What is hypertrichosis?

Hypertrichosis refers to an abnormal increase in hair growth in areas of the body where hair is typically sparse or absent. This condition can manifest as excessive hair that may be either pigmented (dark) or unpigmented (light), depending on the individual's hair characteristics. It can affect both men and women and can occur in localized areas or be more widespread across the body.

The essence of this definition aligns with the chosen answer regarding excessive hair growth and its potential pigmentation. Understanding hypertrichosis is essential for an electrologist as it directly relates to the types of hair conditions they may treat in their practice.

In contrast, the other options reference conditions unrelated to hypertrichosis, such as reduced hair thickness, hair loss, or baldness, which do not capture the nature of excessive hair growth indicative of hypertrichosis.