Smithsonian Channel - The Real Beauty and the Beast (2014)

The Real Beauty and the Beast

It's a condition known as “hypertrichosis” or “Ambras Syndrome,” but in the 1500s it would transform one man into a national sensation and iconic fairy-tale character. His name: Petrus Gonsalvus, more commonly known today as the hairy hero of Beauty and the Beast. Discover the facts behind the fable as we follow Petrus's remarkable life with a very rare and hairy genetic condition. Then learn about this medical phenomenon, which continues to fascinate and perplex scientists to this day. The Hairy Syndrome that Affects Only 50 People Worldwide Larry Gomez was born with hypertrichosis, which results in abnormal hair growth all over the body, including the face. Here, he speaks candidly about what living with this condition is like.

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