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Local hirsutism at the periphery of burned skin
LOCAL
HIRSUTISM
AT
THE
PERIPHERY
OF
BURNED
SKIN
By R. SHAFIR, M.D. and H. TSUR, M.D. Department of Plastic Surgery, The Chaim Sheba Medical Centre (afiliated to The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University) Tel-Aviv, Israel HIRSUTISM is considered to be caused either by the over production of androgens, or by hypersensitivity of the target organ, the hair follicle, to the androgen. In cases of localised hirsutism it is possible that the latter is the most likely explanation. Occasionally local hirsutism occurs after prolonged local irritation, as in the application of casts for fractures of the limbs, injuries, chronic scratching, or biting of one area. Some authors have tried to explain hirsutism in these cases on the basis of increased blood supply due to the irritation (Ressmann and Butterworth, 1952; Crownse, 1977). This might possibly explain hirsutism in an area surrounding a burn in the process of healing as in the following case.
CASE REPORT A so-year-old woman suffered a deep second-degree burn on the lateral aspect of her left thigh. She was hospitalised I month after her accident due to an infected, deep seconddegree wound measuring IO x 15 cm. Prior to hospitalisation, treatment consisted of local Saline soaks were applied in the first 2 weeks in hospital applications of sulfamylon ointment. and during this period the patient noticed that hair had started growing at the periphery of the burned area. This area healed gradually and at follow-up 6 months later it has remained hairy, while all other body parts, including the opposite thigh, are hairless (Fig. I). COMMENT A burn may be regarded as a source of irritation that could give rise to localised The question as to why one patient may develop reactive hirsutism while hirsutism. most others do not remains unanswered. REFERENCES CROWNSE,R. G. (1977). Localized acquired hirsutism, in “Clinical Dermatology”, edited by Denis, D. J., Dobson, R. L. and McGuire, J., VI., No. I, Chapter zb, IV. Maryland, New York, San Francisco and London. RESSMANN,A. C. and BUTTERWORTH,T. (1952). Localized acquired hypertrichosis. Arch65, 458. ives of Dematology,
Frc;. I.
A. and B. Left thigh with the burn scar on the lateral aspect. hirsutism. 93
At its periphery, there is marked
HIRSUTISM
AT
THE
PERIPHERY
OF
BURNED
SKIN
By R. SHAFIR, M.D. and H. TSUR, M.D. Department of Plastic Surgery, The Chaim Sheba Medical Centre (afiliated to The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University) Tel-Aviv, Israel HIRSUTISM is considered to be caused either by the over production of androgens, or by hypersensitivity of the target organ, the hair follicle, to the androgen. In cases of localised hirsutism it is possible that the latter is the most likely explanation. Occasionally local hirsutism occurs after prolonged local irritation, as in the application of casts for fractures of the limbs, injuries, chronic scratching, or biting of one area. Some authors have tried to explain hirsutism in these cases on the basis of increased blood supply due to the irritation (Ressmann and Butterworth, 1952; Crownse, 1977). This might possibly explain hirsutism in an area surrounding a burn in the process of healing as in the following case.
CASE REPORT A so-year-old woman suffered a deep second-degree burn on the lateral aspect of her left thigh. She was hospitalised I month after her accident due to an infected, deep seconddegree wound measuring IO x 15 cm. Prior to hospitalisation, treatment consisted of local Saline soaks were applied in the first 2 weeks in hospital applications of sulfamylon ointment. and during this period the patient noticed that hair had started growing at the periphery of the burned area. This area healed gradually and at follow-up 6 months later it has remained hairy, while all other body parts, including the opposite thigh, are hairless (Fig. I). COMMENT A burn may be regarded as a source of irritation that could give rise to localised The question as to why one patient may develop reactive hirsutism while hirsutism. most others do not remains unanswered. REFERENCES CROWNSE,R. G. (1977). Localized acquired hirsutism, in “Clinical Dermatology”, edited by Denis, D. J., Dobson, R. L. and McGuire, J., VI., No. I, Chapter zb, IV. Maryland, New York, San Francisco and London. RESSMANN,A. C. and BUTTERWORTH,T. (1952). Localized acquired hypertrichosis. Arch65, 458. ives of Dematology,
Frc;. I.
A. and B. Left thigh with the burn scar on the lateral aspect. hirsutism. 93
At its periphery, there is marked