body hair
introduction
Body hair, also known as androgenic hair, is the hair on the human body that is to be separated from the hair on the head. It is influenced by the androgen release. Whereas the growth of the scalp hair decreases when androgen is released, the growth of body hair is increased when androgen is released.
Since this is different in men and women, the adult body hair develops in a gender-specific manner. For this reason, body hair is also one of the secondary gender characteristics. Age and genetic predisposition are also responsible for the development of body hair. Depending on the genetic predisposition, the degree of hair growth is determined. In addition, the hormonal release of androgens determines the density and amount of body hair.
Due to the genetic disposition, even hormonally healthy women can develop very pronounced body hair.
Function of body hair
The body hair has both protective function as well as one thermo-regulating function through surface enlargement. In addition, the skin through hair more sensitive and touch is better perceived.
Before the actual body hair develops during puberty, the human body is covered by unpigmented, unpigmented hair. This body hair is known as vellus hair and protects the organism against ectoparasites such as mosquitoes or ticks.
Body hair formation
With the onset of puberty and the hormonal stimulation gender-specific body hair develops.
At the man body hair growth begins with about 10 years and can last up to the age of 30, especially in the chest, shoulder and back area. Whereas with the woman at the End of puberty the terminal body hair, in places such as pubic hair, anal hair, Armpit hair and arms and legs.
However, it is not ruled out that through Hormone treatments or changed hormonal status as for example in the Post menopause, the texture and shape of body hair can change further. Male body hair affects additional parts of the body, such as the WhiskersHair, nose and ear hair, or hair on the back. During puberty, body hair begins in the genital area. That follows with age Armpit hair and then the Beard growth.
Figure hair
Hair - build-up
- Hair shaft - Stipes pili
- Epidermis - epidermis
- Hair root
- Sebum -
Glandula sebacea - Root sheath -
Vagina radicularis epithelialis - Scent gland -
Glandula sudorifera apocrina - Hair papilla -
Papilla dermalis pili - Vascular network of the hair papilla -
Rete capillare papillae pili - Growth zone - matrix
- Hair bulb
- Sweat gland -
Glandula sudorifera merocrina - Hair follicle muscle -
Arrector pili muscle - Hair pulp - Medulla
- Hair bark - Cortex
- Cuticle of hair -
Cuticle - Glass skin - Membrana vitrea
- Hair follicle - Vagina dermalis radicularis
You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations
abnormalities
With the End of puberty pubic hair as well as armpit and extremity hair should be observed in both sexes visible and pronounced be. For hormonal or physical reasons, it may be after puberty only a few hairs be present, in order to get clarity here, it is possible yourself advised by a doctor allow.
Conversely, also for to heavy body hair there is a physical cause such as hormonal dysregulation and a consultation with a doctor can help here too. An abnormally pronounced growth of body hair is called Hypertrichosis designated. It can occur in both men and women. One distinguishes one congenital or acquired hypertrichosis.
A unnatural increased body hair of the womanthat corresponds to the male body hair is called Hirsutism. Hirsutism can be caused by hormone-producing tumors or by drugs such as androgens, Anabolic steroids or Steroids.
If the reason is excessive body hair in the hormonal system, a Hormone therapy help. Also physical methods like bleaching, Lasers or epilation will be at the Hair removal used. If you have any abnormalities or questions, gynecologists, dermatologists or endocrinologists can provide advice.
Body hair in men
The development of typical male body hair and thus the development of the male secondary sexual characteristics begins in the first phase of puberty (10-15 years of age) and can continue to develop up to the age of 30.
But even in childhood, the whole body, apart from the palms and feet (groin skin) and mucous membranes, is covered with light, colorless downy hair (Vellus hair) covered. About 90% of this downy hair is replaced by a darker, more medullary terminal hair on the following parts of the body during puberty: nose, ears, cheeks / chin, chest, armpits, stomach, back, buttocks, arms and legs.
However, the hair is not equally pronounced in every man or in all of the above. Body parts present, it varies depending on the genetic expression or different habitats. The point in time at which terminal hair begins to develop can also vary greatly from person to person. The terminal hair usually begins in the armpit and genital region and continues in the following years into hair on the cheeks, back, stomach, etc. The development and expression of body hair is controlled by androgens, i.e. the male sex hormones. The more androgens (testosterone) there are, the thicker the body hair usually becomes. An additional androgen intake (e.g. through Anabolic steroids) cause increased body hair in men.
An abnormally thick hair on individual parts of the body or on the entire body, which does not necessarily show the typical male hair pattern, is called Hypertrichosis designated. This can occur with no disease value or it can be the result of various diseases (blood diseases, hereditary diseases, hormone-producing tumors, anorexia) or drugs. What all causes have in common is that the increased body hair occurs independently of androgen.
However, the idea of the ideal or abnormal degree of hairiness varies from culture to culture, with male hair generally being more acceptable than female hair.
Body hair in women
In women it develops in the puberty (8-13 years of age) from the colorless, downy vellus hair of childhood in the pubic area, anal area, in the armpits and on the arms and legs, darker, more medullary terminal hair.
The woman's pubic hair is covered in a pointed triangular shape Labia and the mons pubis. Pubic hair grows about 1 cm per month and falls out after about 6 months. The pubic hair is usually a darker color than the scalp hair and is stronger than this. In Europe they are mostly curly, in Africa they are strongly ruffled and in Asia and America they are smooth and close-fitting.
How dark or how pronounced the hair is depends on the genetic disposition, which is the number of hair growth cells. In women too, the amount of hair depends on the male sex hormone testosterone together. The more of this hormone there is, the thicker and more numerous the hairs in women.
Besides the Hypertrichosis (unnatural, increased body hair), which can occur in both men and women, there is a clinical picture that can only be found in women (Hirsutism). Here it comes to a typical male hair on the chin, on the upper lip, in the jaw area, on the chest, below the navel and on the thighs. In contrast to hypertrichosis, the Hirsutism by a increased production of male sex hormones (Androgens) on. The causes for increased testosterone production are diverse and range from a genetic predisposition to Ulcers (Tumors) on the ovaries (Ovaries) to various diseases in the field of Adrenal cortex, the place where androgens are formed.
In women, hirsutism and hypertrichosis belong to the image of masculinization (Virlization).
Too much body hair is seen in many places as unhygienic or unaesthetic and is less accepted than man's body hair. As a result, full body hair removal is not uncommon for women these days, with the armpits and legs being most commonly hair removed.
Body hair in babies
In the 4th month of pregnancy, unpigmented, very short and thin woolly hair forms on the fetus (Lanugo hair). In addition to the cheese smear (Venix caseosa), which is produced by the sebum glands of the lanugo hair, the lanugo hair serves the fetus as protection against its own softening by the amniotic fluid, against vibrations, noise and cold. In addition, the lanugo hairs help the child's first stool (meconium) to form, which stimulates the newborn's bowel movements. Lanugo hair usually disappears during pregnancy.
If the child is recovered too early, lanugo hair can sometimes be found. The persistence of this hair after the child is born is called Hypertrichosis lanuginosa designated.
In the first years of life, a very thin, colorless downy hair (vellus hair) forms on the smooth, hairless skin of the baby, which covers almost the entire body except for the palms and feet (groin), lips and nipples.
Also read: Hair growth in the baby
Permanent hair removal
As permanent hair removal This is the term for hair not growing back for at least 3 months. The larger the proportion of the total hair system, the longer the hair removal will take. With permanent hair removal, not only the hair but also the Hair papilla, i.e. the area in which the hair grows, is removed or destroyed.
There are various, often very expensive methods of permanent hair removal:
On the one hand, the hair can be permanently Laser treatment removed. The hair is destroyed by the heat energy at the hair root. Since the heat energy only reaches the color pigments (melanin), the surrounding skin can be protected. However, one session is not enough, usually approx. 8-12 treatments for optimal and permanent hair removal.
On the other hand there is the possibility in the form of Light energy to remove the hair in the long term. Here, the skin area is illuminated over a large area and, especially in the hair roots, there is such a high level of heat that it is destroyed. The disadvantage here is that the entire hair area as such is not completely spared of energy, so it can become too after the treatment Redness, Swelling and Scabbing come.
Electro-epilation is also a method of permanent hair treatment. This technique is also based on supplying the cells responsible for hair growth with so much energy that they die. In this case a fine probe is inserted into the hair root and the energy is applied in electrical form.
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