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Pubic
hair loss
A total lack of hair growth in the pubic area at puberty is a
rare condition - usually associated with a genetic anomaly in
the affected individual. There are many genetic conditions that
have
an absence
of body hair, including pubic hair, as one of the symptoms – too
many to mention here. Most of these conditions are rare and of
the many
physcial
and mental retardation symptoms potentially involved, a lack of
pubic hair is usually not the primary concern.
A disruption of hormone production prepuberty may result in a
lack of pubic hair growth through puberty and adulthood. Pituitary
insufficiency and androgen resistance are rare conditions, but
they can result in sparse to no pubic hair growth at puberty. A
hysterectomy or
bilateral
oopherectomy may be done prepuberty due to abnormal bleeding and
this can also result in a lack of pubic hair growth in adulthood.
In these cases hormone replacement or topical application of androgenic
drugs to the pubis to stimulate terminal hair growth is typically
the preferred treatment approach.
Some ethnic groups in East Asia have a genetic constitution that
codes for a relative lack of body hair growth as compared to Caucasians
and they have only limited pubic terminal hair. For example, one
report suggests up to 4.4% of adult, female South Koreans may
have no significant pubic hair growth. Unfortunately, many Asian
men
and women traditionally associate a lack of pubic hair with lack
of "moral values". As a result, the cultural pressure,
particularly on women, to have a thick crop of pubic hair is high
in some Asian countries. Some women suffer psychologic distress
and have a low self-esteem due to a lack of pubic hair growth.
Apparently, it can be a significant issue when finding a husband.
For Japanese women it can also be a problem in public baths and
hot springs where nude bathing is acceptable, but "morally
questionable" patrons are barred. In these cases, a lack
of pubic hair growth can be treated by hair transplantation.
There are also non-genetic causes of pubic hair hypotrichosis
(a lack of pubic hair growth) or pubic hair alopecia (hair loss
through disease). Some individuals grow a normal pubic hair density
at puberty, but may find alopecia develops later in adulthood.
The most common causes of pubic hair loss include alopecia areata
and telogen effluvium (see elsewhere on this web site for details).
In these cases, the best approach is
to treat the alopecia areata or telogen effluvium. If treatment
is successful, the affected pubic hair follicles should regrow
and produce new hair fibers.
Some people with trichotillomania (a habit of hair plucking) will
focus on the pubic region. One report suggests there may be a similar
disorder called Trichotemnomania that involves obsessive-compulsive shaving
of the pubic hair and other hair bearing skin.
For those over 65 years of age there may be a general thinning
of pubic hair. Hair growth slows down in the elderly and this
may become apparent as a diffuse hair loss most noticeable on the
scalp,
but underarm hair and pubic hair may also be lost.
Drugs, particularly psychotropic drugs and glucocorticoids, may
cause hair loss in the pubic region in addition to the scalp.
In short, there are many potential causes of pubic hair loss or
hypotrichosis. Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about it.
Pubic
hair loss references
- Happle R.
Trichotemnomania: obsessive-compulsive habit of cutting or shaving the hair.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005 Jan;52(1):157-9.
PMID: 15627101
- Vega Gutierrez J, Miranda-Romero A, Perez Milan
F, Martinez Garcia G.
Graham Little-Piccardi-Lassueur syndrome associated with androgen insensitivity
syndrome (testicular feminization).
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2004 Jul;18(4):463-6.
PMID: 15196163
- Chen HC, Mardini S, Santamaria E. Long-term
follow-up and unusual findings after microvascular transfer of
hair-bearing skin for pubic hair restoration. Ann Plast Surg.
2003 Dec;51(6):627-9. PMID: 14646664
- Wit JM, Langenhorst VJ, Jansen M, Oostdijk WA, van Doorn J.
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate treatment for atrichia pubis.
Horm Res. 2001;56(3-4):134-9.
PMID: 11847477
- Gottlieb B, Pinsky L, Beitel LK, Trifiro M.
Androgen insensitivity.
Am J Med Genet. 1999 Dec 29;89(4):210-7.
PMID: 10727996
- Gautam M.
Alopecia due to psychotropic medications.
Ann Pharmacother. 1999 May;33(5):631-7.
PMID: 10369629
- Tanaka A, Hatoko M, Shiba A, Kuwahara M, Tada
H, Okazaki T, Muramatsu T. An experience of pubic hair reconstruction
using free temporoparietal fasciocutaneous flap with needle epilation.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999 Jul;104(1):187-9. PMID: 10597694
- Hong CK, Choi HG. Hair restoration surgery in
patients with hypotrichosis of the pubis: the reason and ideas
for design. Dermatol Surg. 1999 Jun;25(6):475-9. PMID: 10469095
- Dacou-Voutetakis C, Kakourou T. Treatment of
atrichia pubis in adolescent girls with pituitary dwarfism. J
Pediatr. 1996 Feb;128(2):284-5. PMID: 8636832
- Choi YC, Kim JC.
Single hair transplantation using the Choi hair transplanter.
J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1992
Nov;18(11):945-8. PMID: 1430550
- Slagle DA, Martin TA 3rd.
Trichotillomania.
Am Fam Physician. 1991 Jun;43(6):2019-24. Review.
PMID: 2042545
- Bagchi N, Komanicky P. Loss of pubic and axillary
hair following treatment with glucocorticoids. Am J Med Sci.
1989 Apr;297(4):263-4. PMID: 2705467
- Jun-Yul C, Inn-Ki C. The distribution of the patterns of pubic
hair and axillary hair. J Korean Dermatol 1982; 20: 231-7.
- Astore IP, Pecoraro V, Pecoraro EG. The normal
trichogram of pubic hair. Br J Dermatol. 1979 Oct;101(4):441-5.
PMID: 508610
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