Acquired Hypertrichosis Lanuginosa: Case Report and Review of the Literature

In 1998, a case of acquired hypertrichosis lanuginosa was reported involving a 66-year-old woman with metastatic ductal infiltrating carcinoma of the breast. This rare skin disorder, often linked to internal malignancies, is characterized by the growth of fine, lanugo-type hair, particularly on the face and neck, but it can also affect other areas. The patient experienced an increase in lanugo hair on her face and a progressive thickening of her eyebrows and eyelashes. The literature review included in the report highlighted various pathogenic mechanisms proposed to explain the excessive growth of lanugo hair associated with this paraneoplastic cutaneous condition.