Body hair , or androgenic hair , is terminal hair that develops on the
human body during and after puberty. It is different from head hair and also
from less visible vellus hair, which is much finer and lighter in colour.
Growth of androgenic hair is related to the level of androgens (male hormones)
and the density of androgen receptors in the dermal papillae. Both must reach
a threshold for the proliferation of hair follicle cells.
From childhood onward, regardless of sex, vellus hair covers almost the entire
area of the human body. Exceptions include the lips, the backs of the ears,
palms of hands, soles of the feet, certain external genital areas, the navel,
and scar tissue. Density of hair – i.e.