Definition of Lanugo Hair:
Hair with these characteristics—fine, supple, and lacking in pigmentation—is known as lanugo. Fetuses, babies, and people with particular medical disorders often have this hair. The appearance of lanugo in an older adult may indicatean underlying disease, even though it is a common finding in fetuses. Verhave et al. (2022) point out that lanugo formation is a cell- and molecular-intensive process essential for healthy embryonic growth.

The fetal lanugo is essential for attaching the vernix caseosa to the epidermis. The term “vernix caseosa”describes the white, gelatinous fluid that covers infants and helps them retain moisture, regulate their body temperature, and develop an innate immune response. Amniotic fluid protects the embryo against urea and electrolytes, two potentially damaging chemicals (Faist, 2020).