terminal hair

Terminal hair is a type of human hair that develops after puberty. It is longer, coarser, and more pigmented than vellus hair, which is fine and unpigmented. Terminal hair grows in areas like the armpits and genital regions, and in males, on the face and sometimes the trunk and limbs. This contrasts with lanugo, the downy hair present in fetuses and newborns, and vellus hair, which covers most of the body. Hair in general serves as insulation for mammals, aiding in conserving body heat. It can also function in camouflage, sexual recognition, and as sensory organs (vibrissae or whiskers). Human hair, like that of other mammals, grows from follicles in the skin and is composed of keratin. The growth cycle of hair follicles involves periods of growth, rest, and shedding, with individual follicles operating independently in humans, leading to continuous hair loss and renewal.123