What is Werewolf Syndrome? The rare condition making babies in Spain look like Star Wars' Wookiee

Infants in Spain are developing a bizarre condition leading to excessive hair growth on their backs, legs, and faces. In extreme cases, they even resemble Wookiees from Star Wars, according to a report of El Economista.

Named as "werewolf syndrome," there have been 11 documented cases of this condition in Spain over the past year alone. While this number may seem small, it’s significant considering fewer than 100 documented cases of the condition have been recorded since the Middle Ages, as reported by the Post.

What is Werewolf Syndrome?

Werewolf syndrome, medically known as hypertrichosis, is a rare condition characterized by excessive hair growth across the body. Hypertrichosis can manifest as:

Congenital Hypertrichosis: Present at birth due to genetic mutations.

Acquired Hypertrichosis: Triggered later in life by external factors such as medications or environmental exposure.

This condition results in abnormal and excessive hair growth in areas where hair is not typically present or expected.

What’s Causing Werewolf Syndrome in Babies?

According to researchers, the recent cases in Spain are linked to environmental exposure to a popular over-the-counter hair-loss remedy.

Between 2023 and 2024, 11 cases of hypertrichosis were identified in infants across Spain. Health authorities traced these cases to caregivers’ use of topical 5% minoxidil, an active ingredient in many over-the-counter hair-loss treatments.

The report suggests that infants were likely exposed to minoxidil either through direct skin contact or accidental ingestion. In all reported cases, the symptoms of excessive hair growth subsided once caregivers stopped using minoxidil-based products.

While the Spanish cases were linked to environmental exposure, hypertrichosis can arise under different circumstances also.

In 2023, a two-year-old girl in Malaysia with congenital hypertrichosis was affectionately nicknamed the “child from heaven” by local monarchs.

Health experts, including the European Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee, strongly advise against using minoxidil near infants. Even trace amounts can be harmful, underscoring the importance of proper storage and usage guidelines.

Cases of Werewolf Syndrome also reported from India's Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.