10 Unusual and Strange Hair Growth (Unexpected Body Regions)

Hair is an elongated strand of structures growing out of our skin. Hair adds to our beautiful appearance when it grows in the normal area of our body, where it is expected to grow.

Seeing hair in an area where it is never expected to grow in the human body often catches the attention of others because it a strange hair growth. Babies with unusual hair as well always draw the attention of people.

 1. Hairy Tongue

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A hairy tongue is a strange, benign condition, it is not dangerous, in which the little bumps on the upper top of the tongue are characterized by hairy elongation and discoloration. The small bumps on the top surface of the tongue known as filiform papillae become elongated. It is strange hair growth.                          

If the tongue cannot shed its covering tissue as usual, because it cannot be stimulated or abrasion on the tongue, it results in this abnormal strange hair coating.

Keratin, the proteinous compound that makes up a larger percentage of the hair on our head is the exact protein that is made up of filiform papillae if they do not get rid of properly resulting in a small hair-like structure.

Photo credit: aaom.com

This hairy structure is commonly approximately one millimeter in length. When there is an accumulation of keratin on the tongue, then yeast, food, or bacteria also pile in the over-keratinized filiform papillae network. This gives rise to odd discoloration. The coloration can be brown, cream, or black depending on what initiates it or the bacteria involved.

Hairy tongue is known to affect around 13% of the world's population. It is popular among men than women and it can surface at any age. This strange hair growth can also occur because of a large amount of use of antibiotics, radiation treatment to the head, use of tobacco, or lack of good oral cleanliness[1].

 

 2. Unusual Hairy Gum

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This is unusual. How the gum tissue grows hairs is unclear to scientists. The only link is these, mouth tissue originates from the exact layer of cells that developed into the skin during embryonic maturation. It is typical for some to have oil glands in the mouth, as the way they have it on their skin, but having hair in the mouth is odd. [2]

There was a case of an Italian lady, Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)  may cause unusual eyelash-like hair sprouting in her gum. At the age of 19, eyelash-like hair sprout from her gums, while suffering from PCOS.  The disease in which hormonal balance is lost and ovulation becomes difficult.

The hairs in her gum were removed surgically and use an oral contraceptive to address her hormonal imbalance, the hair ceases growing. Nevertheless, after 6 years, the hair grew again from her gums because she quit taking her hormonal drugs. [3]

 3. Hairy Eyeball

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An unusual benign tumor can result in hair sprouting on the eye, it can be present at birth. The hairy eyeball tumor called limbal dermoid is a category of skin tissue that can develop hair, cartilage, and even sweat glands. It can result in mild discomfort every time the eye blinks with the tumor. The tumor can shoot up hair to about 5mm in diameter and several black hairs can develop.

 

This strange hair growth in the organ of sight is very rare. 1 or 2 cases may only be seen by an eye physician during his career. Limbal dermoid causes vision impairment because the tumor on the eyeball wrap patient's vision and can prevent sharp, clear eyesight[4]. 

 4. Uncombable Hair Syndrome

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Uncombable hair syndrome (UHS) is a genetic mutation of the hair in which the hair is unable to be combed flat. It is an extremely rare case. The unusual hair is characterized by straw color hair, a kind of white afro hair and it can easily be damaged. 

Albert Einstein is believed by some to have this very type of hair. It was estimated that about 100 people worldwide have UHS. The structure is different from African hair. African hair has a tightly coiled structure. People with UHS do not develop normal hair shafts.

Albert Einstein. Photo credit: Getty Images

The hair shafts of USH have channels instead of having a round shape. This brings about it having a heart-shaped or triangular shape. The three genes, PADI3, TGM3, and TCHH are responsible for the hair shaft; their mutation is linked to these strange uncombable hairs. [5]

 5. Baby Born With Gray Hair

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Gray hair is something that happens as we age. It is unusual for a baby to have gray hair at birth. "Fifty percent of the population has about 50% gray hair at the age of 50", says a dermatologist. A baby named Bence was born with his headcover with gray hair from Székesfehérvár, Hungary. [6]

 

Apart from having gray hair, doctors confirm the baby was healthy. He has normal height and his weight is just slightly above average. Doctors run a blood test to confirm if the baby was an albino, but the test results show he was not an albino.

 

It was just that there is only low melanin in his hair not in the skin and iris. Low or lack of melanin in the skin and iris are the signs of albinism[7].    

 6. Baby Born With a Full Hair

Photo credit: JIM BENNETT

Many newborns are born with little hair and some are even born bald. At the time Dolly Cantham was given birth, nurses, doctors including the baby's mother were astounded to see the baby with a head full of hair. Within the first 6 months of birth, it is usual for babies to lose their hair. Dolly Cantham's hair is different.

This is because the baby's hormone level usually drops after birth, the process is known as telogen effluvium. Dolly's case is different, she didn't experience this process, Dolly's hair continues to grow.

Photo credit: JIM BENNETT

Her mum said, she is five months old, and keeping her hair under control is not easy, she follows a strict daily beauty routine. Dolly's mother said when she goes out with Dolly, people stop her all the time.

Most times, people mistook Dolly for a porcelain doll. Her mother also complained of having a lot of heartburn during her pregnancy with Dolly, this might be because of the baby having full hair right from the womb. [8]

 7. Black People With Blond Hair

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Blond hair is common among white people, especially people from Europe and Oceania. It is unusual for black people to have natural blond hair, this is rare. Solomon Islanders are blacks (dark-skinned).

In Solomon Island, 5 -10% of the population has natural blond hair with dark skin. The blond hair is not a result of the people of Solomon Islands marrying Europeans with blond hair, but rather as a result of genetic mutation. 

Europeans blond is not a result of genetic mutation, like those of Solomon Islanders. For people from Solomon islands with blond hair, a gene called TYRP1 on the 23rd pair of chromosomes is mutated, resulting in blond hair[9]. 

 8. A Patch of Gray Hair

A patch of white/gray hair at the front of the head of young individuals can easily be spotted. It is known as poliosis. It is unusual gray hair growth at a particular area of the body. It is rare and the patch can also be seen in other areas of the head.

 
For poliosis, eyebrows, as well as eyelashes, can also be affected with gray hair. A patch of white hair may happen because of defects in the melanization of the hair shaft in the affected area. In that case, it can be inherited.

It may also be a result of autoimmune diseases that affect the hair follicles or pigment cells at the base of the hair. Though poliosis is not harmful it can serve as a warning of having health issues if it suddenly appears, meaning a need to see the doctor. Health issues such as tuberous sclerosis, piebaldism, halo moles, and Waardenburg syndrome may be responsible for poliosis. [10]

 9. Unusual Hairy Face

Hypertrichosis is a state in which excess hair grows in areas where the hair is not expected to grow. It is strange hair growth on the face.

 

This Abnormal hair growth can be seen covering the whole face and body or it can occur in small patches. It is also known as werewolf syndrome. The basis or the causation of the werewolf syndrome is not really understood.

 

The thickness and the degree of hair growth depend on the genetic trait in families. The syndrome can also be acquired and malnutrition plays a role. It can affect both young and old, men and women, though it is very rare, with only 50 cases reported worldwide. The condition can happen at birth or develop over time. [11]

In Spain, about twenty kids suffer from werewolf syndrome because they drank a medicated syrup produced by a company. The syrup is supposed to contain omeprazole, anti-reflux medicine, rather than, the pharmaceutical company distributes medicated syrup mixed with minoxidil, a treatment for hair loss. [12]

 10. Women With Beard

Photo Credits: Harnaam Kaur/Instagram

Hirsutism is a state in which a lot of hairs sprout in areas where hair normally grows for men and not women. Areas like the upper lip, chin, chest, stomach, or back. The hair is often dark and coarse. Hirsutism is strange hair growth in women.

 

Hypertrichosis (werewolf syndrome) is not the same as hirsutism. Hypertrichosis causes excessive sprouting of hair in every part of the body, both male and female. Whereas in, hirsutism, hair sprouts in areas typically seen in men because it depends on androgens (male hormone).

 

Hormonal Androgens levels in women are very low, though all women body secret androgens. When the levels of androgens including testosterone are higher than the normal level it ought to be in females, women develop this facial hair and excessive hair in other parts of the body.

 

High levels of androgens can also result in other male characteristics, such as balding, deep voice, and increased muscle mass. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one usual cause of hirsutism, it accounts for three out of every four hirsutism cases. [13]

Photo credit: Harnaam Kaur/Instagram

Sometimes, hirsutism runs in families and it is common among women from the Middle East, South Asia, and the Mediterranean. Being obese can worsen the condition because obesity can change the body's way of secreting hormones. Some drugs too can change hormonal levels, such as drugs that aid hair growth, drugs that have hormones such as anabolic steroids and danazol, and drugs that are used in treating endometriosis. [14]

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