Some babies have hair on their face because of lanugo, a fine, downy hair that covers a fetus in the womb. This soft hair serves several crucial purposes during pregnancy.
The Role of Lanugo
Lanugo, often appearing around 20 weeks gestation, plays a vital role in fetal development:
- Vernix Protection: Lanugo helps trap vernix, a protective, waxy coating on the baby's skin.
- Temperature Regulation: It assists in regulating the baby's temperature in the womb.
- Hormonal Regulation: It plays a role in regulating hormones in utero.
While most lanugo sheds before birth, some babies are born with remnants of this fine hair on their face, shoulders, and back. The amount varies greatly between babies. This is perfectly normal and usually falls out within a few weeks after birth.
Note: While lanugo is the most common reason, other factors are not addressed in the provided references and could potentially influence the amount of facial hair observed in newborns. The provided texts primarily address lanugo.
