Why is the hair at injured sites unusually long?

The area where an injury occurred may develop unusually long body hair due to factors such as reduced friction, compensatory enhancement of blood circulation, or medication stimulation.

1. Reduced Friction

After an injury, individuals often take special care to protect the affected skin. This may lead to fewer instances of local friction, which in turn can cause rapid hair growth, resulting in noticeably longer hair.

2. Compensatory Enhancement of Blood Circulation

Following an injury, localized blood circulation may increase compensatorily over time. This improved blood supply provides ample nourishment to hair follicles, promoting vigorous hair growth and leading to unusually long hair at the injured site.

3. Medication Stimulation

If medications are used under a doctor's guidance after an injury, they may stimulate excessive hair growth. This can manifest as unusually long hair at the injured area. For example, corticosteroid medications such as hydrocortisone and dexamethasone may have this effect.

In most cases, the appearance of unusually long hair after an injury is not a cause for concern and will typically return to normal as the injury heals.