Viral video of baby with mustache: authenticity unclear
A clip shows a newborn with dark hair on the upper lip. Many users suspect AI. What can cause heavy hair growth in babies.
By Marcel
Automatically translated from German · may contain errors · Read the original
A short video of a newborn with a dark mustache has been spreading among Spanish-speaking users on social media since Friday, Oct. 23. Whether the clip shows a real case or was created or edited with artificial intelligence is unclear.
The roughly five-second footage shows a baby in a hospital on blue bedding, with medical equipment in the background. The child has dark hair on the head and clearly visible dark hair on the upper lip. The baby blinks and slightly moves its head. On-screen text describes the scene as a "viral video of a bearded baby" and advises consulting professionals with questions about children's health.
On X, the Ecuadorian news account Ecuador Al Día 365 posted the clip, noting that experts remind viewers that every case must be assessed by medical professionals. The post has been viewed about 1.36 million times.
Origin of the clip cannot be verified
According to the outlet Metro Ecuador, parts of the cheeks are also covered in hair in the video. There is so far no independent confirmation of its origin, nor of whether it shows a real case. A medical cause cannot be determined from a single clip, the outlet said. It points to an earlier viral case of a Brazilian child on TikTok.
A name shown in the video for a supposed doctor could not be matched to any specific physician. Similar clips circulating on TikTok are explicitly labeled as AI-generated. Modern AI videos are often hard to tell apart from real footage with the naked eye.
In the comments, many users believe the video was artificially generated, while others suspect natural baby hair or a rare condition. Numerous comments are jokes, such as one remarking that the child was "born already retired."
Fine downy hair is common in newborns
Many babies are born with fine body and facial hair known as lanugo. It forms around the third month of pregnancy and protects the fetus's skin. It is usually shed before birth, and is more often visible in premature babies. The down is generally fine and light-colored and disappears on its own within the first weeks to months.
A thick, dark, adult-style beard does not match the typical picture of lanugo. Congenital hypertrichosis, a genetic disorder, is considered a rare cause of excessive hair growth in infants. It usually involves finer, lanugo-like hair on the body.
Hormonal influences or medications can also stimulate hair growth. These include skin contact with the hair-growth product minoxidil used by parents, or the drug diazoxide, which is used for certain metabolic disorders. Hair growth caused by medication often recedes after the drug is stopped.
If hair growth is unusually heavy, parents should take the child to a pediatrician. Shaving, plucking or otherwise removing the hair themselves can damage delicate baby skin.