Wednesday, October 1, 2008

ANOREXIA & BULIMIA: THAT DOWNY HAIR IS CALLED "LANUGO"


Amy Winehouse (note lanugo on her face)



Lanugo on an anorexic/bulimic woman



Posted in an online journal:

"I swear these hairs on my neck are spreading. I've got a rash of little hairs! They're growing longer at the back of my neck, now, too.

I'm fuzzifying."


It's called "lanugo," which is fine hair that grows all over the body in an effort to keep it warm when the body of an anorexic and/or bulimic lacks enough fat to accomplish this.



Lanugo is just one of the many consequences of anorexia and/or bulimia:



"A body suffering from anorexia nervosa is denied the nutrients it needs to function normally. To conserve energy, the body slows down its processes, causing a range of serious medical problems.

Heart: Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which means the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as the heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower.

Bone: Reduction of bone density, which results in dry, brittle bones.

Muscle: Muscle loss and weakness.

Kidneys: Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.

Energy: Fainting, fatigue and overall weakness.

Hair and skin: Dry hair and skin; hair loss is common. Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm. "


National Eating Disorders Association
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org



TO READ MY EARLIER POST ON LANUGO, PLEASE CLICK HERE:


WARNING TO ANOREXICS: LANUGO IS NOT PRETTY



LINKS:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080419.wthinNEW0419_2/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/
http://www.faqs.org/health/images/uchr_05_img0508.jpg
http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/he/wmnimages/pdr/fgnt0903.gif

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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Funny thing about lanugo is it doesn't go away for years afterwards either.
I don't mind it. No-one really notices much.

Anonymous said...

WHat's with the image of the elbows???????? I don't get it...

Medusa said...

Anonymous, the model has lanugo down the back of her neck and spine, but when I uploaded the photo it automatically reduced in size so you can't see the lanugo.

Anonymous said...

That may or may not be lanugo. Being a hairy Jew myself, I have hair like that that I have to wax...like side burns. It's just cause I'm really hairy, lol.

Anonymous said...

I agree, it is highly likely Winehouse's hair is genetics. Granted, it COULD be lanugo caused by poor health in her case too, because Winehouse is not exactly the epitome of health. But, sometimes us ladies of a certain heritage just get excess hair, and it's really no big deal in that case.

Anonymous said...

I have lanugo and I don't have an eating disorder. I am classed as having a healthy weight.
5'3 & 98lbs.

Unknown said...

5'3 & 98 ibs is underweight according to BMI..