Some people have very little noticeable body hair, while others seem to be covered in it. In fact, hair grows everywhere on the body except for the eyelids, soles of the feet, palms of the hands, belly button and lips. All body hair undergoes the same growth cycles, but its appearance differs due to hormone levels, gender and genetics.
Types
There are two types of body hair: vellus and terminal hair. Vellus is very fine, soft hair, generally found all over the body, including on the arms, chest, legs, stomach and back. Terminal hair is darker and coarser. It grows on the head, pubic area and underarms. In men, it occurs on the face and sometimes chest. To a lesser degree, it also sometimes grows on legs, feet, arms and back. Hormones called androgens, which increase in the body at puberty, cause vellus hair to turn into terminal hair.
Purpose
The purpose of body hair is to protect the skin from debris and parasites that might try to invade the body. It also serves as insulation, helping the body maintain a steady temperature.
Individual Hair Parts
Body hair generally grows more slowly than hair on the head. All hair follows a cycle of hair growth to create the complete hair. It begins growing inside a hair follicle embedded in the skin, where a root forms. This hair root then creates the shaft, the part of hair that comes up out of the skin to become visible on the surface.
Growth Cycles
Each hair goes through its own growth cycle, consisting of three phases: anagen, catagen and telogen. The active phase of hair growth is anagen, when the root is actively making hair and growing it longer and longer. The anagen phase lasts between four and 26 weeks for body hair, depending on the specific location. The next phase, catagen, lasts two to four weeks. This is when the hair stops growing and the cells of the hair turn into the protein keratin. In the telogen phase, the hair falls out and the root reforms over a period of two to four months.
Overabundance
For some people, body-hair growth can be excessive. This condition is called hirsutism and is often caused by other, underlying diseases. In men, hirsutism can cause body-hair growth anywhere on the body. In women, it commonly occurs on the face as a result of diseases such as polycystic ovary disease.
Removal
Unwanted body hair can be removed temporarily or in some cases permanently using a multitude of different methods. Some of the ways people remove body hair include shaving, waxing, tweezing, laser hair removal, depilatory creams, oral medications and electrolysis.
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