Alopecia in a 19-Month-Old Boy
August 1994
in “
Archives of dermatology
”
TLDR A 19-month-old boy with a rare hair disorder showed mild improvement with treatment, but his family chose gentle hair care due to limited success.
A 19-month-old boy presented with erythematous papules and significant hair loss over the scalp, diagnosed as monilethrix, a rare hair disorder characterized by beaded hair and brittle hair shafts. Light microscopy revealed nodal swellings and internodal constrictions. Treatments with 2% salicylic acid, 1% pyrithione shampoo, and tretinoin cream showed mild and transient improvement. Monilethrix is typically inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern with variable expressivity and can affect various body hairs. The prognosis varies, often worsening in childhood but potentially improving in adulthood. The patient's family opted for gentle hair care due to limited treatment success.
