Hair Growth: Why is my leg hairy?
Related articles
I have had a full leg cast on for seven weeks and when it was taken off I found that the affected leg has acquired significantly increased hair growth. I am rather dismayed about this and would like to know why.
Dr Fred Kavalier answers your health question:
Although this phenomenon has not been discussed much in the medical literature, there is one theory to explain why the hair grows. The skin under the plaster cast is subjected to tiny amounts of friction as the cast moves. The friction is not enough to rub away hair, but it is enough to stimulate the hair follicles in the skin to produce new hairs. As the skin is subjected to its normal wear and tear, the excessive hair will gradually disappear.
Please mail your questions for Dr Fred to health@independent.co.uk. He regrets that he is unable to respond personally to questions.
Life & Style blogs
Your chance to live in Winnie the Pooh’s home
Plus London's buy-to-let hotspots and a new property portal
How can the mortgage market recovery be helped?
Guest post by Richard Sexton, business development director of e.surv chartered surveyors
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Making reading fun for kids
Nook is donating eReaders to volunteers at high-need schools and participating in exclusive events throughout the campaign.
Introducing the 'Get Reading' campaign
Get the latest on The Evening Standard's campaign to get London's children reading.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Andrew Mitchell: 'It's no good feeling hard done by'
Corruption and the FCO: Blue skies, white sands, dark clouds
Fallen angel: Winona Ryder bounces back
Patrick Cockburn: Civil war looms in Iraq
Conquering Everest: 60 facts about the world's tallest mountain
Killing with kindness: Burma's religious battleground




Comments