photo: Olivia Hibbitt

      Olivia Hibbitt answered on 23 Mar 2010:

      Hey tpgovind,

      as far as I know the only real treatment is management of the excess hair which is pretty rubbish! The condition is mainly caused by genetic mutation, people who are born with this condition are not infected by anything, it’s a mutation that causes excess hair to grow. Other things can cause excess hair, mainly hormonal imbalances….in these cases hormone treatments is usually a good bet!

    • Photo: Kay Penicud

      Kay Penicud answered on 24 Mar 2010:

      Nope, thats liv’s area of reseach! What we’d need is what she’s working on, ie a delivery system to deliver and replace ‘correct’ copies of genes to your cells

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