Lannugo hair

Lanugo hair refers to the fine, soft and usually colorless hairs that cover the body of a fetus in the womb. This type of hair begins to develop around the fourth month of pregnancy and plays an important role in regulating the fetus's body temperature as well as protecting the skin. Lanugo hairs are particularly light and fine, which allows them to form a protective layer that, together with the vernix caseosa, a waxy protective layer on the skin of the fetus

protects it from drying out in the amniotic fluid.

Towards the end of pregnancy, usually in the last trimester, the lanugo hairs begin to fall out and are released into the amniotic fluid through the vernix caseosa. At birth, some babies still have remnants of lanugo hair on their skin, especially on the shoulders, back, and face, but these hairs usually fall out on their own within the first few weeks of life. You will then go through the so-called Vellus hair replaced, which is finer and thinner than the terminal hair we typically have on the head, eyebrows and eyelashes.

The amount and distribution of lanugo hair can vary from baby to baby. Some newborns may have very few lanugo hairs at birth, while others may have a more noticeable layer. This is usually not a cause for concern and is simply a variation in normal development.