Hair Growth: Why is my leg hairy?

I have had a full leg cast on for seven weeks and when it was taken off I found that the affected leg has acquired significantly increased hair growth. I am rather dismayed about this and would like to know why.

Dr Fred Kavalier answers your health question:

Although this phenomenon has not been discussed much in the medical literature, there is one theory to explain why the hair grows. The skin under the plaster cast is subjected to tiny amounts of friction as the cast moves. The friction is not enough to rub away hair, but it is enough to stimulate the hair follicles in the skin to produce new hairs. As the skin is subjected to its normal wear and tear, the excessive hair will gradually disappear.

Please mail your questions for Dr Fred to health@independent.co.uk. He regrets that he is unable to respond personally to questions.