Hypertrichosis cubiti

Hypertrichosis cubiti is a cutaneous condition characterized by multiple terminal hairs on both elbows in children.

Signs and symptoms

Hypertrichosis cubiti is characterized by an unusually high concentration of long hairs that are concentrated mostly in the elbow area on the extensor surfaces of the upper extremities. Hypertrichosis is not always visible at birth; it typically manifests in early infancy, peaks between the ages of 5 and 6, then gradually declines and eventually goes away during puberty.

Causes

Several inheritance patterns with varying penetrance and expressivity have been proposed, such as a familial pattern with either an autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive inheritance. Primary nevoid hypertrichosis and somatic hypertrichosis mosaicism are two other possibilities. There have been some speculative connections made to disorders including the Floating-Harbor syndrome, Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome, and Weill-Marchesani syndrome.

Treatment

For children with sporadic hypertrichosis cubiti, parents should be reassured and given guidance on hair removal or bleaching. Care should be used while discussing hair removal methods in order to reduce discomfort and expense.