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• Conditions (26): Beckers Nevus, Lichen Planus, Melanoma, and 23 others Beckers Nevus, Lichen Planus, Melanoma, Skin and Hair, Eczema, Skin Cancer, Lichen Sclerosus, dermatitis, Darier's Disease, Squamish Cell Skin Cancer, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Inflammatory Linear Verrucous Epidermal Nevus, Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma, Epidermal Nevus, Acne Rosacea, Keratosis Follicularis Squamosa, Hailey-Hailey disease, Hemangioma, Albinism, Elephantiasis, Mycosis Fungoides, Menkes Kinky Hair Syndrome, CREST Syndrome, Exercise Urticaria, Urticaria, Ichthyosis Vulgaris [hide]
• Groups (11): Beckers Nevus, Eczema, Melanoma, and 8 others Beckers Nevus, Eczema, Melanoma, Lichen Planus, Lichen Sclerosis, Darier's Disease, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Granuloma Annulare, Alopecia Areata, Sweet Syndrome, Acne Rosacea [hide]
• Symptoms (12): Granuloma Annulare, Alopecia Areata, Raynaud's Disease and Phenomenon, and 9 others Granuloma Annulare, Alopecia Areata, Raynaud's Disease and Phenomenon, Angioedema, red skin rash, Mole, Scleroderma, Port-Wine Stain, Skin Findings, Fear of cancer of skin, Infected finger/toe/paronychia, Hyperpigmentation [hide]
• Treatments (18): Relaxation of scar or web contracture of skin, Laser Treatment of Pigmented Lesions, hydroquinone 40 MG/ML Topical Cream, and 15 others Relaxation of scar or web contracture of skin, Laser Treatment of Pigmented Lesions, hydroquinone 40 MG/ML Topical Cream, Dermabrasion, HYDROQUINONE 4 %, Other OR therapeutic procedures on skin and breast, dioxybenzone 30 MG/ML / ETHYL DIHYDROXYPROPYL PABA 50 MG/ML / hydroquinone 40 MG/ML Topical Cream, hydroquinone 40 MG/ML / padimate-O 30 MG/ML Topical Cream, dioxybenzone 0.03 MG/MG / ETHYL DIHYDROXYPROPYL PABA 0.05 MG/MG / hydroquinone 0.04 MG/MG Topical Gel, HYDROQUINONE 3.3 %, Operations on the integumentary system, hydroquinone, hydroquinone 20 MG/ML Topical Cream, fluocinolone 0.1 MG/ML / hydroquinone 40 MG/ML / Tretinoin 0.5 MG/ML Topical Cream, Electron Microscopy, hydroquinone 33 MG/ML Topical Solution, Electrolysis and other epilation of skin, HYDROQUINONE 2 % [hide]

About Localized Acquired Hypertrichosis

Hypertrichosis is an excessive hair growth disorder which involves only abnormal hair length and excessively high hair density as compared to normal growth in the racial, age and sex group of the patient. The hair growth in hypertrichosis is, with rare exceptions, not androgen related and the hair growth has... more

Hypertrichosis is an excessive hair growth disorder which involves only abnormal hair length and excessively high hair density as compared to normal growth in the racial, age and sex group of the patient. The hair growth in hypertrichosis is, with rare exceptions, not androgen related and the hair growth has no specific distribution.

Hypertrichosis is broadly classified as generalized and localized hypertrichosis. Each of these two categories is further categorized as congenital and acquired and results in a category of hypertrichosis known as localized acquired hypertrichosis.

Beckers nevus is a type of localized acquired hypertrichosis. Beckers nevus is a relatively common type of localized acquired hypertrichosis caused by physical injury. The disorder appears as a localized and irregular patch of hyperpigmention and hair growth, often after sun burn. Although it is an acquired hypertrichosis, there have been reports of very rare cases of congenital Beckers nevus.

Beckers nevus was first observed on the shoulders of two adolescents in 1949 who had suffered serious skin injury due to sun burn. The disorder usually affects the shoulders, anterior chest and the scapular regions. During puberty coarse black terminal hairs usually appear on the affected site.

According to some researchers, the disorder affects predominantly young men of whom adolescents are the majority, but rare cases of Beckers nevus in childhood have also been reported. Rare cases of Beckers nevus in middle age have also been noted. There are others who believe the disorder affects males and females equally. While it affects both males and females reporting by females is more, possibly because it is a rare case of androgen driven hypertrichosis where sufficient androgen is needed to develop the disorder. The early onset of the disorder in adolescence and male predominance does suggest an androgen mechanism of hair growth.

The disorder normally shows up as a solitary patch of pigmentation and hypertrichosis as large as the palm and sometimes as small as a nevu, but cases of multiple patches have also been reported. Initially the hyperpigmentation is presented first without the hypertrichosis. It is followed later by hypertrichosis which in some cases may take several years to appear. The actual area covered by hypertrichosis may not precisely coincide with the pigmented area and the pigmentation may disappear with time.

Histological examination shows that there is melanosis but no nevus cells. That is why many call the term Becker’s nevus, used to describe the disorder, a misnomer. Histological examination also showed that hair follicles are normal or enlarged. Electron microscopy shows that the changes are difficult to distinguish from UVB stimulated normal skin.

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