Vellus hair

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

All authors of this article

Last updated on: 25.05.2022

Dieser Artikel auf Deutsch

Requires free registration (medical professionals only)

Please login to access all articles, images, and functions.

Our content is available exclusively to medical professionals. If you have already registered, please login. If you haven't, you can register for free (medical professionals only).


Requires free registration (medical professionals only)

Please complete your registration to access all articles and images.

To gain access, you must complete your registration. You either haven't confirmed your e-mail address or we still need proof that you are a member of the medical profession.

Finish your registration now

HistoryThis section has been translated automatically.

Gossage, 1908

DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

The vellus hair is the normal surface hair, which is located on the entire body. It consists of small delicate, less pigmented and markless body hairs.

Vellus hairs replace the non-pigmented, markless lanugo hairs from the 7th-8th intrauterine month.

The transformation of vellus hairs into the pigmented and medullary terminal hair occurs on capillitium, eyebrows and eyelashes during the first years of life. The other skin areas remain vellus hairy until puberty.

Postpubertal, terminal hair is formed on different parts of the body under the influence of androgens. The terminal hairs in the axillae, pubes and beard region are called long hairs or sexual hairs.

Authors

Last updated on: 25.05.2022

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer