by Marie Kauna – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
Born in Loreto, a town in Loreto Municipality in the State of Zacatecas, Mexico, Jesus Aceves and his family are identified to be born with ‘Hypertrichosis’.
In an article from DermNet NZ, “Hypertrichosis is excessive hair growth over and above the normal for the age, sex and race of an individual, in contrast to hirsutism, which is excess hair growth in women following a male distribution pattern. Hypertrichosis can develop all over the body or can be isolated to small patches.”
Born with hypertrichosis, Aceves plus his other family members, a total of 30, are born with this rare condition thus making Aceves second in the family to be born with hypertrichosis. This makes the family the hairiest family in human history.
Aceves says “no one’s really sure what causes hypertrichosis, or how to cure it. What they do know is that there are about 50 documented cases in human history and it was my fate to be one of them,” We are the hairiest family of our species.”
Scientists have studied Aceves and his family. According to Eva Aridjis, the scientist “know it’s a gene that has laid dormant for a very long time which suddenly resurfaces, but they don’t know how to turn it on or off.”
Aceves is now determined to ensure that all other members born with hypertrichosis are educated, and gain confidence to look for jobs, jobs beyond circus, freak shows and wolf roles.
