A TEENAGER with the world’s hairiest face has revealed the surprising perks to his unique looks which have taken him to global fame.
Over 95 per cent of Lalit Patidar’s face is covered in thick, bushy hair due to a one-in-a-billion “werewolf syndrome” which forced him to overcome a raft of childhood bullies before landing his dream job.
Lalit, 19, told The Sun: “For me, being different is part of my identity. It makes me unique.
“Even in a crowd of thousands or millions of people, I stand out.”
His incredibly rare condition, called hypertrichosis or werewolf syndrome, causes an abnormal amount of hair to grow on his face.
Since the Middle Ages, only 50 people have ever suffered from hypertrichosis – making Lalit one of the world’s rarest-looking people.
read more in unique people
“I see it as something that makes me special, and it has become a part of who I am,” he added.
He initially wanted to become a policeman as a child but is now living the high life as an influencer.
Lalit, from the central Madhya Pradesh state in India, boasts 268,000 followers on Instagram and 106,000 subscribers on YouTube.
He shares videos of his day-to-day life and travels – including regular clips of him getting his face trimmed.
The teen gets regular haircuts to cope with his ever-growing locks but due to the hair being as thick on his face as it is on the top of his head he has to use scissors rather than a razor.
Behind his ears, on his chin and around his nose is where the hair tends to grow the quickest.
His neck, back and legs also grow hair at a rapid rate.
His newfound social media fame has “opened many new opportunities” with him even being flown out to Milan for a record-breaking trip last year.
On the Italian getaway he was found to have 201.72 hairs per square centimetre on his head and face, according to Guinness World Records.
They officially declared Lalit as the hairiest man alive based on the impressive numbers.
Lalit hailed the achievement as a “proud moment”.
He added: “One of my happiest moments was when I traveled to Italy for the first time.
“It was my first time sitting on a plane, and I felt like my dream of traveling the world was starting to come true.
“It was a very special moment for me, and I cannot fully describe how I felt in words.”
But his unique complexion does have some downsides.
Lalit admits that his condition causes several issues which make his everyday life tougher than the average person.
He said: “Sometimes the hair can make simple things more difficult.
“For example, it can affect eating, seeing clearly, and even hearing properly at times.
“These are small challenges in daily life, but I have learned how to manage them.”
As a young schoolboy, Lalit had to face relentless bullying from classmates.
Bullies would throw stones at him and call him names because of his hair, he recalls.
He said: “When I first went to school, many children were scared of me or made fun of me.
“It made me feel bad at the time. But as time passed, I made friends, and with the support of my family, I became stronger and more confident.”
The brave teen added: “I sometimes wish to have some surgery to get rid of excess hair because I want to be friends with everyone.
“But I cannot do much about it.”
It puzzled doctors and nurses alike with the syndrome never having been seen before where they lived.
Lalit has been told he will never be rid of the werewolf look he has grown quite fond of as there is no cure.
“Over time people’s perception has changed a lot,” he explains.
“Before, many people did not understand my condition and reacted with fear or jokes but now, with social media and awareness, more people understand me and respect me.
“Many people support me and see me as an inspiration. People who are different should be proud of themselves.
“Being unique is not a weakness, it is your identity. This is who I am, and I am proud of it.”
What is hypertrichosis or werewolf syndrome?
HYPERTRICHOSIS, known as ‘werewolf syndrome’, is a rare condition that causes excessive hair growth anywhere on a person’s body.
It can affect both women and men, with the abnormal hair capable of covering a whole area or just in small patches.
Hypertrichosis can appear at birth or develop over time.
The causes of hypertrichosis aren’t well understood, though there is a form of the disease that tends to run in families.
Congenital hypertrichosis may be caused by reactivation of genes that cause hair growth.
Evolution appears to have shut down the genes that cause excessive hair in humans because it served no value.
By a mistake that still has no known cause, these hair-growth genes appear to “turn on” while a baby is still in the womb, according to Healthline and MedicalNewsToday.
When it occurs in later life, it may be due to malnutrition, eating disorders, medications, cancer or an autoimmune condition.
Hypertrichosis has no cure or known preventative tool.
The risk of certain forms of acquired hypertrichosis may be lowered by avoiding certain medications, such as minoxidil.
Treating hypertrichosis involves the removal of hair through a variety of short-term methods including shaving, chemical epilation, waxing, plucking and hair bleaching.
Long-term solutions include electrolysis and laser surgery.
