Kulmakarva

Kulmakarva is the Finnish term for the eyebrow hair, the short, pigmented hairs that form the visible part of the eyebrow above each eye. The phrase is commonly used to refer to the hair itself and, by extension, the eyebrow region as a whole.

Anatomy and growth: Eyebrow hairs arise from follicles in the dermis and are oriented to follow the brow’s arc. They have a shorter growth cycle than scalp hair, cycling through anagen, catagen, and telogen phases. Hairs are typically 2–3 cm long and colored by melanin. Each follicle is associated with sebaceous glands and an arrector pili muscle, which can raise the hair.

Function: The primary role of kulmakarva is protective, helping to divert sweat and moisture away from the eyes and to shade the eyes from glare. They also contribute to facial expression and nonverbal communication.

Variation and care: Density, length, and shape vary with genetics, age, and ethnicity. Common grooming methods include shaping, plucking, waxing, and threading. Improper plucking or repeated trauma can cause irritation, infection, or long-term hair loss in the brow area.

Clinical notes: Eyebrow-related conditions include madarosis (loss of eyebrow hair) and alopecia areata. Other issues include hypertrichosis (excess hair) or inflammation of the follicles. Treatment typically addresses cosmetic appearance or underlying dermatologic conditions.

Etymology: The term kulmakarva derives from Finnish, with kulma meaning corner and karva meaning hair.