Why does my daughter have a hairy back?

Author: Mr. Christophe Rohan MD  |  Last update: Sunday, November 9, 2025

Some toddlers have fine, downy hair on the arms, legs, back, or even face. The reason for it is most likely genetics — if you or your child's other parent had a lot of body hair as a toddler (or someone in either of your families did), your toddler simply "inherited" the body hair.

Is it normal for a girl to have a hairy back?

Yes, it's normal for teens to have back hair. During puberty, hormonal changes can lead to increased hair growth in various areas of the body, including the back. The amount and distribution of body hair can vary widely among individuals due to genetics and hormonal levels.

Is it normal for kids to have hairy backs?

In most cases, yes, it's normal for your toddler to have body hair. It's not at all uncommon for a toddler to have hair on the arms, legs, back, or even face.

Why does my baby girl have a hairy back?

It's completely normal for a newborn baby to have body hair, especially if they were born before 37 weeks. And a hairy baby isn't a sign that your newborn will become a hairy child or adult. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)

What does it mean if my back is hairy?

What are the causes of excessive hair growth on the back? Hormonal imbalance. Conditions such as PCOS, adrenal or ovarian issues. Rare instances of ovarian cancer. Excess of male hormones. Hairline is higher at the back. Hair has to travel farther to reach desired length. Density is higher at the back.

She's Losing Hair But Growing a Beard | Bad Hair Day

Does a hairy back mean high testosterone?

Is body hair a sign of high testosterone? Testosterone can cause hair growth but it's not always a sign of high testosterone levels. Testosterone and oestrogen are sex hormones, and they help determine how your hair grows. This means not only where, but also the texture, thickness and colour of that hair.

What does PCOS hair look like?

Women affected by PCOS commonly report bothersome excess hair growth, acne or balding (scalp hair loss or thinning). Hirsutism refers to the excess growth of coarse, often long and dark hair, in a male-like pattern over the face, chest, abdomen, back, arms and legs.

Why is my 5 year old daughter so hairy?

The reason for it is most likely genetics — if you or your child's other parent had a lot of body hair as a toddler (or someone in either of your families did), your toddler simply "inherited" the body hair. Body hair is often darker, and therefore more noticeable, on children with darker complexions.

Will lanugo hair go away?

It may take several weeks to go away, but lanugo will fall off on its own. Lanugo typically falls off in the last eight weeks of pregnancy.

Why does my 5 year old daughter have pubic hair?

Premature pubarche, or the development of pubic hair before the age of 8 in girls or 9 in boys, is most commonly caused by premature adrenarche. Adrenarche is the maturation of the adrenal zona reticularis in both boys and girls, resulting in the development of pubic hair, axillary hair, and adult apocrine body odor.

Are hairy backs genetic?

Causes of a hairy back

Genetics is the most common cause of a hairy back in men. Certain genes in men make them more likely to be susceptible to the effects of testosterone, which encourages the growth of body hair. This is also why most men grow facial hair more easily than most women.

What age do girls get hairy legs?

Most girls will begin to start showing an interest in shaving their legs when they hit puberty. These days, puberty can start as young as eight or nine, but for most girls, it begins any time between the age of 10 and 14.

How long does it take for lanugo to fall off?

Lanugo usually falls off during the last eight weeks of pregnancy. The little hairs come off, float in the amniotic fluid, and wind up getting swallowed by your baby-to-be! Lanugo, essentially, becomes part of your baby's Baby's first meal…or at least first snack!

Will my daughter's hairy back go away?

It is most likely that your daughter has a mild form of hypertrichosis — which there are many causes of. One of the most common in infants is prematurity. Babies born early may appear to have more body hair but this normally reduces over time. Genetics are one of the other most common causes.

How to get rid of back hair as a girl?

Methods to remove or reduce unwanted hair include:
  1. Shaving. Hair will start growing back right away, so shaving needs to be repeated often.
  2. Depilatory lotion. This is a type of hair removal done with chemicals put on the skin. ...
  3. Waxing. ...
  4. Bleaching. ...
  5. Electrolysis. ...
  6. Laser hair removal. ...
  7. Medicated cream.

Is it bad for a girl to be hairy?

For example, dark body hair and facial hair is common in women from many areas of the world including the Mediterranean, Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. Familial hirsutism (which means excess hair is inherited) is perfectly normal and is not associated with any underlying medical condition.

What is vellus hair?

Vellus hair (peach fuzz) is fine, short hair that grows all over your body, including your face, stomach, arms and legs. Vellus hair helps regulate your body temperature and protects your skin. Excess vellus hair growth can be a sign of some health conditions, such as Cushing syndrome.

How do you know if your baby will have a lot of hair?

Some babies are born with a mop top, while others come out looking like a cue ball. The amount of hair you can expect on your newborn's head is up to genetics, which actually makes it relatively predictable. Darker complexions have slower grow-and-shed cycles, which mean a thicker head of hair at birth.

How can you tell the difference between lanugo and normal hair?

Lanugo is a type of fine hair that grows on the bodies of human fetuses while they are developing in the womb. These hairs disappear either by birth or shortly after when vellus hairs replace them. Vellus hairs are also naturally fine and transparent, but thicker than lanugo hairs.

Why does my 7 year old have a hairy back?

There is no clear identifiable cause for most cases of prepubertal hypertrichosis. Prepubertal hypertrichosis may be due to genetics, systemic illnesses, or medications.

Is body hair normal for 7 year olds?

Premature adrenarche happens when pubic and armpit hair and body odor develop earlier than expected — typically before the age of 8 in girls and 9 in boys. Premature adrenarche is technically premature pubarche.

What does a PCOS belly look like?

It's usually large and bloated but can also be small and round, depending on genes and other factors. It involves visceral fat accumulation in the lower abdomen and typically feels hard to touch. A PCOS belly is also characterized by a high waist-to-hip ratio of >0.87 (apple body shape).

What vitamins stop facial hair growth?

Dietary supplements that contain vitamins B6 and E are also believed to help get rid of unwanted hair growth in the facial areas. For one, vitamin B6 is thought to help lower testosterone in women and inhibit prolactin hormone production.

What are the warning signs of PCOS?

The symptoms of PCOS may include:
  • Missed periods, irregular periods, or very light periods.
  • Ovaries that are large or have many cysts.
  • Extra body hair, including the chest, stomach, and back (hirsutism)
  • Weight gain, especially around the belly.
  • Acne or oily skin.
  • Male-pattern baldness or thinning hair.
  • Infertility.

Previous article
Can you lose weight by burning 300 calories a day?
Next article
Is coconut oil drying out my hair?