Prenatal hair is a type of fine, soft hair that covers a fetus while inside the uterus. It is called lanugo and serves the purpose of keeping the fetus warm and protected in the womb. Lanugo usually appears during the late stages of gestation and is replaced by a different kind of hair shortly after birth.

What Is Lanugo?

Lanugo is the type of hair present prenatally. It is a downy, soft hair that covers a fetus while in the uterus. Lanugo helps protect the fetus and keeps them warm while they grow inside the womb. It typically appears late in the pregnancy, around the sixth month, and is usually replaced by a different kind of hair shortly after birth.

Purpose Of Lanugo

The purpose of lanugo is to protect the fetus and keep them warm while in the womb. The lanugo helps insulate the baby from the outside environment, which is crucial for the baby’s growth and development. The lanugo also serves to remove any residual amniotic fluid that may remain on the body.

Causes Of Lanugo

The cause of lanugo is not completely understood, but scientists believe it is triggered by hormones that are released during pregnancy. It is believed that these hormones act on the fetal cells, causing them to produce the lanugo.

Treatment Of Lanugo

In most cases, no treatment is required for lanugo and it will usually disappear on its own shortly after birth. In rare cases, if the lanugo persists after birth, it may be necessary to consult a doctor to discuss treatment options. In some cases, a topical steroid cream or laser hair removal may be used to help remove the lanugo.

Conclusion

Lanugo is a type of fine, soft hair that covers a fetus while inside the uterus. It helps protect the fetus and keep them warm while they grow inside the womb. The lanugo usually appears in the late stages of gestation and is usually replaced by a different type of hair shortly after birth. In most cases, no treatment is required and the lanugo will disappear on its own shortly after birth.