Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Vellus hair
Introduction
Vellus hair is short, fine, “peach fuzz” body hair. It is a very soft and short hair that grows in most places on the human body in both sexes. It is usually less than 2 cm long and the follicles are not connected to sebaceous glands. It is most easily observed in women and children, as they have less terminal hair to obscure it. It is also found in pre-adolescents, tanner stage, as well as in male pattern baldness. It should not be confused with lanugo, a much thicker type of hair developed by fetuses and the bodies of anorexics in an attempt to retain bodily heat.