A 13-year-old girl with no past history of interest was seen for cervical vellus hair that had been present and stable since birth. On physical examination, terminal hairs were observed on normal skin in the anterior midline region of the neck (Fig. 1), with no increase in vellus hair at other sites. Neurologic and ophthalmologic examination and investigations were normal. Based on these findings, we made a diagnosis of isolated anterior cervical hypertrichosis and laser epilation treatment was started, leading to a partial improvement after 3 sessions.

Figure 1

(0.36MB).

Anterior cervical hypertrichosis or goat's beard hypertrichosis is a localized form of hypertrichosis characterized by the presence of terminal hair on the skin overlying the laryngeal prominence. It can be congenital or acquired and, from birth to early childhood, it is more common in girls. Only 40 cases have been reported. It presents as an isolated defect in 70% of cases, although it can occasionally be associated with peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy, mental and developmental retardation, and, more rarely, with hallux valgus, optic atrophy, hypermetropia, and dorsal hypertrichosis. The diagnosis is clinical, but possible associations with other diseases must be excluded. The treatment of anterior cervical hypertrichosis consists of bleaching or epilation, although results with laser therapy have been variable.