What is also known as baby or fetal hair that falls a few weeks after birth?

Lanugo is the term used for the fine, soft hair that covers the body of a fetus and is typically shed shortly before or shortly after birth. This delicate hair plays a role in protecting the skin while in the womb and is a natural part of fetal development. It usually falls off within a few weeks after delivery, making it unique in comparison to other types of hair.

Vellus hair refers to the short, fine, and lightly pigmented hair that covers most of the body after lanugo is shed. Terminal hair is thicker, darker, and coarser, found on the scalp, eyebrows, and in areas where secondary sexual characteristics develop. Club hair, on the other hand, refers to hair that has stopped growing and is in a resting phase before it eventually falls out. Thus, lanugo distinctly characterizes the soft hair that infants may have shortly after birth, solidifying its correct identification.