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Have you ever, when touching or scratching, discovered ridiculously long and thin white hairs on your body that apparently grew overnight? If so, you are definitely not alone. Although it may seem unusual, many people have similar experiences, even though there is no specific technical term for this phenomenon.
What causes these strange hairs?
Dermatologists have several theories that may explain this phenomenon. One of them is that abnormally long hairs may be caused by hormonal and genetic factors that affect particular hair follicles. These follicles may remain longer in the so-called anagen phase, which is the active growth phase of hair. The result is that these hairs have more time to grow and thus become visibly longer than the surrounding hairs.
Hormonal fluctuations, which can occur in various parts of the body, such as the chin or the T-zone (the area of the forehead, nose and chin), can also cause these hairs. These fluctuations lead some follicles to respond differently and begin producing unusually long hairs.
Why do we feel that hairs grow overnight?
Many of us have the feeling that these long hairs appeared overnight. In reality, however, it may be an optical illusion. These hairs are often very thin and have a similar color to our skin, which makes them hard to see. Therefore we may only notice them after some time, once they have already reached a longer length.
What to do about these hairs?
If these unusually long hairs bother you, dermatologists recommend simply plucking them with tweezers. This method is quick and effective, and will get rid of the unpleasant feeling that strange hairs are growing on your body.
Conclusion
These random long hairs are more common than it might seem, and most people encounter them at least once in their life. Although they may seem odd, their cause is common genetic and hormonal influences. So next time you discover such a hair on your body, there’s no need to worry – it’s just another small quirk of our body that can be easily solved.
