What is a deep/long philtrum?
The philtrum is the groove found between the nose and the upper lip. A deep or long philtrum is more depressed or longer than normal. The average philtrum length may vary between males and females, with an average length of between 11 and 15 mm. Anything longer than 13mm in a female, and 15mm in a male would be considered longer than the average.
A deep or long philtrum is often identified as one symptom or unique facial feature of a genetic syndrome.
Understanding face-related symptoms and features
Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom effects, can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.
The face contains the nose, eyes, and mouth, all of which are sensory organs. The face also displays emotions and feelings and plays a crucial role in communication. The face runs from the forehead at the top, to the chin at the bottom and encompasses everything in between.
Symptoms affecting the face can for the most part be seen with the naked eye. Although diagnosing a face related symptom may involve different tests and assessments, both subjective and objective.
Symptoms relating to the face may affect its structure, shape, and/or function. Some features will affect just the appearance of the face while others may affect its ability to express emotions and to communicate non-verbally.
A long philtrum is a facial feature that may be associated with specific genetic or developmental conditions, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, Noonan syndrome, or Sotos syndrome. It can serve as a marker for healthcare professionals during assessments for underlying conditions
What should I do next?
In some instances, a deep/long philtrum may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Deep Philtrum/Long Philtrum, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.