Definition
Lanugo is a fine, soft down, usually unpigmented, which covers the body of the fetus from the fifth month of gestation. Usually, it falls between the seventh and eighth month of pregnancy, but can also be found on the newborn. The very thin hair on the body, however, is destined to disappear within a few days or weeks after birth.
From a pathological point of view, lanugo can be observed in cases of malnutrition and eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa.
Possible Causes * of Lanugo
- Nervous anorexia
- Bulimia
