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Journalism of Courage
Lalit Patidar, an 18-year-old from Madhya Pradesh, has made history by securing a Guinness World Record for having the hairiest face on a male, with an incredible 201.72 hairs per square centimetre. His condition, hypertrichosis—often called “werewolf syndrome”—is so rare that only about 50 cases have ever been recorded since the Middle Ages.
With more than 95 per cent of his face covered in hair, Lalit has always stood out, but it wasn’t easy. As a child, his appearance initially frightened his classmates. However, once they got to know him, they realised that he was just like them in every other way.
“They were scared of me, but when they started talking to me, they realised I was just like them. It was only my appearance that was different,” he shared with Guinness World Records.
Rather than letting the negativity define him, Lalit has chosen to accept his uniqueness. He runs a YouTube channel where he shares glimpses of his daily life, proving that he is much more than his condition.
When invited to Milan, Italy, to appear on the show ‘Lo Show dei Record’, his facial hair was officially measured by a trichologist, cementing his place in the record books. “I am speechless. I don’t know what to say because I am very happy to get this recognition,” he said after receiving the title.
Though he is surrounded by supportive family and friends, not everyone has been kind. Strangers have suggested that he shave off his facial hair, but Lalit remains firm in his beliefs: “I like how I am, and I don’t want to change my look.”
